Price and specifications of Asus P526 advantages, disadvantages, and a comprehensive explanation

Overview of Asus P526

The Asus P526 is a mobile device that garnered attention due to its multipurpose features and compact design when it was announced in March 2007. Though it has since been discontinued, the phone still remains a part of the evolution of mobile technology leading up to today's smartphones. Built with Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional operating system and equipped with various features that cater to productivity and multimedia needs, it serves as a perfect snapshot of early 2000s smartphone technology.

Design and Build

The Asus P526 is crafted with a sleek and simple aesthetic, embodied in its dimensions of 110 x 58 x 15.4 mm and weighing 115 grams. Despite its compact size, the phone offers a tactile and robust feel, suitable for user convenience and portability. It uses a Mini-SIM, and comes in a distinguished silver color, reflecting the typical design language of that era.

Display

Equipped with a 2.6-inch TFT resistive touchscreen displaying 65K colors, the Asus P526 provides users with a display resolution of 240 x 320 pixels in a 4:3 ratio. This results in a pixel density of roughly 154 pixels per inch (ppi). While these specifications may seem modest by today's standards, during its time, it presented clarity and sharpness that met user expectations for both productivity tasks and media consumption.

Performance

At the core of the Asus P526 lies the TI OMAP 850 chipset and a 200 MHz ARM926EJ-S CPU. Though these specifications indicate limited performance capabilities when compared to contemporary devices, it was more than adequate for handling everyday tasks such as making calls, sending messages, and managing various applications associated with Microsoft's Windows Mobile OS. It also featured 128 MB of internal storage, which could be expanded via a dedicated microSD slot, providing flexibility and room for additional apps and files.

Camera

The Asus P526 comes with a 2 MP rear camera capable of capturing images as well as video. While it lacks the sophistication of modern photography-focused smartphones, it serves as a basic tool for capturing moments on the go. Notably, the phone does not include a selfie camera, reflecting the product's focus on functionality over multimedia.

Battery Life

A removable Li-Ion 1300 mAh battery powers the Asus P526. Users could expect a standby time of up to 150 hours and a talk time of approximately 4 hours. Considering the device's specifications and typical usage patterns at the time, the battery life was deemed satisfactory for daily activities without frequent recharging.

Connectivity and Networks

The device supports GSM networks with bands of 850, 900, 1800, and 1900. It is capable of GPRS Class 10 connectivity and supports EDGE. Bluetooth 1.2 is included for short-range communication and data transfer, and an infrared port enhances connectivity options with compatible devices. Notably, the P526 features GPS with SiRF Star III chipset, which was a significant inclusion for navigation services during that period. However, the absence of Wi-Fi and a radio might limit its functionalities concerning modern standards.

Sound and Multimedia

While the Asus P526 does not possess a loudspeaker, it offers an array of alert types including vibration, and downloadable polyphonic, Midi, MP3, WMA, and WAV ringtones. This level of audio customization was appreciated by users wanting a personalized sound experience on their mobile device.

User Interface and Experience

Running on Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional, the Asus P526 provides a professional and comprehensive interface suitable for business users. Its suite of applications and tools encouraged productivity and ease of management for personal and professional tasks. The operating system, although not as intuitive as modern systems, offered a robust menu system and reliable operation fitting for the needs of its time.

Additional Features

The Asus P526 also includes a WAP 1.2.1/2.0 browser, allowing for basic web browsing capabilities that suited the limited connectivity speeds available in the pre-3G era. The device comes with foundational sensors and functionalities standard for the time, such as its positioning capabilities thanks to the GPS feature, which adds to the phone's utility for navigation purposes.

Market Position and Conclusion

Priced at about 300 EUR upon its release, the Asus P526 positioned itself as a competitive offer in the PDA and smartphone markets of its day. Its feature set, though modestly defined by modern evaluations, offered a comprehensive mobile experience focusing on communication and business tasks. The device reflects a pivotal stage in mobile phone development, enlightening how far technology has advanced in little over a decade. Its place in the tech industry narrative remains significant as a testament to the rapid evolution and user demands that led to the sophisticated devices of today's market.