Unveiling the Gigabyte GSmart MW702 Specs Pricing Pros & Cons

Overview of Gigabyte GSmart MW702

Released in the third quarter of 2009, the Gigabyte GSmart MW702 was introduced as a versatile smartphone offering practical features aimed at facilitating mobile communications, internet browsing, and multimedia interactions. Despite being discontinued, it provides fascinating insight into the technological developments of its time.

Design and Display

The GSmart MW702 measures 117 x 59.8 x 14.8 mm and weighs 130 grams, making it a relatively compact and lightweight device for its time. The device features a 2.8-inch TFT resistive touchscreen with a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels, offering a standard visual experience. The screen supports 65K colors, contributing to adequate color representation. Although the screen-to-body ratio was only about 34.7%, it was considered decent during that era for a business-oriented device.

Performance and Hardware

At its core, the Gigabyte GSmart MW702 is powered by a 520MHz Marvell PXA270 processor. While this chipset might not handle today's demanding applications, it was well-suited for the applications and operating systems of that period. Coupled with 128MB of RAM, it offered sufficient performance for running Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional smoothly. Its internal storage of 256MB ROM was expandable via a dedicated microSD slot, allowing users to store additional data and media.

Camera Capabilities

Mainly targeting the business sector, the device does not boast extravagant camera specs, but it features a rear 3.15 MP autofocus camera. The camera can also record videos, a useful feature for capturing quick moments. Although there isn't a front-facing camera, which was common in many smartphones of the time, the main camera was effective enough for occasional photography and business documentation needs.

Battery Life

The removable Li-Po 1300 mAh battery provided the GSmart MW702 with a standby time of up to 150 hours and a talk time of approximately 4 hours. Although modest by today's standards, this battery life was adequate for moderate daily usage, particularly in a pre-cloud computing era when extensive data syncing and constant connectivity were less common.

Connectivity and Networking

Equipped with GSM technology supporting 900, 1800, and 1900 MHz bands, the device ensured consistent connectivity through 2G networks, employing GPRS Class 12 and EDGE capabilities. Wi-Fi 802.11b/g support offered wireless internet access, while Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP enabled wireless device connections, such as headphones and other peripherals. The device also featured GPS and A-GPS, with support from the SiRF Star III chipset for reliable navigation.

Additional Features

The Gigabyte GSmart MW702 came with various multimedia options, including a stereo FM radio with RDS for playing live radio channels. While it lacked a 3.5mm headphone jack, audio playback was possible via the built-in loudspeaker or Bluetooth headphones. The miniUSB 2.0 facilitated data transfers and charging, and the device had support for WAP 2.0/xHTML browser for internet browsing. It was noteworthy for its time that the MW702 was geared towards enabling comprehensive communications and productivity on-the-go.

Usability and Operating System

The phone ran on Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, which provided a familiar interface for users acquainted with Windows OS. The platform supported a range of productivity applications, potentially making it appealing to business users. However, the resistive touchscreen may have limited its usability compared to capacitive touchscreens more common in later devices.

Conclusion

The Gigabyte GSmart MW702 represents a technological step from the late 2000s, encapsulating an era when smartphones began integrating more versatile and competent communication features suitable for both consumer and business markets. Despite its discontinuation, the MW702 remains a noteworthy example of that evolution in smartphone history, providing a glimpse into the transitional technologies leading up to modern mobile capabilities.