Nokia 5250 The Comprehensive Review Specs Prices Pros & Cons

Overview

The Nokia 5250 was a smartphone released in 2010, aiming to cater to users who desired a touch of modern technology without the hefty price tag. This device is part of Nokia's extensive portfolio of mobile phones that made a significant impact in the pre-smartphone era, bridging the gap between traditional mobile phones and the upcoming era of smart devices.

Design and Build

The Nokia 5250 features a compact design with dimensions of 104 x 49 x 14 mm, weighing in at just 107 grams. Despite its small size by today's standards, it was quite functional and ergonomic for its time. The device comes in several color options, including Dark Grey, Blue, Red, Purple, and White, providing a bit of personalization for users. The use of a Mini-SIM card slot was standard for that era, before the emergence of micro and nano-SIMs that are common today.

Display

The Nokia 5250 comes with a 2.8-inch TFT resistive touchscreen display, offering 16 million colors. With a resolution of 360 x 640 pixels and a 16:9 aspect ratio, it provided a basic yet effective user experience. The 262 ppi density was adequate for standard mobile tasks such as calling, texting, and basic internet browsing. While the resistive touch technology is less responsive than today's capacitive touch screens, it served well for its time, especially with the inclusion of a stylus for more precise input.

Performance

Powered by a 434 MHz ARM 11 processor, the Nokia 5250 was capable of handling basic mobile tasks efficiently. It ran on the Symbian OS, S60 rel. 5, which was popular at the time for its reliability and wide range of applications available through Nokia's Ovi Store. The device was equipped with 51MB of internal storage, which could be extended using a microSDHC card, supporting up to 16GB. While multitasking might have been limited, the phone was sufficient for its target market's needs.

Camera

The Nokia 5250 featured a 2 MP rear camera capable of video recording at 480p@30fps. It was quite modest when compared to modern standards but offered users an opportunity to capture memorable moments and was typical for phones at that time. The absence of a front-facing camera kept the focus on basic photography rather than the burgeoning trend of selfies and video calling.

Audio and Connectivity

One of the key features of the Nokia 5250 was its stereo FM radio, which added entertainment value for users. The inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack ensured compatibility with a wide range of audio peripherals. Although it lacked WLAN connectivity, it did come with Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP for wireless files and music transfer. The use of a microUSB 2.0 port allowed for easy charging and data transfer.

Battery Life

The phone was powered by a removable Li-Ion 1000 mAh battery, which offered decent battery life for the device's specifications and operating system. Users could expect up to 450 hours of standby time, up to 7 hours and 40 minutes of talk time, and up to 24 hours of music playback. This made the Nokia 5250 a reliable companion for day-to-day use without the constant worry of recharging the device.

Software Features

Equipped with the Symbian OS, the Nokia 5250 came with a suite of applications that were accessible through Nokia's Ovi platform. The device supported WAP 2.0/xHTML and HTML browsing, alongside Adobe Flash Lite. It had Nokia Maps for basic navigation, though it lacked GPS support. The robustness of Symbian and the usability of available applications extended the phone's life in the hands of its users.

Market Position and Legacy

Launched at about 60 EUR, the Nokia 5250 was positioned as an affordable yet functional device. It was discontinued shortly after release, but it left a mark as an entry-level smartphone that was accessible to a broader demographic. Despite the rapid advancement in mobile technology, this device represents an era where Nokia dominated the mobile phone market and led innovations in mobile technology.

Conclusion

The Nokia 5250, though a simple device by today's standards, was a significant player in its time. It combined affordability with functionality, offering a taste of the touchscreen smartphone experience without overwhelming cost or complexity. For many users, it was a stepping stone towards embracing the rapidly evolving world of mobile technology.