NEC N840 Unveiling Specs Prices Pros & Cons

Design and Build

The NEC N840 boasts a compact and sturdy design, typical of the feature phones of its era. Measuring at 100 x 48 x 25 mm and weighing 118 grams, it was designed to be portable yet substantial in hand. The silver finish gave it a sleek and professional appearance. The device housed a Mini-SIM, aligning with the standards of the time. Its build quality is robust, making it a durable choice for users.

Display

The device features a 2.2-inch TFT display, capable of rendering 256K colors, which was quite impressive for the time. With a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels, the screen offered decent clarity and color vibrancy, suitable for viewing images and basic multimedia. The screen, however, occupies only 31.2% of the front face of the device, highlighting the large bezels that were common during that period.

Camera

The NEC N840 is equipped with a single 2 MP rear camera, accompanied by an LED flash. While modest by today's standards, the camera provided basic photography capabilities and was suitable for capturing everyday moments. Additionally, the device supported video recording, a feature appreciated by users at the time.

Performance and Hardware

The internal specifications of the NEC N840 are typical of feature phones from the mid-2000s. It includes 32MB of internal storage, a basic capacity that catered to contacts, messages, and essential apps. However, users could expand storage via the miniSD slot, which supported up to 128 MB, offering some flexibility for media storage.

As a feature phone, it operated on a basic operating system that provided core functionalities such as calling, messaging, and basic applications. The device's hardware facilitated essential features with moderate efficiency.

Network and Connectivity

The NEC N840 supported GSM technology and was compatible with 2G bands including GSM 850/900/1800/1900, making it versatile for global usage. However, the absence of EDGE technology limited its data capabilities to GPRS Class 10, which was adequate for simple internet browsing and emails. Connectivity options included Bluetooth 1.2, an infrared port, and proprietary USB, which were the standard connectivity features at the time.

Battery Life

The device comes with a removable Li-Ion 1100 mAh battery. This capacity, though modest, was typical for feature phones and provided sufficient standby time of up to 100 hours and a talk time of up to 2 hours and 40 minutes. The battery life made it ideal for users who prioritized basic usage and longevity over high-performance features.

Additional Features

Messaging capabilities on the NEC N840 included SMS, MMS, and Email, enabling users to stay connected. The device supported WAP 2.0/xHTML for browsing, offering a limited yet useful internet experience for its time. Users had access to downloadable polyphonic ringtones for alerts, with vibration also available as an option.

Though lacking a loudspeaker and 3.5mm jack for audio, it offered basic multimedia features with Java support, enabling some level of gaming and application use.

User Experience

The user experience on the NEC N840 was straightforward, focusing on simplicity and essential functionalities. The phone's interface and physical keypad allowed for easy navigation and operation, appealing to users who preferred tactile feedback over touch interfaces.

Its robustness and reliability made it a popular choice among professionals and casual users alike, who valued functionality over advanced features.