Kyocera Hydro C5170 Comprehensive Specs Pricing & ProsCons

Overview and Design

The Kyocera Hydro C5170 was a distinctive smartphone when it was released, known particularly for its unique waterproof capabilities. Its physical dimensions stand at 115 x 62 x 12.8 mm, making it compact and portable. Weighing only 120g, it’s also lightweight. The device adopted a classic design with a practical approach, mainly focused on durability. The phone features a Mini-SIM slot, and its exterior gives a robust feel, designed to withstand potential water-related accidents, which was a highlight feature in its time.

Display Features

The device is equipped with a 3.5-inch IPS LCD display. Despite its relatively small size by today's standards, the screen was quite adequate for its time. It offers a resolution of 320 x 480 pixels, achieving a density of approximately 165 ppi. This display characteristic ensures decent color reproduction and visibility, suitable for basic phone activities such as texting, calling, and casual web browsing. The screen is responsible for housing about 51.2% of the phone's body, maintaining a compact and easy-to-use layout.

Operating System and Performance

At its core, the Kyocera Hydro C5170 is powered by the Qualcomm MSM8655 Snapdragon S2 chipset, featuring a 1.0 GHz CPU and an Adreno 205 GPU. It comes with Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) pre-installed. This combination was quite common in entry-level devices during the time of the phone’s release, and it allowed for smooth performance in executing basic tasks, such as running applications suited for this OS and engaging in light multitasking.

Memory and Storage

In terms of storage, the Kyocera Hydro C5170 includes 2GB of internal storage and 512MB of RAM. While this is relatively limited by modern standards, it was sufficient at the time for storing essential applications and media files. The microSDHC card slot allows users to expand their storage capabilities, accommodating more data than what the internal storage facility offers. An included 2GB microSD card provides a quick start for expanding storage needs.

Camera Capabilities

The camera technology featured in the Hydro C5170 is modest, with a single 3.15 MP rear camera equipped with autofocus. Video recording capabilities are also present, providing basic functionality for capturing moments. However, the absence of a front-facing camera limits its use for selfies and video calls, reflecting the focus at the time more on rugged functionality rather than multimedia prowess.

Connectivity and Communication

The Kyocera Hydro C5170 supports CDMA and EVDO network technologies, enabling reliable connectivity over 2G and 3G bands. Users can achieve data speeds up to 3.1 Mbps, suitable for standard mobile internet usage at the time. Wireless connectivity options include Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n with hotspot capabilities, useful for tethering other devices. Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP and EDR offers connectivity for peripherals and data transfer, while GPS with A-GPS provides location services.

Battery Life and Power

This smartphone is powered by a removable Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery, which, according to standards at the time, offers a talk time of up to approximately 8 hours and 20 minutes. The removable nature of the battery was an advantage, allowing users to replace it easily without needing professional assistance, a feature largely absent in many contemporary smartphones.

Additional Features and Sensors

Additional features include standard sensors such as an accelerometer, proximity sensor, and compass, which enhance the user experience by adding more interactivity and functionality to apps that utilize such sensors. However, it lacks some modern-day conveniences like biometric sensors. The device does include a standard 3.5mm audio jack and a loudspeaker for audio needs.

Conclusion

The Kyocera Hydro C5170 is a device that prioritizes durability and essential smartphone capabilities over advanced features. Its waterproof design, together with decent entry-level specifications, made it a choice worth considering for consumers looking for a robust and reliable mobile phone at the time of its release. Though discontinued, it set a precedent for durable mobile technology and contributed to the evolution of waterproof smartphones.