Customer Reviews

Pantech Matrix C740 Phone, Navy (AT&T)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I purchased this phone to make texting easier. For that purpose, it is a nice phone. However, after having the phone for 3 days, it slipped off my dresser (onto a carpeted floor) and the screen cracked. I have read other instances of the screen cracking while in the users pocket. I would recommend buying the insurance if you choose this phone.

Another annoying thing with the Matrix is the AT&T addresses (AT&T Now, etc...) in the address book cannot be deleted. Seems like this could be fixed with a software update.

I was going to write a review on att but they are down for maintenance, so thought I would write one hear. Got this phone about 2 weeks ago and love it. I love the double slider, the keyboard is small but I love it that way. Might not be too great for a guy though. Phone calls are very clear, and I love the mp3 player. I had trouble finding headphones, and was about to get another phone cause I wanted headphones to listen to music, but I found some at the att store. Just so everyone knows, if you find headphones that say they are compatible with the duo, they will work for this to. They have the same connector. I have internet on my phone, which I do suggest getting. There is not much you can do with any phone now a days without it, unless you just want it for texting and calling. I wanna say that I have read all these reviews saying the battery life sucks and has to be charged everyday. I think the battery is fine. I have had 4 phones, and had to charge them all everynite, and so does everyone else I know with a cell. I would like to know what other phones people had before this one. If you are on it everyday, and searching the net and stuff, then yes, when you go to bed at nite, you will have to charge your phone. Don't think thats a big deal since you are sleeping anyway. I will say the camera kinda sucks, not to bad if your outside, but every little movement makes it blurry. Not a big deal for me though cause I just take a few pics to use as wallpaper. There is no zoom on the camera though and the directions say there is. It was a misprint or something I guess. One thing I really love about this phone is the memory. I already has a bunch, plus a slot for a memory card to hold more. One thing I don't like is that you can't have ringtones more than 300 kb, which sucks. But from what I hear, this is the case with all phones with an mp3 player ( unless its a gophone.) All in all, this is such an awesome phone, and I'm so glad I got it! Go buy this phone, you won't be disappointed!

I wanted a phone with a full keyboard because I text more than I talk (common when you have a teenage daughter) and trying to use a numeric keyboard to type was just too tough for me. My wife wanted the same thing so I got her the Samsung Magnet. That felt a little too delicate for me so I decided to try the Pantech. The slider is nice and it makes texting much easier. But other than the slider the phone isn't as good as some phones I have had.

Cons:
* The quality of the pictures taken with camera is not very good. The pictures are OK but I think most of us expect cameras to be better these days.
* It is a bit heavier and thicker than what I would have liked (the price of getting a slider, I guess). It does feel solidly built though.
* The keys on the full keyboard are hard to identify in bright light. The non-numeric keys (blue writing on off-white keys) are almost impossible to identify. The numeric keys (white letters on blue keys) are easy to read. They should have made the whole keypad like the numeric keypad. In shaded light they aren't a problem.
* You can't delete the AT&T contacts from the contact list and there are 8 of them. I never use them and they are always the first things in the list that I have to scroll through.

Overall, I am happy with the phone but then all I really want from a phone is that you can talk on it and send text messages.

A nice enough device, and it works well. That said, like so many others, I bought this phone for the ability to text without having to use the number keypad; I love the dual slider for that reason. But...

...this phone is twice as thick as the V3 it replaced, it won't pair with my S9 headset or my HS820 bluetooth, there is ONE case made specifically for it, handling the phone almost invariably causes the ringtone to fire, there is no Chargepod adapter available for it (gotta love the Chargepod!), the menus can't (or can't easily) be modified, there's no zoom function for the camera, quick access to frequently-used menus isn't available, and there's no voice dial. If it wasn't for all its shortcomings, this thing would be perfect... but then wouldn't we all? And sadly, I don't text nearly as much as I thought I would.

I miss my V3 Razr. When I satisfy my 18-month corporate commitment, this phone gets retired.

If you want the short version: don't buy it. If you're interested in why, read on.

I will just list all problems I had trying to rank them in some sort of meaningful order:

1) The quality of the audio is just bad. The speaker is very muffled and only indoors the voice is somewhat intelligible. Outside the whole thing gets much worse because there seems to be a self destructive noise cancellation system that responds very poorly to outside noise. It constantly changes the volume up and down in what results in an impossible phone call. Hard to explain, but I read people with the same problem (which is one of the reasons why I didn't bother exchanging it)

2) The good people at Pantech don't use standard plugs, so I could not use my perfectly good mini-USB headset. I knew that, but I figured I threw an extra $20 at it and just get one online. Here's the scoop: they don't exist! At least not from Pantech. There's a crappy model sold only on eBay and other unknown websites. I tried it, the quality was horrible and it actually fell apart in a week. I kid you not. Only BT Headsets are available but those are impossibly uncomfortable and most people avoid them.

3) The keyboard is actually nice, but the keys might as well be all blank. These people have no concept of designing keyboards with a little contrast. Computer keyboards have very contrasty combinations, mine is white on black. With cell phones, of course, it has to look cool, not actually work.

4) DTMFs don't work. I called my phone card, punch my PIN and nothing. Called my phone card tech support: they monitored the call and could not hear tones as I was pressing the buttons. Yes, my DTMFs, are on. I can only set them off. Any other phone with same card works.

5) The plug is not only non standard, but very hard to use for two reasons: 1) it's very tight 2) it's opposite the volume buttons, so you CANNOT plug/unplug your power supply without hitting the up/down, which in turn will ring make your phone ring. Try that at midnight when the baby finally fell asleep.

Luckily the store took it back and I'm now the proud owner of a real phone!

PS: to all the manufacturers that think they are so smart using non standard plugs forcing users to own collections of chargers and headsets: the #1 feature I looked for in my new phone: mini USB.

My husband and I both have the Matrix phones and we both are having problems with the internet. I will have my phone in my pocket and it will locked when I put it there but later when I take it out it will be on the internet somehow. Don't know how its doing it. Also my husband just laid his down on the dresser once and the internet kicked on and was on all night long without us knowing it and now our bill is $500 in internet usage!!! We got it reduced some, but they didn't take it all back. We are just told that these phones can do that and pretty much to 'deal with it and be careful to make sure its completely locked.' We are looking for new phones.

The keyboard option is wonderful though.

I bought the Pantech Matrix almost two years ago with a qualified upgrade service plan. I do not use or need a bunch of extra features on a phone and the Matrix was just what I needed. I will be upgrading to another model as my plan is coming to an end; for anyone who is looking for a nice, clean looking, easy to use phone - the Matrix is a good choice. The durability of the phone was far better than I would have expected. It has met the concrete on many, many occasions - yet it still functions properly and the slide mechanism has yet to have any problems.

Good job Pantech.

OK, i got this phone because of the dual slider. At first, i thought it was realy good, and addicting. The keyboard buttons are very small, there is an ok screen, though it could be bigger, and the numerical part is relativley flat. The thing that realy bugged me was the camera. Even after you have taken a photo, the zoom makes no sence, it zooms in all the way, and you cant do anything about it, also, it lacks a flash. It is also very very very bulky. I liked how the it was a dual slider, and the menu was very good, but the navigational keys on the front of the phone didnt feel very good, unlike the volume keys which felt good. I didn't have an internet plan, so it costed money to go on, and it always went on because the center button on the navagation keys goes to internet, and you cant disable it. After a while, this phone just gets a little boring. It isn't a bad phone, but, compared to what is on the market now, it is weak. This phone has good means and everything, but, it just could be a little better. All in all, a good messaging phone.So, if you are going to get a new phone, I would recomend getting something a little better then this,but, if you can only get this or a flip phone, get the pantech matrix, because I don't think you will be too disappointed.

Many people like the dual slider phones. One way, it's a full keyboard. The other, it's a standard number pad. This is the appeal of the Matrix. However, it doesn't do everything like it should.

Pros first...

* Has a camera, although the quality is pretty shabby at 1.3 megapixels.
* Has a full keyboard.
* Comes in at least 2 different colors.
* Is 3G enabled, so you can use the GPS services and use high speed data.

Cons...

* Doesn't seem 'sturdy' - definitely get insurance or the Best Buy protection plan.
* Keyboard is a bit small - the letters at the top of the keyboard are difficult to press unless you have tiny thumbs.
* Because of the dual slider function, the phone is thicker than most phones.
* Not sure how long the dual slider function will last - just one or two more parts that could break in the long run.
* Pantech chargers can be incredibly hard to find in stores, as well as cases.

In closing - if you have small thumbs or really liked the last Pantech slider, you'll have no problem getting used to this phone. It's everything the last edition was, plus more. If not, I'd probably skip this one, as there are many other better phones on the market.

Bought this phone about a month ago. I switched from a Motorola Razr V3xxx to this phone because I thought the sliding and full keyboard was really cool. I have service with AT&T. So far it's a great phone except for the battery life and the camera. The battery dies a lot quicker than the one on my Razr and the camera is REALLY not good indoors or in low light. Other than that, really cool phone. If I could buy a battery that lasted longer that would be awesome. I don't really use the camera that much except to add pictures for my wallpaper.