Overview of Gigabyte GSmart i

The Gigabyte GSmart i is a classic smartphone that was announced in 2005 and has since been discontinued. Targeting early adopters of smartphone technology at the time, it integrates a variety of features that were relatively advanced for its time. Let's delve into the specifics of this device and understand what made it appealing in its prime.

Design and Build

The Gigabyte GSmart i boasts a compact design with dimensions of 106.2 x 53 x 19.5 mm, making it easy to handle and fit into a pocket. Weighing just 130 grams, it was lightweight and convenient for day-to-day use. The phone features a Mini-SIM slot and a silver finish that gave it a sleek and professional appearance.

Display

Equipped with a 2.4-inch TFT resistive touchscreen, the GSmart i was designed to offer a touch interface with 256K colors, though effectively only 65K could be displayed. The screen resolution of 240 x 320 pixels and the 4:3 aspect ratio provided a decent display clarity for its time, with a ~31.7% screen-to-body ratio.

Platform and Performance

The phone ran on Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 for PocketPC Phone Edition (AKU2), offering users a familiar Windows-based mobile operating system. At the heart of its performance capabilities was the Intel PXA272 processor, clocked at 416 MHz, which provided modest speed and processing power suitable for basic smartphone functionalities.

Memory and Storage

The GSmart i came with 64MB of RAM and 64MB of ROM. While this may seem negligible today, it was in line with the requirements of mobile applications in 2005. The device offered expandability via a miniSD card slot, allowing users to increase storage capacity as needed for media and files.

Camera Features

A notable feature for a device from 2005, the GSmart i included a 2.1 MP main camera with an LED flash, which made it possible to capture images and videos in various lighting conditions. Video recording was supported, though details on the resolution and quality remain basic compared to modern standards. Despite being limited to a single rear camera, it afforded users the opportunity to engage in mobile photography.

Multimedia and Sound

The device supported vibration alerts along with downloadable polyphonic, MP3, WMA, AMR, and MID ringtones. However, it did not include a built-in loudspeaker or headphone jack, necessitating the use of wired headphones via an adapter or Bluetooth for audio output. Furthermore, the FM radio feature added a nice option for users to enjoy live radio broadcasts.

Connectivity

Connectivity options were a mix of older and new generation technology, including GSM connectivity supporting bands GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900, and GPRS Class 10 for internet browsing. Wi-Fi capabilities were offered through 802.11b support, enabling wireless internet access in hotspots. Bluetooth 1.2 provided a wireless connection to peripherals, although at a lower speed by today's standards. USB connectivity was facilitated through a miniUSB 1.1 port for data transfer and charging.

Battery Life

The removable Li-Ion battery, available in 920mAh or 1300mAh variants, offered up to 170 hours of standby time and up to 3 hours and 30 minutes of talk time. Given the feature set and typical usage patterns of the time, the battery life was reasonable, providing a full day use for average users.

Additional Features

The GSmart i operated with a basic set of sensors and a WAP 2.0 browser, allowing for internet navigation suited to the mobile web pages of the era. Despite the absence of a GPS function or an advanced sensor ecosystem that modern smartphones enjoy, it served adequately for day-to-day communication and basic browsing requirements.

Conclusion

The Gigabyte GSmart i was a product of its time, encapsulating the mobile phone technology advancements available in the mid-2000s. While contemporary smartphones have far surpassed it in terms of capabilities and specifications, the GSmart i represents an important milestone in the evolution of smart handheld devices. Its compact form, combined with its Windows Mobile platform and connectivity options, offered a remarkable experience for tech enthusiasts and pragmatic users alike during its tenure.