Archos 50d Helium 4G Specs Prices and Pros & Cons Guide

Overview of Archos 50d Helium 4G

The Archos 50d Helium 4G, released in July 2015, emerged as an affordable smartphone option with a focus on providing essential features at an economical price. This device, with its dual-SIM capability and support for 4G LTE networks, was aimed at users looking for basic internet connectivity and communication functionality. Although it has since been discontinued, its specifications and features still offer a glimpse into mid-2010s smartphone technology.

Design and Build

The Archos 50d Helium 4G boasts a sleek design, measuring 146 x 72.2 x 8.4 mm and weighing in at 154 grams. It features a modern, understated aesthetic that was available in two color options: Dark Blue and Black. The device's build is primarily plastic, which contributes to its lightweight nature, making it comfortable to hold and use for extended periods. Its compact form factor and dual Micro-SIM capability cater to users who require the convenience of two separate phone lines in one device.

Display

This smartphone is equipped with a 5.0-inch IPS LCD display, offering a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels at a 16:9 ratio, which achieves a pixel density of approximately 294 pixels per inch. The screen's vibrant colors and decent viewing angles are well-suited for everyday uses such as browsing social media, watching videos, and reading text. The screen-to-body ratio of around 65.4% indicates a slightly prominent bezel, typical for phones of its era.

Performance and Software

Under the hood, the Archos 50d Helium 4G is powered by the Qualcomm MSM8916 Snapdragon 410 chipset with a 28nm process technology. The CPU is a quad-core Cortex-A53, clocked at 1.2 GHz, accompanied by the Adreno 305 GPU. This setup provides adequate performance for basic tasks, casual gaming, and multimedia consumption, although it may struggle with more demanding applications.

The smartphone comes with Android 5.1 Lollipop pre-installed, offering a user-friendly experience with support for a wide range of applications from the Google Play Store. Although Android 5.1 is an outdated version by current standards, it was one of the more popular iterations at its time, providing stability and performance efficiency.

Memory and Storage

The device features 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage, which was considered modest at the time of its release. The limited RAM makes multitasking more challenging, as switching between apps can lead to slower performance. However, the inclusion of a microSD card slot allows users to expand storage capacity, alleviating the constraint of the internal memory to a certain extent.

Camera Specifications

The Archos 50d Helium 4G is equipped with a 13MP rear camera featuring autofocus and an LED flash for enhanced low-light photography. This camera setup enables users to capture decent-quality images and supports video recording at 1080p@30fps. Additionally, a 5MP front-facing camera caters to selfie enthusiasts and supports basic video calling functions.

Connectivity and Network

The smartphone supports GSM, HSPA, and LTE network technologies, covering 2G, 3G, and 4G bands, which include GSM 850/900/1800/1900 on SIM 1 & SIM 2, HSDPA 900/2100, and 4G bands 3, 7, 20. These capabilities ensure a broad range of connectivity options, affording users the benefit of faster internet speeds where LTE networks are available.

Additional connectivity features include Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, and the ability to create a hotspot. Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, FM radio, and a microUSB 2.0 port provide further communication and entertainment utilities. The absence of NFC is notable, which might have been considered a drawback for users looking for contactless payment solutions.

Battery Life

The Archos 50d Helium 4G is equipped with a removable Li-Ion 2100 mAh battery. This battery capacity, while not particularly large by current standards, was relatively typical for budget smartphones of its time. It is sufficient to last through a day's worth of moderate use, but heavy users may need to recharge before the day ends.

Additional Features

The smartphone includes basic sensors such as an accelerometer, proximity sensor, and compass, which support various applications and improve user experience with auto-rotate and navigation features. Despite its budget nature, the inclusion of these sensors adds value to the device, broadening its utility scope.

Conclusion

The Archos 50d Helium 4G served as a competent entry-level smartphone option for users in 2015, providing essential smartphone functionalities at an affordable price point, approximately €140. Although its hardware and software specifications are outdated by current standards, it captured a segment of the market looking for basic connectivity, a reasonable camera setup, and everyday performance without breaking the bank. Today, it stands as a reminder of budget-conscious smartphone design from the mid-2010s, balancing cost and functionality effectively for its target audience.