Amoi WMA8508 InDepth Review Specs Prices & More

Overview of Amoi WMA8508

The Amoi WMA8508 is a feature phone that was announced in August 2007. Despite its cancellation before reaching the market, the device garnered attention due to its compact design and basic feature set tailored for users seeking simplicity in mobile communication during that era. While it is not a smartphone by today’s standards, its features were quite relevant for its time.

Design and Build

The Amoi WMA8508 designed with a focus on simplicity and portability. Its dimensions are 95 x 48 x 15.9 mm, making it easy to hold and compact enough to fit comfortably in a pocket. It features a Mini-SIM slot, typical for phones of that era, enabling users to switch networks easily. However, its weight is unspecified, but given its size and battery capacity, it was likely lightweight.

Display

The phone boasts a 2.0-inch TFT display capable of rendering 256K colors, which was standard for feature phones in the mid-2000s. The screen resolution stands at 176 x 220 pixels, providing basic clarity for viewing text and images. The screen-to-body ratio is approximately 27.6%, reflecting the smaller display sizes common before touchscreen dominance.

Camera

For a feature phone, the Amoi WMA8508 provides a rotating 1.3 MP camera. This was a notable feature as it allowed users to adjust the lens direction for capturing images. However, the device does not support video recording capabilities, which limits its multimedia usage compared to contemporary devices.

Memory and Storage

The device comes with 16MB of internal storage, a standard amount for storing contacts, messages, and essential applications during its time. It supports a microSD card, enabling users to expand storage for additional files or music. The phonebook capacity is limited to 500 entries, and it keeps records of 20 dialed, received, and missed calls each.

Network and Connectivity

In terms of network technology, the Amoi WMA8508 supports GSM 900/1800 and UMTS 2100 bands, providing basic voice and data connectivity. Users could experience a maximum speed of 384 kbps, which was sufficient for basic browsing and emails. Unfortunately, it lacks WLAN and GPS, but it does support Bluetooth 1.2 with A2DP capabilities, allowing for wireless audio streaming to compatible devices.

Sound and Multimedia

The phone supports various alert types, including vibration, and downloadable polyphonic ringtones along with AMR, MP3, AAC, AAC+, midi, and wav formats. However, it lacks a loudspeaker, and there is no provision for a 3.5mm audio jack, which could limit audio experience flexibility.

Battery Life

Underneath its cover lies a removable Li-Ion battery with a capacity of 780 mAh. While current standards would consider this quite low, it was adequate for a device with basic functionalities, likely providing a substantial standby and talk time on a single charge.

Software and Features

Running on a basic feature phone operating system, the Amoi WMA8508 supports essential messaging services like SMS, MMS, and Email. It includes a WAP 2.0 browser for rudimentary internet access and JAVA MIDP 2.0 for lightweight applications and games. Although it lacks advanced sensors or smart capabilities, it offers basic entertainment through included games.

Conclusion

The Amoi WMA8508 represents a snapshot of mobile technology in 2007, offering basic communication and multimedia features wrapped in a compact form factor. While it was cancelled before hitting the market, its design and feature set reflect the user demands of the time. Simplicity, reliability, and basic connectivity were its hallmarks, making it an interesting device for collectors and tech historians.