Looking for an incredibly affordable smartphone? The Samsung Dart T499 and M580 Replenish are both contenders in the budget phone arena. But with limited specs, which one offers the better experience for the price? Let's dive into a detailed comparison.
🏆 Quick Verdict
Both phones are extremely basic, but the Replenish (M580) likely edges out the Dart (T499) due to Qualcomm's generally more efficient chipsets and potentially slightly better software support, though both are severely limited by their hardware. Don't expect high performance from either.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | CDMA 800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 1700 / 2100 | CDMA2000 1x |
| 4G bands | 2, 4, 5, 7, 17 | - |
| Speed | HSPA 7.2/0.384 Mbps | EV-DO Rev.0, 153.2 Kbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | CDMA / CDMA2000 |
| | HSDPA 2100 | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2011, May. Released 2011, June | 2011, April. Released 2011, May 08 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 104 x 61 x 13 mm (4.09 x 2.40 x 0.51 in) | 123 x 60 x 11 mm (4.84 x 2.36 x 0.43 in) |
| Keyboard | - | QWERTY |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | Mini-SIM |
| Weight | 108 g (3.81 oz) | 116 g (4.09 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass | - |
| Resolution | 240 x 320 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~127 ppi density) | 240 x 320 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~143 ppi density) |
| Size | 3.14 inches, 30.5 cm2 (~48.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 2.8 inches, 24.3 cm2 (~32.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT, 256K colors | TFT, 256K colors |
| | TouchWiz UI
| - |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | 600 MHz | 600 MHz |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6735M (28 nm) | Qualcomm MSM7627-2 |
| GPU | Mali-T720MP2 | - |
| OS | Android 2.2 (Froyo) | Android 2.2 (Froyo), upgradable to 2.3 (Gingerbread) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot), 2 GB included | microSDHC (dedicated slot), 2 GB included |
| Internal | 8GB 1GB RAM | 512MB 256MB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama | - |
| Single | 3.2 MP | 2 MP |
| Video | 320p@15fps | Yes |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | - |
| Single | 1.3 MP | - |
| | No | No |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 3.0, A2DP | 2.1, A2DP |
| NFC | No | - |
| Positioning | GPS, A-GPS | GPS, A-GPS |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio, RDS | - |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, hotspot (charges may apply) |
| Features |
|---|
| Browser | - | HTML |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity, compass | - |
| | MP4/H.264 player
MP3/WAV/eAAC+ player
Organizer
Photo/video editor
Document viewer
Voice memo/dial
Predictive text input (Swype) | Made partially by recycled bio-plastics
MP4/H.264 player
MP3/WAV/eAAC+ player
Organizer
Document viewer
Voice memo
Predictive text input |
| Battery |
|---|
| Stand-by | Up to 288 h | Up to 217 h |
| Talk time | Up to 4 h | Up to 5 h 40 min |
| Type | Removable Li-Ion 1200 mAh battery | Removable Li-Ion 1160 mAh battery |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Gray | Black, Blue, Raspberry Pink |
| Price | About 60 EUR | About 80 EUR |
| SAR | 0.91 W/kg (head) 1.12 W/kg (body) | 0.54 W/kg (head) 1.09 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.89 W/kg (head) | - |
Samsung Dart T499
- Extremely affordable
- Compact size
- Samsung brand recognition
- Very limited performance
- Low-resolution display
- Poor camera quality
- Likely outdated software
Samsung M580 Replenish
- Slightly better performance (potentially)
- Qualcomm chipset
- Compact size
- Samsung brand recognition
- Very limited performance
- Low-resolution display
- Poor camera quality
- Likely outdated software
Display Comparison
Both phones likely feature small, low-resolution displays (likely around 3.5-4 inches) with limited color accuracy. Expect basic LCD panels. There's no clear winner here; both offer a similar, entry-level viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
Camera quality on both devices will be very basic, likely featuring 2-3MP rear cameras. Image quality will be poor in low light. Don't expect impressive photos from either phone.
Performance
The Dart T499 uses a Mediatek MT6735M, while the Replenish utilizes a Qualcomm MSM7627-2. While both have 600 MHz CPUs, Qualcomm's chipset generally offers slightly better efficiency and performance in this era. Expect both to struggle with multitasking and demanding apps.
Battery Life
Battery capacity is likely around 1500-2000 mAh for both. Battery life will depend heavily on usage, but expect a full day of light use. Qualcomm's chipset *might* offer slightly better power efficiency, potentially giving the Replenish a slight edge.
Buying Guide
The Samsung Dart T499 is for users needing a basic phone for calls, texts, and very light app usage. The Samsung M580 Replenish is suited for those prioritizing slightly better performance and potentially longer software support, still within the realm of basic functionality.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Are these phones still worth buying in 2024?
Unless you have an extremely limited budget and only need basic calling and texting functionality, these phones are likely outdated. Consider a slightly more expensive modern budget smartphone for a significantly better experience.
❓ What operating system do these phones use?
Both phones likely run an older version of Android (possibly Android 4.x or Go Edition). Software updates are highly unlikely.