Nokia 5530 XpressMusic Features Pricing Pros & Cons

Overview of Nokia 5530 XpressMusic

The Nokia 5530 XpressMusic was a remarkable mobile device introduced to the market as a part of Nokia's XpressMusic series. Announced in June 2009 and released in August 2009, the phone was designed with music lovers in mind, featuring a set of attributes tailored for enhanced audio and entertainment experiences. This model was an evolution in the form of an affordable touchscreen phone, embodying key aspects that catered to the multimedia needs of its users.

Design and Build

The Nokia 5530 XpressMusic was crafted with a compact form factor with dimensions of 104 x 49 x 13 mm and weighing 107 grams. The device was easy to handle, thanks to its sleek, lightweight design. This model featured a Mini-SIM slot and came in a variety of color options including Red on black, Blue on white, Grey on black, Pink on white, and Yellow on white. Its aesthetic appeal combined with functional ergonomics made it a popular choice among music enthusiasts and young consumers at the time.

Display

It sported a 2.9-inch TFT resistive touchscreen with a resolution of 360 x 640 pixels and a 16:9 aspect ratio, boasting a pixel density of approximately 253 ppi. The screen's capability to display 16M colors provided a rich viewing experience, although it used a resistive touch technology which was less responsive compared to capacitive touchscreens. Regardless, the display was more than adequate for music controls and basic multimedia functions.

Operating System and Performance

The Nokia 5530 XpressMusic operated on Symbian 9.4, Series 60 rel. 5, which was quite popular before the smartphone boom. Powered by a 434 MHz ARM 11 processor, it was equipped with 128 MB of SDRAM. While it may not have been the powerhouse in terms of performance even at its time, the device was optimized for music playback and daily phone functions, making it sufficient for its intended use.

Storage Capacity

The phone provided 70 MB of internal storage, expandable via a dedicated microSDHC slot, which supported memory cards and came with a 4 GB card included. This feature was crucial for users who wanted to store a substantial amount of music and media files, aligning with the device’s ethos of delivering an excellent music experience.

Camera

The main camera on the Nokia 5530 was a 3.15 MP shooter with an autofocus feature and LED flash, allowing for basic photography and video recording at 480p@30fps. The camera was one of the secondary features since the primary focus of the device was on music and entertainment. However, it sufficed for casual photography needs common during the period of its release.

Sound and Audio

As a member of the XpressMusic line, the Nokia 5530 placed a significant emphasis on audio quality. It included stereo speakers for crisp, loud audio playback and a 3.5mm audio jack, making it easy for users to listen to music via headphones or external speakers. The device also had various audio enhancements, making it an attractive choice for users serious about mobile music consumption.

Connectivity

The phone offered connectivity options including WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g for internet access, Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP for wireless file transfer and audio streaming, and microUSB 2.0 for charging and data connection. However, it lacked advanced positioning features like GPS, which was a trade-off for the targeted budget segment. It supported GSM networks, operating on 2G bands 850, 900, 1800, and 1900, with GPRS and EDGE for data connectivity.

Battery Life

The device was powered by a removable Li-Ion 1000 mAh battery (BL-4U) providing modest battery life. Its standby time was up to 336 hours, talk time up to 4 hours and 54 minutes, and music play could extend up to 27 hours. While not remarkable, this battery performance was adequate for moderate daily usage, especially for a device positioned as a music-centric mobile phone.

Conclusion

Nokia 5530 XpressMusic was a notable device for its time, primarily focusing on delivering a superior audio experience at a budget-friendly price. This phone managed to capture the hearts of users who valued music and media playback capabilities, complemented by a stylish design and adequate feature set. Though discontinued, it remains a fond memory in the landscape of mobile music phones, illustrating Nokia's commitment to innovation in the mobile industry.