product analyzed

Telephone for the elderly Funker C85 Comfort Plus

Telephone for the elderly Funker C85 Comfort Plus

General image of the Funker C85 with the screen folded down
Overall rating:
4/5
Technology:

Categories assigned to this product within the main category Technology.

Needs:

Categories assigned to this product within the main category Needs.

Related reviews:
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Below is the video of the review.

What does it consist of:

The C85 Comfort Plus model from the Funker brand is a low-cost phone with a flip-up screen designed for the elderly, and which includes most of the features that characterize mobile phones in this range, such as the emergency button, FM radio, the charging base, large buttons or easy-to-use menus.

Weight and measurements

104 x 53 x 18,4 mm

85 g

Image showing a general view of the Funker C85 with the lid openImage showing a general view of the Funker C85 with the lid folded down

Forms of acquisition:

Forms of acquisition

The model can be purchased in numerous physical and online stores. Here is a link to a price comparison between various stores:

https://www.idealo.es/precios/6946202/funker-c85-comfort-plus-rojo.html

The price of the terminal, at least during the analysis (March 2022), ranges between €34 and €45.

In addition, there is an official manufacturer store where the device can be purchased:

https://tienda.funkertech.com/es/facil-uso/280-c85-easy-comfort-negro.html

In the following link you can download the user manual of the phone:

https://funkertech.com/manuales/C85-espanol.pdf

Support and warranty

Through the following link you can consult the conditions of the guarantee:

https://www.funkertech.com/postventa.php

As indicated on the phone's warranty page, it is indicated that it has a 2-year warranty from the purchase of the product. This information may not be up to date since, in Spain, after the modification of the General Law for the Defense of Consumers and Users, it has been established that durable products (such as telephones) purchased from January 1, 2022 will be have a 3-year warranty.

Through the following link you can contact the product support service:

https://www.funkertech.com/contacto.php

You can also contact through the following email:

support@funkertech.com

The contact telephone number is the following: 976212152

 

Technical assessment:

Author Daniel William Alonso

Date: March 2022

Buttons and physical appearance

The Funker C85 has a numeric keyboard with large keys that are clearly identified and sufficiently separated to avoid pressing several keys at the same time. In addition, they have a good contrast. It includes a main 2,4'' TFT screen and another 1,44'' outside the lid. The size of the texts displayed on the screens is large enough to be able to distinguish them without problems.

Image showing phone on in home menu with flip open

Above the outer screen there are 3 LEDs that when illuminated indicate the following:

  • Green light: Call, call absent or unread message.
  • Red light: Low battery (flashing) or charging mode (lights up).
  • White light: Flashlight.

Image showing the front of the phone powered on with the cover folded down showing the external display and camera and LEDs above it

On the sides of the phone is the headphone jack, the Micro USB charger connection and the volume and flashlight keys.

Image showing the side of the phone where the volume and flashlight keys and the Micro USB connector are locatedImage showing the side of the phone where the headphone jack is located

It is worth mentioning that it is not very comfortable that it is the volume key that also activates the flashlight.

Menu and texts

To access the menus, press the 3-dot key located in the upper left. Once inside, you can navigate through the different categories using the arrows, the M1 and M2 keys or the volume keys. There are a total of 6 categories:

  • Contacts
  • Messages
  • Calls
  • Organizer
  • Multimedia
  • configurations

Image showing an overview of the phone's contacts menu

If the user gets lost in the menus, simply by pressing the end call key once or by lowering the cover, it will be possible to comfortably return to the start menu.

To enter text with the keyboard, you have to press the keys repeatedly until the desired letter appears. To switch between uppercase, lowercase and numbers, simply press the hash key, which will change the text input method.

A very positive aspect of this phone is the ease with which you can access contacts and make calls. To access contacts, there is a quick access option by pressing the down arrow button from the home screen. To make calls, 2 contacts can be associated to the speed dial keys M1 and M2 which, if pressed while on the home screen, will make a call to the assigned phone.

Another advantageous functionality is the fact that it is a mobile phone with a folding screen, which allows you to take the call and hang up by opening and closing the cover. This functionality can be turned on and off in the call settings.

On occasions when scrolling from left to right is needed, the M1 and M2 keys will be used. This decision does not seem very successful, since it limits their use as speed dial keys only for the case in which you are on the home screen. Something similar happens with the volume keys, but more exaggerated, since it does not allow you to change the volume while on the home screen, only in settings or within the call itself.

SOS button

This functionality, which has already become essential within the range of telephones for the elderly, allows a call to be sent to a list of up to 5 contacts when the SOS button is pressed (which will be called in order if the previous contact does not respond) and a configurable distress message to the chosen contact.

In addition, when pressing this button, the terminal will emit an alarm sound so that people who are nearby can attend to the emergency.

The button is located on the back, and is easily identifiable both visually and by touch. The casing has a small relief that surrounds the button, which can be useful both to better identify it by touch and to avoid accidentally pressing it.

It should be mentioned that it can happen that one of the contacts on the emergency list that is called is skipped by the answering machine, which will cause it to be taken as if the call had been taken, ending the loop of calls without really anyone having answered.

 Image showing the back of the phone, where the SOS button and speaker are located

Calls and SMS

After carrying out numerous call tests, it can be concluded that it has a good listening quality. The maximum volume is acceptable, but since it is a mobile designed for the elderly, it would be nice if it had the option to increase the volume above the maximum recommended for those who are hard of hearing. It has a hands-free option, which can be easily activated by pressing the 3-point key on the top right during the call.

Coverage has been very good during the trial period, although it should be noted that it has only been tested in urban areas.

Sending SMS is very simple, and for this you have to enter the category of messages and select the option to write SMS. Once written, pressing the options key can be sent to the contacts you want.

Camera

The terminal includes a camera on the outside of the cover. Its access to it is very simple, pressing a key dedicated to it with the symbol of a camera. To take photos, simply press the camera key again.

The camera quality is not good, but it is in the line of phones in this range.

It is worth mentioning that the camera allows you to take photos, but not videos, and the internal storage is very limited, so if you want to have an extensive gallery, it would be advisable to add an SD card, since without it you can hardly take one or two photos.

Manual

A quick setup guide is included in the box that explains the main features of the phone. The size of the texts is large enough for proper reading. The main problem with this guide is its translation into Spanish, which is not very good and, in some cases, can lead to confusion. In addition, at some points it can be very brief.

This quick guide can be downloaded at the following link:

https://funkertech.com/manuales/C85-espanol.pdf

Image showing the cover of the quick setup guide

Image showing the quick setup guide open 

FM radio and audio playback

The terminal includes a recorder and allows you to play audio.

The FM radio has the main advantage that it does not require the connection of headphones for its operation, and can be heard through the built-in speaker.

A point of improvement associated with the use of the radio lies in turning it off and on, having to access the radio menu every time you want to perform these tasks.

Another problem that has been found is that you can only change the volume of the radio when you are inside the radio menu itself.

charging station

Included in the box is a charger with a charging station that features a single snap position and a good fit for the phone. When correctly connecting the mobile to the charging base, it will emit a sound and the red LED on the cover will light up to ensure that it is charging correctly.

 Image showing an overview of the charging base

Image showing the phone charging on the charging base

Battery

The battery has a capacity of 1000 mAh, which provides more than enough autonomy for a device with these characteristics, withstanding several days of continuous use.

Additional storage

The phone has a slot for adding additional storage via a MicroSD card.

Connectivity

The device features 2G communication and Bluetooth connection.

Flashlight, calendar, alarm and calculator

The terminal has a flashlight located on the outside of the cover, which provides lighting that is more than sufficient. To turn it on, you have to hold down one of the volume keys, which does not seem like a very wise decision since, since these keys can be used to navigate through the menus, you may accidentally change the menu when you turn on the flashlight.

The alarm, to-do, calculator, and calendar features can be found under the organizer category.

The alarms are very easy to program and allow you to configure parameters such as the tone to use and the repetition frequency.

The to-do feature allows you to write down a task, give it a priority and schedule a date to set an alarm to remind you.

The calculator allows you to perform simple addition, subtraction, multiplication and division operations.

The calendar is easy to use and allows you to set reminders with an associated alarm if desired.

Accessibility

There are three points to highlight about the accessibility of the terminal:

  • When dialing the numbers to call a phone, these will be played via audio if configured in the profiles section of the settings menu.
  • It does not include a screen reader as in the case of iOS or Android mobiles.
  • Does not feature hearing aid compatibility.

Conclusions

The Funker C85 Comfort Plus has turned out to be a very competent telephone within its range, being very comfortable and easy to use for the elderly, with an SOS button that is very useful and interesting features such as speed dialing to facilitate carrying out calls. It has some points to improve, such as the use given to the volume keys, but in general it is a phone that more than meets the main demands of the elderly.

Highlights

  • Its design, with large and well-separated keys and with a text size and brightness that is comfortable for the target audience.
  • The possibility of being able to listen to the FM radio without the need to connect headphones.
  • The existence of speed dial keys, allowing calls to be made in a very simple way.
  • The ease of taking photos, simply having to press the key dedicated to the camera both to access it and to take photos.
  • The battery, which offers high autonomy.
  • The SOS button, which is easily identifiable and configurable.
  • The charging base, which has a single snap position and is easy to use.
  • The fact that it is a phone with a folding screen allows you to pick up and hang up calls simply by opening and closing the lid, although this functionality may not be configured at first (if not, it will have to be activated in call settings).

Improvement points

  • The manual is a bit short in some areas and its translation leaves a lot to be desired, sometimes creating confusion.
  • Having to access the profile options to change the general volume of the phone.
  • The maximum call volume is fine, but it would be nice if it was allowed to go above this level for those who are hard of hearing.
  • The turning on and off of the radio is not very agile, having to access the radio menu both to turn it on and to turn it off. It is also inconvenient to be able to change the volume of the radio only when you are in the radio menu itself.
  • The fact that the flashlight and volume keys share, since, in the case of being in the menus, as the volume keys can be used to scroll, turning on the flashlight can cause unwanted scrolling.
  • Using speed dial keys to scroll from left to right in the menus limits the use of the speed dial functionality to only the case when you are not in the menus, that is, when you are on the screen. beginning.
  • The storage capacity of the phone without SD card is very low.
  • Does not feature hearing aid compatibility.
  • The possibility that, if the answering machine of any of the telephones that are being called with the SOS button jumps, the loop of calls from the contact list will end.

 

 

Technical evaluation scores.

Design and manufacturing:
4/5
This section refers to the physical aspects and details of the manufacturing of the technological product
Technical benefits:
3/5
Description of the quality of the technical specifications of the technological solution
User experience:
4/5
This criterion is linked to the user's assessment when relating to the technical product or application.
Accessibility:
3/5
It is the degree to which people can use or access a product, technological solution or service, regardless of their technical, cognitive or physical abilities

Social valuation:

Social valuation scores.

Impact and utility:
This item has not been rated/5
Describes to what extent the functionalities of the product are useful and impact on improving the life of the user
Design and Ergonomics:
This item has not been rated/5
Assessment of how the design of the technological solution adapts to the person to achieve greater comfort and efficiency when using it
Usability and accessibility:
This item has not been rated/5
Possibility of the device to be used, understood and taken advantage of under equal conditions for anyone
Ease of acquisition:
This item has not been rated/5
It refers to the possibilities of accessing and acquiring a technological solution by the user.

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