Price and specifications of LG KE850 Prada advantages, disadvantages, and a comprehensive explanation

Design and Build

The LG KE850 Prada stands as a milestone in mobile phone design. Its dimensions of 98.8 x 54 x 12 mm and weight at just 85 grams made it extremely portable and lightweight for the time. The phone's minimalist aesthetic was a joint production between LG and the renowned fashion house Prada, emphasizing style alongside functionality. The black finish provided an air of sophistication that aligned perfectly with Prada’s luxury branding. A notable feature is its capacitive touchscreen, which was among the first in the market, helping to pave the way for future smartphones.

Display

One of the most striking features of the LG Prada was its 3.0-inch TFT display, capable of showcasing 256,000 colors. It had a resolution of 240 x 400 pixels, giving it a pixel density of approximately 155 ppi. This display was a significant factor in the overall user experience, providing vibrant colors and reasonable clarity for its time. With a screen-to-body ratio of around 48%, the display was the central focus on the front of the device, emphasizing its role as a media consumption tool.

Camera

The LG KE850 Prada came equipped with a 2MP rear camera featuring Schneider-Kreuznach optics and an LED flash. This allowed users to capture photos with autofocus and record videos at 30 frames per second. While there was no secondary selfie camera, the capabilities of the main camera were considered adequate for basic photography needs at the time. Despite its simplicity by today's standards, having a camera integrated into a mobile phone was still a compelling feature in 2007.

Performance

Though lacking the power of modern smartphones, the LG Prada was equipped with sufficient hardware to handle the feature set it came with. With 8MB of internal storage and support for a microSD card, users could expand storage up to 2GB, which was fairly generous for its era. However, the phone's limited RAM and lack of modern multi-core processing power meant it was designed more for basic tasks than intensive multitasking or gaming.

Battery Life

The device was powered by a removable 800mAh Li-Ion battery. This battery could provide up to 300 hours of standby time and roughly 3 hours of talk time. Given the lower power requirements of basic phone functions and the limited multitasking capabilities, the battery life was adequate. Moreover, the removable nature of the battery meant users could easily swap it out, extending the lifespan of the device with additional or replacement batteries.

Connectivity and Network

Designed for GSM networks, the LG Prada supported 2G bands including GSM 900, 1800, and 1900. It offered GPRS Class 10 and EDGE for data services, allowing for basic internet browsing and messaging. Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP enabled wireless connectivity for accessories such as headphones, and a USB 2.0 port facilitated wired data transfer and charging capabilities. The absence of WLAN and positioning features indicated the phone's primary focus was not on internet connectivity or navigation.

Additional Features

Despite its simplicity, the LG Prada included several additional features for enhanced functionality. It supported a WAP 2.0/xHTML browser for basic internet access and featured messaging capabilities such as SMS, EMS, MMS, and Email. Entertainment options included Java-based games like Halloween Fever and Photo Puzzle. This was complemented by integrated FM radio and support for downloadable ringtones, enriching the multimedia experience offered by the device.

Market Position and Legacy

When released in 2007, the LG Prada was priced at around 60 EUR, reflecting its high-end status due to its branded partnership. It ultimately discontinued, but its impact on mobile design and branding proved significant. It transitioned the mobile market towards more style-conscious products and paved the way for the future development of touchscreen-only devices. Its success anticipated modern collaborations between tech firms and luxury brands, influencing products across various digital categories.