Archos 40 Cesium Review Specs Pricing & ProsCons Unveiled

Overview

The Archos 40 Cesium is a budget-friendly smartphone that was introduced to the market in September 2014. It was designed to cater to users seeking an affordable device with basic smartphone capabilities. Operating on Microsoft Windows Phone 8.1, the Archos 40 Cesium was a noteworthy entry in the lineup of smartphones during that period. Although it is now discontinued, its features and design reflect a particular era in the smartphone industry.

Design and Build

The design of the Archos 40 Cesium is straightforward and functional. With dimensions tailored for one-handed use, this device was aimed at providing comfort alongside practicality. Although specific dimensions and weight details are unavailable, the device featured a compact body that was typical of smartphones in its category. The Archos 40 Cesium offered a tactile experience thanks to its dual SIM capacity, enabling users to manage multiple numbers conveniently. The device was available in several color options, including black, yellow, and blue, offering a bit of personalization to suit individual tastes.

Display

The Archos 40 Cesium sports a 4.0-inch TFT display, which at the time of release, was considered quite standard for budget smartphones. With a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels and a pixel density of about 233 pixels per inch, the display provided decent clarity for basic tasks such as browsing the web, checking emails, and social media interactions. Despite not being particularly sharp by today's standards, the display was more than adequate for the needs of the target market in 2014.

Performance

Under the hood, the Archos 40 Cesium is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 chipset, built on a 28 nm process. The quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7 CPU and Adreno 302 GPU offered performance suitable for everyday tasks such as calling, messaging, and light app usage. Paired with 512MB of RAM, the device was clearly aimed at users with modest performance requirements. While multitasking was not its strongest suit, the phone efficiently handled single-task operations expected from a budget smartphone at that time.

Camera

The camera system on the Archos 40 Cesium consists of a 5-megapixel main camera with autofocus and an LED flash, suitable for casual photography. It was capable of recording video at 1080p@30fps, which was a significant feature in affordable phones back then. The device also includes a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, which could be utilized for basic selfies and video calls. Although these camera specifications may appear limited by today's standards, they were competitive in the budget market segment during its release.

Storage and Memory

Storage options on the Archos 40 Cesium were minimal, with 4GB of internal storage available to users. However, the presence of a microSDHC card slot allowed users to expand storage capacity, accommodating additional apps, photos, and media files. The built-in 512MB of RAM was enough to support the Windows Phone 8.1 operating system, although it provided limited scope for running resource-intensive applications.

Battery Life

The battery life of the Archos 40 Cesium was supported by a 1700 mAh Li-Ion removable battery. For users of budget smartphones, a removable battery provided the flexibility to carry a spare in situations where extended use demanded additional power. Considering the phone's modest hardware, the battery capacity sufficed for a full day of moderate usage, covering tasks like calling, texting, and light web browsing.

Connectivity

The Archos 40 Cesium supported GSM and HSPA network technologies, providing reliable connectivity options for its users. It featured dual SIM functionality, allowing users to switch between two numbers seamlessly. Furthermore, the device included Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n for wireless internet connections, Bluetooth 4.0 for connecting to peripherals, and GPS for location services. However, NFC was not supported, a limitation for users interested in mobile payments. Additionally, it included an FM radio, providing entertainment on-the-go.

User Experience and Software

Running on Microsoft Windows Phone 8.1, the Archos 40 Cesium delivered a unique user experience distinct from Android and iOS devices. The Windows Phone interface was known for its intuitive Live Tiles, providing users with at-a-glance information and updates. This operating system was designed to run smoothly on devices with modest specifications, such as the Archos 40 Cesium, ensuring that the software experience remained fluid despite the hardware limitations.

Price and Availability

At the time of its release, the Archos 40 Cesium was priced at approximately 80 EUR, positioning it as an appealing choice for budget-conscious consumers. Despite its discontinuation, the phone represented good value for money during its availability, offering essential smartphone features without breaking the bank.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Archos 40 Cesium was a compact and cost-effective smartphone aimed at users with basic mobile needs. While it may not have stood out in terms of performance or cutting-edge technology, it provided a practical solution for those seeking an entry-level device. Its simple design, dual SIM capability, and the introduction of the Windows Phone operating system at an affordable price made it a viable option for many during its time. Despite the advances in technology and the emergence of more powerful devices, the Archos 40 Cesium remains a testament to an era when functionality and affordability were key consumer priorities.