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Entry-level prepaid clamshell phone has basic features
- Inexpensive, no contract
- Decent call quality
- Color screens
- Good battery life
- Has Bluetooth
- Crowded, poorly designed keypad
- VGA camera isn't good
- Rudimentary email, messaging, browser
- No microSD memory card slot
- No music player
The Virgin Mobile Arc is an inexpensive red-and-black clamshell cell phone with very basic features, including a VGA camera that most reviews say is a weakness. Generally, professional and owner reviews say you get what you might expect for $50 and no contract -- user reviews are realistic in their expectations. You do get a couple of features that aren't standard for cheap phones -- Bluetooth capability and color display on the 1-inch external screen as well as a 1.8-inch internal LCD. No professional reviews describe the main screen as being anything more than "decent," however. Many owner reviews praise the UTStarcom-built phone's battery life, and in independent testing, CNET got 35 minutes more than the promised 3.5 hours of talk time between charges.
Reviews say the Virgin Mobile Arc is an OK choice for those who basically want to make phone calls -- most reviews say call quality is adequate or better. Where the Virgin Mobile Arc falls short, reviews say, is for those who want to text a lot or surf the web. The keypad is described as crowded (although at least the keys are slightly raised), and while there is a dedicated web button, it's "where you would typically find the End button," according to one reviewer, which can be annoying for some. InfoSync says the email and messaging clients are "rudimentary." Multiple reviews describe the browsing experience as slow -- a review at PrepaidReviews.com calls it "your basic 2002 mobile Web experience," meaning it's hardly state-of-the-art. The Arc has 512 MB of flash memory and no microSD memory card slot. There's no music player; one review points to the Nokia 5130 XpressMusic as a similarly priced option that includes a music player.
We found the best review at CNET, which is often the case. CNET rates a large number of cell phones and thus has a great frame of reference; it also goes the extra yard by performing battery tests and the like. We also found good professional reviews at InfoSync, About.com and PrepaidReviews.com. Consumer Reports doesn't cover Virgin Mobile phones. We found a smattering of owner reviews at Amazon.com, Target.com, BestBuy.com and PhoneScoop.com.
Our Sources
1. CNET
CNET rates the Virgin Mobile Arc "very good," presumably in relation to price, saying that call quality is all right, but that the camera and keyboard are substandard. About eight user reviews combine for a slightly higher rating.
Review: Virgin Mobile Arc, Nicole Lee, July 22, 2008
InfoSync's thorough review gives a "mediocre" rating but says you can't expect greatness for $50. Berne especially scoffs at the web browser: "Though it performed fine for basic searching within the Virgin Mobile WAP deck, once we tried to browser [sic] real Web pages, things got messy in a hurry."
Review: Virgin Mobile Arc, Philip Berne, Aug. 7, 2008
3. About.com
About.com's guide to cell phones gives the Virgin Mobile Arc a "somewhat recommended" designation, criticizing the plastic build and $30 cost for a replacement battery. The Nokia 5130 XpressMusic is called a better deal at the same price because of its music player. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
Review: Cell Phone Review: Virgin Mobile's Low-Priced Arc Clamshell, Adam Fendelman
Reviews here are credible enough, presenting pros and cons. The gist is that the Virgin Mobile Arc is a decent deal for $50 but rates a "lukewarm" recommendation, with the keypad design, the low-res display screen and slow web browser being the main drawbacks.
Review: Review of the Virgin Mobile Arc (by UTStarcom), Editors of PrepaidReviews.com
5. Target.com
About 10 owners weigh in with reviews at Target.com, almost all scoring the Virgin Mobile Arc extremely high. Several do say that the volume could be louder, but most agree that the Virgin Mobile Arc is a good deal for the price.
Review: Virgin Mobile Arc Prepaid Cell Phone, Contributors to Target.com
6. Amazon.com
About eight owner reviews combine to give the Virgin Mobile Arc a good overall score, the lone low score criticizing customer service rather than the phone itself (the reviewer hadn't activated the phone yet). Another review says there was a problem with email and the web browser, but tech support fixed that.
Review: Starcom Arc Prepaid Phone (Virgin Mobile), Contributors to Amazon.com
7. BestBuy.com
None of the approximately dozen owner reviews give the Virgin Mobile Arc below four out of five stars. Some say the camera isn't the best, but most seem to accept that as par for a cheap phone. Some point out that the Arc's battery life is good, but a couple of reviews disagree.
Review: Virgin Mobile -- UT Starcom Arc No-Contract Cell Phone, Contributors to BestBuy.com
Just a couple of owner reviews are posted here, but they are quite thorough in listing pros and cons. There is some criticism of the screen, volume and web browser. Battery life is praised.
Review: UTStarcom Arc CDM-8074, Contributors to PhoneScoop.com
