Nokia 9500 Full Specs Pricing Pros & Cons Unveiled

Introduction to the Nokia 9500

The Nokia 9500 Communicator is an iconic mobile device by Nokia, announced in the first quarter of 2004. As part of Nokia's famed Communicator series, this device encapsulates the essence of early smartphones with its blend of business and personal functionalities. Though discontinued now, it remains a significant milestone in mobile technology history.

Design and Build

The Nokia 9500 Communicator boasts a robust design, with dimensions of 148 x 57 x 24 mm and a weight of 230 grams. Its sturdy build was quite substantial and lent a solid feel when held. The device features a QWERTY keyboard, which was innovative and favored for text input during its time. The use of a Mini-SIM card was common in devices of that era, and the 9500 was no exception to this trend.

Display Features

The Nokia 9500 features a 4.5-inch TFT display capable of rendering 65K colors. The screen’s resolution is 640 x 200 pixels, providing a pixel density of about 149 ppi, which was adequate at the time for the device's business-oriented applications. The screen-to-body ratio of ~44.1% did mean prominent bezels, but it was suitable for a device focused on delivering utility rather than form factor aesthetics.

Operating System and Performance

Underpinning the Nokia 9500's software is the Symbian 7.0s operating system with a Series 80 v2.0 UI. Symbian OS was once the dominant smartphone platform, and its integration here speaks to the device's business-relevant capabilities. The device is powered by a TI OMAP 1510 chipset and a 150 MHz ARM925T CPU, typical of the efficient hardware used in mobile devices of that era.

Memory and Storage

With an internal storage capacity of 80MB, the Nokia 9500 also supported MMC (MultiMediaCard) for expandable memory, reflecting the growing needs for data storage even in early smartphones. While RAM specifications are not explicitly mentioned, the device’s processing capabilities were adequate for the standard applications available at the time.

Camera Capabilities

The main camera of the Nokia 9500 is a basic VGA shooter with video capabilities. This 0.3MP camera supported rudimentary photography—adequate for document scanning and basic picture-taking needs rather than high-quality imaging. The lack of a front-facing selfie camera underscores its focus on business rather than consumer multimedia needs.

Sound and Multimedia

Equipped with a loudspeaker, the Nokia 9500 supported various ringtone types including polyphonic, monophonic, and MP3/AAC formats. However, it lacked a 3.5mm audio jack, which placed limitations on direct headphone connectivity, a factor to consider for users leaning towards multimedia use.

Connectivity Options

The Nokia 9500 includes multiple connectivity options. Its Wi-Fi 802.11b capability was one of the early adoptions of wireless internet in mobile devices. The Bluetooth 1.1 and Infrared port provided wireless data transfer options, while the Pop-Port was Nokia’s proprietary connector used for various accessories and charging. The absence of positioning (GPS) and radio capabilities emphasize its business-focused design. It supported GSM networks, including 2G bands (900/1800/1900) with GPRS (Class 10) and EDGE (Class 6) for improved data services.

Battery Life

Powered by a removable 1300 mAh Li-Ion battery (BP-5L), the Nokia 9500 provided commendable battery life at the time. The device could offer up to 300 hours on standby and about 6 hours of talk time, reflecting efficiency suitable for all-day business use without frequent recharging.

Additional Features

The Nokia 9500 came pre-installed with Opera HTML and WAP/xHTML browsers, facilitating rudimentary internet browsing. It supported major European languages, reflecting its broad market appeal. Although it lacked modern sensors, it laid the groundwork with its business tools and connectivity capabilities.

Market Reception

Upon release, the Nokia 9500 was priced around 430 EUR, positioning it as a high-end business tool. Despite any limitations in modern measures, it was advanced for its time, offering a comprehensive suite of features for professionals who valued its combination of communication, connectivity, and productivity tools within a single device.

Legacy and Impact

The Nokia 9500 Communicator stands as part of an important chapter in mobile communication history. Its impact is seen in its integration of multiple technologies serving the needs of a specific market segment. While technology has rapidly evolved, the 9500 helped set standards for business and productivity features, influencing future designs and functionalities in mobile computing.