Huawei Pillar Comprehensive Review Specs Pricing & More

Introduction

Huawei Pillar is a feature phone that was announced in September 2011 and has since been discontinued. Despite its limited availability now, it serves as a representation of the transitional phase in mobile technology from basic mobile phones to more sophisticated smartphones. Huawei Pillar offered a unique set of features catering to users who were primarily looking for communication tools with basic multimedia functionalities.

Design and Build

The Huawei Pillar showcased a compact and ergonomic design, measuring 109.2 x 61 x 12.7 mm and weighing around 99 grams. The design is characterized by its QWERTY keyboard, which was a popular choice for users who valued the tactile experience of physical keys for typing long text messages and emails. The build quality provided durability, with a plastic body that was standard during its time.

Display

The Huawei Pillar featured a 2.0-inch TFT display with a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels, which was adequate for viewing basic texts and images. The screen's 256K colors allowed for clear visibility of interface elements and icons, and although it offered limited viewing capabilities compared to modern standards, it sufficed for users at the time.

Camera

Equipped with a single VGA camera that offered 0.3MP, the Huawei Pillar's camera capabilities were quite basic. This was not a device designed for photography enthusiasts but could capture essential moments. Video capabilities were absent, aligning with the focus on fundamental communication functions over multimedia use.

Memory and Storage

The phone included a microSDHC card slot which allowed storage expansion, a valuable feature back then, given the limited internal storage. This ensured users could store more contacts, messages, and perhaps a limited amount of media files. The phonebook could accommodate up to 1000 entries, a generous number considering its target market.

Battery Life

One of the attractive aspects of the Huawei Pillar was its battery life. It housed a removable Li-Ion 900 mAh battery which provided a standby time of up to 240 hours and a talk time of up to 4 hours and 30 minutes, making it reliable for users who needed a phone for continuous communication.

Network and Connectivity

Huawei Pillar supported CDMA and CDMA2000 technologies, making it compatible with 2G and 3G networks. Capable of speeds up to 153 Kbps, it provided basic mobile internet functionalities. However, it lacked WLAN capabilities; Bluetooth 2.1 was available for short-distance wireless communications, and GPS/A-GPS offered basic navigation support.

Features and Functionality

Despite being a feature phone, Huawei Pillar came with essential functionalities. It supported SMS and MMS for messaging, ensuring users could stay connected via text. While it had no sophisticated apps or Java support, it included basic games for entertainment. The device also featured a loudspeaker and a 3.5mm audio jack, facilitating a core audio experience.

Pricing and Availability

Priced at approximately 70 EUR at launch, the Huawei Pillar was an affordable option for users seeking a reliable communication device. It was available in Black, lending it a professional and sleek look suitable for various user demographics.

Conclusion

In summary, the Huawei Pillar was a straightforward device catering to users in need of robust communication tools. Its QWERTY keyboard and long battery life made it a go-to choice for business professionals and text aficionados during its time. While it lacks many modern smartphone features, its simplicity and reliability are what many users sought back in those days. The Huawei Pillar stands as a testament to the evolving journey from basic feature phones to today's highly sophisticated smartphones.