Aspera F40 Review
Summary: Accessibility made easy!
4.9
Smart accessibility!
We are inundated with smartphones and sometimes you just need to go back to basics which is where the Aspera F40 comes into play.
The Aspera F40 sports a classic flip design with its minimalistic yet stylish aesthetics, silver (titanium) and black colouring plus a large 2.8” (7.1cm) screen and large keypad. While the F40 is compact when closed, when opened, it feels good in your hand(s) and there is even icons on the front of the phone when closed for notifications (calls, messages and battery metre) that light-up. The phone also works on both the 4G and 3G networks.
Another great feature of the Aspera F40 is that it comes with a programmable integrated SOS button on the back that allows the user to phone and message (e.g. I need help) their contacts if this button is pushed or you can program 000 as the main emergency contact.
As a result, this makes the Aspera F40 perfect for the elderly or people with disabilities and if they are receiving supports through the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) or My Aged Care such as a Home Care Package, you might want them to flag this phone with their case manager as there may be funding available for them to purchase this phone on their package. Furthermore, if you have a vision issues, the numbers on the keypad are easy to read as is the screen. My only gripe with the phone is the itsy bitsy manual and its tiny font.
There is a setup process to get the phone up and running. This includes installing the battery by removing the back cover (there is a notch on the bottom left of the back case) and of course inserting the SIM card. Once this has been done, you can then power the phone and presto, you’re ready to go. Opposed from the keypad, the other physical buttons is volume up/down plus a torch button.
The interface of the Aspera F40 is powered by Android with a “skin” to simplify the interface with large icons on each of the four scrollable screens that makes navigating a breeze. Like phones from a simpler time, the F40 even comes with a FM radio feature which is actually quite neat and will save you money as you don’t have to stream music or internet radio.
The battery size is 1600 mAh that is perfect for this phone due to its limited functionality and to charge, you simply connect the included USB cable into the phone and then to the mains. With that said, you will probably only be using this phone for calls and texting so the smaller battery makes sense.
Navigating the phone is done with the arrows on the keypad (with a middle button) and there are also dedicated buttons for contacts, messages and camera, including answer and hang-up. Speaking of navigation, there is also a browser app so you can surf the net.
The camera on the phone is 5 megapixels which supports a resolution of 2560 x 1920 that would be perfect for 4 x 6” prints and even the next size up. It’s also a camera that works best in situations with good lighting and while there is some colour saturation, the end result is acceptable.
Lastly, the F40 comes with Bluetooth 4.2 that allows you to connect the phone to other Bluetooth devices such as a car audio system for hands free while driving. Speaking of hands free, the loud speaker on the F40 is quite loud and clear which is activated by just one press. If you want to use the FM Radio on this phone, you do need to install the included headphones that in turn is used as an antenna.
Final Thoughts?
The Aspera F40 has been designed for a particular cohort and it captures this market well. All in all, it is a lightweight and compact phone with handy features such as the external screen, the large keypad and the minimalistic interface. Lastly, it supports 4G for future proofing and is affordably priced at just $99 and can be used with a variety of carriers as the phone is unlocked.
Recommended!
Technical Specifications
- 4G + 3G
- 2.8” Display
- 5MP Rear Camera
- Messaging SMS and MMS
- 1600mAh battery
- Bluetooth 4.2
- SOS Button
- FM Radio
- Loudspeaker
- Expandable up to 32GB with SD card
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