Motorola C257 Comprehensive Insights into Specs Prices & Features

Overview of Motorola C257

The Motorola C257 is a feature phone that was announced and released in the third quarter of 2005. This device marks an era where mobile phones were primarily used for voice communication and basic messaging. Despite its simplicity, the Motorola C257 was popular in its time due to its affordability, durability, and ease of use.

Design and Build

The Motorola C257 features a compact and robust design, measuring 109.9 x 49.9 x 14.9 mm and weighing only 91 grams. This lightweight and portable design made it an ideal choice for users looking for a simple and reliable phone. The phone is encased in a durable plastic body and comes in a classic black color.

Display

The device sports a TFT display capable of rendering 65K colors, which was standard for feature phones of that era. The screen resolution is 128 x 160 pixels, providing a basic viewing experience suitable for text messages and simple menus. While it lacks the vibrancy and size of modern smartphone displays, it was adequate for the tasks it performed.

Network and Connectivity

Operated on the GSM technology, the Motorola C257 supports 2G bands on GSM 900/1800. It offers GPRS Class 8 for basic internet connectivity, used mainly for WAP browsing. However, it lacks modern connectivity features such as Bluetooth, WLAN, and radio, which limits its usability in today’s connectivity-driven environment.

Performance

As a feature phone, the Motorola C257 is designed to perform essential functions like calling and text messaging. It doesn’t possess advanced processing power or a large memory capacity that smartphones today have. It comes with an internal storage of 1MB, sufficient for saving contacts and some text messages since there is no card slot for expanding storage. The phone’s speed in performing tasks was suitable for the applications it supported, considering its simple user interface aimed at usability rather than multitasking.

Battery Life

The phone is powered by a removable Li-Ion 820 mAh battery, which offers extensive battery life typical of feature phones of that time. With a standby time of up to 250 hours and talk time of up to 7 hours and 30 minutes, the Motorola C257 is reliable for long-lasting use without frequent charging—a key selling point during its release.

Messaging and Browser

Messaging capabilities on the Motorola C257 include SMS, EMS, and MMS. It supports a user-friendly interface for composing and sending text messages, including picture messaging through MMS. The device is equipped with a WAP 1.2 browser, enabling users to access basic web services. Although web browsing capabilities were minimal, they provided a foundation for more advanced mobile internet experiences that developed later.

Sound and Multimedia

The sound profile of the Motorola C257 includes a loudspeaker and supports vibration along with downloadable polyphonic ringtones. With no 3.5mm headphone jack, users were limited to external audio accessories. Unlike today’s feature-rich multimedia experiences, the phone's audio features were functional yet basic, serving the primary purpose of call alerts and notifications.

Additional Features

This device supports rudimentary mobile games, providing light amusement for its users. However, it does not support Java-based applications, limiting the range of downloadable content. Despite these limitations, the simplicity of the games available matched the overall function of the device.

Conclusion

The Motorola C257 is representative of a generation of mobile phones that prioritized reliability and basic functionality over innovation and advanced features. As a discontinued model, it remains a piece of mobile history reflecting an era before smartphones dominated the market. While it doesn’t meet modern communication demands, its straightforward operation and long battery life made it a favorite for many during its time of release.