Discover Huawei Ascend Y100 Specs Prices and More

Overview of Huawei Ascend Y100

The Huawei Ascend Y100 was launched in May 2012, marking an entry-level offering in Huawei's smartphone lineup of that time. Discontinued now, the device aimed at providing basic smartphone functionalities with the affordability of a budget phone. Despite its modest specifications, it held its ground in the market by catering to users looking for a simple, no-frills mobile device.

Design and Build

With dimensions of 106.5 x 56 x 10.9 mm and weighing only 100 grams, the Huawei Ascend Y100 was compact and lightweight, making it easily portable and comfortable to handle. The use of Mini-SIM was typical for the era. The device featured a simple plastic body, typical of budget phones released during that period, available in black and white finishes, thus keeping it understated in appearance.

Display

The device came with a 2.8-inch TFT display capable of displaying 256K colors, a conservative feature by today's standards but adequate at the time of release. It had a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels, and while this translates to a pixel density of approximately 143 ppi, it provided moderately clear visuals sufficient for everyday tasks.

Platform and Performance

Running on Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), the Ascend Y100 featured the Qualcomm MSM7225A Snapdragon S1 chipset. Its 800 MHz Cortex-A5 CPU and Adreno 200 GPU were basic, aimed at delivering necessary performance for light tasks and app usage. These specifications allowed it to handle the basic functionality expected from an entry-level Android device at the time, although multitasking and running heavy apps were limited due to hardware constraints.

Memory and Storage

The phone was equipped with 256MB of RAM and 512MB of internal storage, which was minimal and restricted the amount of data and applications its users could store. However, it included a microSDHC card slot allowing for expanded storage, which somewhat alleviated storage limitations. Users often used the expansion option to increase the media storage capacity, thus enhancing the utility of the phone.

Camera

Featuring a single 3.15 MP rear camera, the Ascend Y100 was not designed for high-quality photography. The camera could record video at 480p@30fps, which was decent for basic video captures given its market segment. The absence of a front-facing camera highlights its basic design focus, aiming more on functionality over advanced features.

Audio and Connectivity

The device supported Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, and had GPS and A-GPS for basic navigation. Optional NFC capabilities were available, which was a somewhat premium feature at the time. FM radio was included, allowing users to listen to their favorite stations. The phone also had a 3.5mm headphone jack, a convenient feature for personal audio use.

Battery Life

Powered by a removable Li-Ion 1050 mAh battery, the Ascend Y100 provided moderate usage time, with a stand-by time of up to 514 hours and talk time of up to 5 hours and 15 minutes on 3G. Despite its modest capacity, the battery was considered average for entry-level smartphones of that era.

Sensors and Additional Features

The phone included basic sensors like an accelerometer, proximity sensor, and compass, enabling it to handle simple applications and tasks that required sensor input. Given its entry-level positioning, the Huawei Ascend Y100 didn't boast an array of high-end features but was equipped well enough to deliver essential smartphone experiences.

Market Positioning and Legacy

Available at about 70 EUR, the Huawei Ascend Y100 was primarily aimed at consumers seeking affordable Android smartphones with basic functionalities. It served as an introduction for users transitioning from feature phones to smartphones. While it is no longer in the market, its inception played a part in making smartphones more accessible to a broader audience, paving the way for more advancements in Huawei's smartphone lineup.