Price and specifications of LG KC910 Renoir advantages, disadvantages, and a comprehensive explanation

Overview

The LG KC910 Renoir is a discontinued feature phone first announced in August 2008 and released in November of the same year. It was a standout device for its era, particularly notable for its high-quality camera capabilities and multimedia features. With a focus on photography, the Renoir combined a host of features that set it apart from its contemporaries.

Camera

The device boasted an impressive 8 MP main camera equipped with Schneider-Kreuznach optics and a xenon flash, setting a new standard for camera phones at the time of its release. The Renoir allowed users to capture photos and videos with high-quality resolution. It supported video recording at 480p@30fps and 320p@120fps, making it versatile for various multimedia purposes. For video calls, it included a VGA camera, which was becoming more common in feature phones of that era.

Battery Life

Equipped with a removable Li-Ion 1000 mAh battery, the Renoir had a decent battery life. It offered up to 264 hours of standby time and up to 3 hours of talk time, which, while modest by today's standards, was comparable to other devices on the market at the time.

Display and Interface

The Renoir featured a 3.0-inch TFT resistive touchscreen with a resolution of 240 x 400 pixels. This display supported 256K colors, offering a vibrant viewing experience. Although the screen-to-body ratio was about 42.5%, which is quite limited compared to modern smartphones, it was sufficient for feature phones back then. The interface was designed for ease of use, emphasizing the core functionalities of the phone.

Storage and Memory

Internally, the Renoir came with 100MB of storage, which could be expanded via a microSDHC card slot. This expansion capability allowed users to store more photos, videos, and other media, essential for a camera-focused device. For storing contacts, it supported a phonebook with photocalls, and call logs could track up to 40 dialed, received, and missed calls each.

Connectivity

The LG KC910 Renoir supported GSM and HSPA networks, featuring quad-band technology for 2G and dual-band for 3G bands, allowing for broad global coverage. It offered HSPA 7.2/0.384 Mbps data speeds, providing adequate connectivity for web browsing and multimedia applications. Although lacking the ubiquity of 4G or 5G, it had WLAN connectivity with Wi-Fi 802.11b/g and Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP for local connections and file transfers. Positioning services were robust, with both GPS and A-GPS support integrated.

Design and Ergonomics

With dimensions of 107.8 x 55.9 x 14 mm and weighing 114 grams, the Renoir was compact and lightweight, emphasizing portability without sacrificing functionality. It supported a mini-SIM card, which was standard at the time.

Sound and Multimedia

The device featured a loudspeaker, supporting a variety of alert types including vibration, MP3 ringtones, and downloadable polyphonic tones. Although it did not include a 3.5mm headphone jack, which limits audio accessory compatibility, it managed to deliver sound through external speakers efficiently.

Additional Features

Among the Renoir's additional features were an accelerometer for motion-based applications, an FM radio for on-the-go entertainment, and Java support with MIDP 2.0 for running a variety of applications. Messaging capabilities were extensive, with support for SMS, EMS, MMS, and Email. The web browser options included WAP 2.0/xHTML and HTML, suitable for basic online activities. Furthermore, games were pre-installed for casual enjoyment.

Price and Market Reception

Initially priced around 130 EUR, the Renoir catered to consumers seeking advanced camera capabilities and robust multimedia features in a mobile device. It gained attention for bridging the gap between feature phones and the emerging smartphone market through its emphasis on media capture and connectivity.

Conclusion

The LG KC910 Renoir was a noteworthy device during its time on the market, offering significant camera and multimedia capabilities. While it would be considered outdated by modern standards, it served as an innovative step for LG in the mobile phone industry. For enthusiasts and collectors, the Renoir stands as a representation of the transitional period between traditional feature phones and the smartphones we know today.