Lobster 320 Review
 |
Lobster 320 User ReviewsRated 3.8 out of 10 from 8 submitted reviews. Submitted reviews are entered into our £100 prize draw on 20th July. Read user reviews or submit your own Lobster review Lobster 320 SummaryThe Lobster 320 is a basic phone which surprisingly has an integrated camera. It is said to be good for its price but could improve a lot especially on its basic features such as texting and calling. For people who are looking for low-priced phones, then this is what you need.
Photo Gallery:
|
Lobster 320 Review - Editor's Review
3 Jun 2008
The Lobster 320 is a clamshell mobile that was made especially for Virgin Mobile. It comes in black and its rubberized finish makes is easy to hold. Its dimensions are 82x41x15mm and it weigh around 70 grams, so it is small and light, it fits any pocket.
Despite its small size, the Lobster 320 has a well-spaced and large keypad which you can use when the phone is flicked open. Its directional pad also serve as shortcut functions so now, you no longer have to go through several menus to write your messages or access your messages and calendar. Its menu is user-friendly and is heavily influenced by Nokia.
Perhaps the most attractive (and some people say the only) feature that the Lobster 320 boasts of is its VGa camera. Some reviews on the internet claim that the camera is 3 MP but this is untrue as some people who have purchased the phone from Virgin mobile attest to the poor image quality. Of course for a phone worth £25 when it was first released a couple of years ago, its limited features are but expected. Some people claim that for a phone with a camera, the Lobster 320 is a great deal, but to more people who have used this phone, a lot of negative reviews have already been published.
The Lobster 320 has texting and calling capability, but several users complain of difficulty in sending SMS because the phone has no T9 capability. It also has MMS features and its polyphonic ringtones are customizable. Its main display can show 65K colors with a resolution of 128x128 pixels and the main screen’s dimensions are 26x28mm which is pretty small especially for people with poor eyesight. It has vibrating alert, a calendar and alarm clock for easy organizing. Its phonebook can store up to 500 names despite its 2MB limited internal memory. The good thing about the Lobster 320 is that it comes with a USB cable so transfer and synchronizing of data is easier. Unfortunately, the phone doesn’t have its own drivers so you will still need to look for a pc suite compatible with the phone.
Despite the cool and sleek design, the phone is lacking in everything. Its battery life is below the market’s average at 2.5 hours of talk time so you need to make sure that you need to have your charger handy at all times. This ultimately means that if you travel a lot or your business needs you to be outdoors for certain amount of times, then this is definitely not the phone you should bring. Lobster 320 doesn’t have GPRS or 3G. It also lacks speakerphone, voice dialing and voice recording. It has no music playback, nor does it have a radio which is common in low-end phones. The phone is also incompatible with java and it doesn’t have an email client. For a phone that has ian integrated camera, its memory just isn’t enough.
In general, the Lobster 320 is a basic phone, and with its affordable price tag, it is surely a great find. For people who are in need of a light, very functional phone and stylish phone without spending a few thousands, then this is definitely the phone you need. Unfortunately, this phone is not so great for travelling as it is only dual band so it will not work in the US. Also, the battery proves to be much of a hassle.
Aside from these disadvantages, some reviews also claim that the phone is flawed as a lot of the stocks actually crash and Virgin Mobile is forced to exchange it to a different unit. As luck would have it, some users of the phone are already on their 2nd to their 5th Lobster 320 handset as the others have managed to give up after 2 to 3 months of usage. Some also claim that despite its fairly spacious keypad, texting is really difficult as different letters appear at times. Some also claim that the manual is really difficult to understand.
There were Lobster 320 phone users who said that the phone’s speakers are excellent and that there is a profile customizable for headset use. Unfortunately, the phone wasn’t sold with accompanying headset and finding one is a Herculean task.
The Lobster 320 is a clamshell mobile that was made especially for Virgin Mobile. It comes in black and its rubberized finish makes is easy to hold. Its dimensions are 82x41x15mm and it weigh around 70 grams, so it is small and light, it fits any pocket.
Despite its small size, the Lobster 320 has a well-spaced and large keypad which you can use when the phone is flicked open. Its directional pad also serve as shortcut functions so now, you no longer have to go through several menus to write your messages or access your messages and calendar. Its menu is user-friendly and is heavily influenced by Nokia.
Perhaps the most attractive (and some people say the only) feature that the Lobster 320 boasts of is its VGa camera. Some reviews on the internet claim that the camera is 3 MP but this is untrue as some people who have purchased the phone from Virgin mobile attest to the poor image quality. Of course for a phone worth £25 when it was first released a couple of years ago, its limited features are but expected. Some people claim that for a phone with a camera, the Lobster 320 is a great deal, but to more people who have used this phone, a lot of negative reviews have already been published.
The Lobster 320 has texting and calling capability, but several users complain of difficulty in sending SMS because the phone has no T9 capability. It also has MMS features and its polyphonic ringtones are customizable. Its main display can show 65K colors with a resolution of 128x128 pixels and the main screen’s dimensions are 26x28mm which is pretty small especially for people with poor eyesight. It has vibrating alert, a calendar and alarm clock for easy organizing. Its phonebook can store up to 500 names despite its 2MB limited internal memory. The good thing about the Lobster 320 is that it comes with a USB cable so transfer and synchronizing of data is easier. Unfortunately, the phone doesn’t have its own drivers so you will still need to look for a pc suite compatible with the phone.
Despite the cool and sleek design, the phone is lacking in everything. Its battery life is below the market’s average at 2.5 hours of talk time so you need to make sure that you need to have your charger handy at all times. This ultimately means that if you travel a lot or your business needs you to be outdoors for certain amount of times, then this is definitely not the phone you should bring. Lobster 320 doesn’t have GPRS or 3G. It also lacks speakerphone, voice dialing and voice recording. It has no music playback, nor does it have a radio which is common in low-end phones. The phone is also incompatible with java and it doesn’t have an email client. For a phone that has ian integrated camera, its memory just isn’t enough.
In general, the Lobster 320 is a basic phone, and with its affordable price tag, it is surely a great find. For people who are in need of a light, very functional phone and stylish phone without spending a few thousands, then this is definitely the phone you need. Unfortunately, this phone is not so great for travelling as it is only dual band so it will not work in the US. Also, the battery proves to be much of a hassle.
Aside from these disadvantages, some reviews also claim that the phone is flawed as a lot of the stocks actually crash and Virgin Mobile is forced to exchange it to a different unit. As luck would have it, some users of the phone are already on their 2nd to their 5th Lobster 320 handset as the others have managed to give up after 2 to 3 months of usage. Some also claim that despite its fairly spacious keypad, texting is really difficult as different letters appear at times. Some also claim that the manual is really difficult to understand.
There were Lobster 320 phone users who said that the phone’s speakers are excellent and that there is a profile customizable for headset use. Unfortunately, the phone wasn’t sold with accompanying headset and finding one is a Herculean task.
Lobster 320 Review - User Reviews
Reviewer: Kirsten Morris - Dorset
Reviewed on: 2nd July, 2008
Rating: 1/10
This mobile isnt very good. some tramp tried to get me to buy one at a car boot for £20 and i had ago on it. it is really slow and rubbish x
Reviewer: Dawn - Nottingham
Reviewed on: 7th June, 2008
Rating: 1/10
This phone is not worth the time and hassel it is causing, in going back to the shops to have it sent back and a new one sent out. its the second one that has just stopped dead, no charge, nothing!
Reviewer: Mike Harvey - Bristol
Reviewed on: 25th April, 2008
Rating: 1/10
I am on my second one of these. The first one had a habit of crashing with a white screen and resetting the date & time to midnight on 01/01/2000. I called Virgin Mobile and they couriered a replacement to my place of work two weeks ago, now this one is doing the same thing. Also it can't find a signal anywhere. I'd give it a score of 0/10 except it isn't possible.
Reviewer: Tony Froud - St Albans
Reviewed on: 1st March, 2008
Rating: 8/10
Great phone for the price. Only dual band so won't work in the US and some other countries. If you just want a light, very functional and stylish mobile phone you wan't get better than this for the price.
Reviewer: PAUL SMITH - LANCASHIRE
Reviewed on: 29th February, 2008
Rating: 1/10
All I can say is that the phone looks good and the price was right.I purchased two of these in November 2008and have had so far 5 replacements and these have all the same faults.ie:
To open to send tex message or phone book I have to try from 10-15 times
before the page opens also unable to add phone numbers.
Score out of 10 =0
Reviewer: lucy - london
Reviewed on: 21st February, 2008
Rating: 3/10
texting is rubish total waste of time.other than that its fine for what its worth.
Reviewer: Beryl - Norfolk
Reviewed on: 4th January, 2008
Rating: 8/10
My new phone is both light and I am sure will be easy to use when I get used to it. I would like an easier to read handbook. As I am 82 my sight for recognising the symbols is not too good.
Reviewer: Gary White - Norfolk
Reviewed on: 17th December, 2007
Rating: 8/10
The phone is great it looks good and the sound is great. The only thing that is against it is that allow it has a profile for an earphone mode there is no place that you can buy one from. I have tried every where from argos to Virgin stores and every where in betwen. If this could be sorted out it would be a realy great phone.
Reviewed on: 2nd July, 2008
Rating: 1/10
This mobile isnt very good. some tramp tried to get me to buy one at a car boot for £20 and i had ago on it. it is really slow and rubbish x
Reviewer: Dawn - Nottingham
Reviewed on: 7th June, 2008
Rating: 1/10
This phone is not worth the time and hassel it is causing, in going back to the shops to have it sent back and a new one sent out. its the second one that has just stopped dead, no charge, nothing!
Reviewer: Mike Harvey - Bristol
Reviewed on: 25th April, 2008
Rating: 1/10
I am on my second one of these. The first one had a habit of crashing with a white screen and resetting the date & time to midnight on 01/01/2000. I called Virgin Mobile and they couriered a replacement to my place of work two weeks ago, now this one is doing the same thing. Also it can't find a signal anywhere. I'd give it a score of 0/10 except it isn't possible.
Reviewer: Tony Froud - St Albans
Reviewed on: 1st March, 2008
Rating: 8/10
Great phone for the price. Only dual band so won't work in the US and some other countries. If you just want a light, very functional and stylish mobile phone you wan't get better than this for the price.
Reviewer: PAUL SMITH - LANCASHIRE
Reviewed on: 29th February, 2008
Rating: 1/10
All I can say is that the phone looks good and the price was right.I purchased two of these in November 2008and have had so far 5 replacements and these have all the same faults.ie:
To open to send tex message or phone book I have to try from 10-15 times
before the page opens also unable to add phone numbers.
Score out of 10 =0
Reviewer: lucy - london
Reviewed on: 21st February, 2008
Rating: 3/10
texting is rubish total waste of time.other than that its fine for what its worth.
Reviewer: Beryl - Norfolk
Reviewed on: 4th January, 2008
Rating: 8/10
My new phone is both light and I am sure will be easy to use when I get used to it. I would like an easier to read handbook. As I am 82 my sight for recognising the symbols is not too good.
Reviewer: Gary White - Norfolk
Reviewed on: 17th December, 2007
Rating: 8/10
The phone is great it looks good and the sound is great. The only thing that is against it is that allow it has a profile for an earphone mode there is no place that you can buy one from. I have tried every where from argos to Virgin stores and every where in betwen. If this could be sorted out it would be a realy great phone.
Leave your own review on the Lobster 320
Let us know what you think of the Lobster 320. Leave your comments on the mobile phone using the form below. Please also score the phone out of 10, and leave your name (first name is OK) and location.
1. You must own or use the phone to leave a review
2. Do not use this form to ask questions
3. Inappropriate submissions will not be accepted
1. You must own or use the phone to leave a review
2. Do not use this form to ask questions
3. Inappropriate submissions will not be accepted
