Nokia X501 Full Specs Pricing Pros & Cons

Overview

The Nokia X5-01, introduced in 2010, represents a distinctive entry in Nokia's lineup during that period. Known for its distinct square shape and QWERTY keyboard, this phone was a notable blend of design and functionality. It targeted users who required efficient messaging capabilities, combined with multimedia features typical of smartphones at the time.

Design and Build Quality

With dimensions of 74.3 x 66.4 x 16.9 mm and a weight of 129 g, the Nokia X5-01 is compact and fits comfortably in the hand. Its design features a mini-SIM slot and a QWERTY keyboard, emphasizing its focus on messaging and ease of typing. The aesthetic appeal is enhanced by the availability of vibrant colors like Pink, Azure, Graphite Black, Yellow Green, and Purple, catering to a broader audience seeking personalization in their device.

Display

The 2.36-inch TFT display is designed to handle 256K colors, providing a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels. Although modest by today's standards, it was fairly standard for smartphones in 2010, offering clear and vivid visuals suitable for the Symbian operating system's interface and basic multimedia tasks.

Performance and Software

Powered by a 600 MHz ARM 11 processor, the Nokia X5-01 was equipped to handle various applications on the Symbian OS 9.3, Series 60 v3.2 UI. This combination aimed to deliver a balance of performance and power efficiency, suitable for running the suite of apps available on the Symbian platform and maintaining smooth operation for daily tasks.

Camera

The device features a single main 5 MP camera with an LED flash, capable of capturing decent quality images and videos at 480p@15fps. This was adequate for casual photography and video recording, living up to the needs of users during the early 2010s before the smartphone camera revolution.

Storage and Memory

The Nokia X5-01 comes with 200MB of internal storage, which could be expanded using a microSDHC card slot, with a 2 GB card included in the package. This storage solution was typical for the era, allowing users to store essential apps, photos, music, and other media.

Connectivity

Connectivity options for the X5-01 include GSM/HSPA for network communication, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g for internet access, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP for wireless audio and data exchange, and a microUSB 2.0 port for charging and data transfer. It also features a stereo FM radio with RDS, providing entertainment beyond digital music files.

Battery Life

Fitted with a removable Li-Ion 950 mAh battery, the X5-01 offered a decent battery life for its time. The device boasts a standby time of up to 384 hours on both 2G and 3G, a talk time of up to 5 hours (2G) and 3 hours 30 minutes (3G), and music play time of up to 24 hours, ensuring reliability for day-to-day use.

Audio and Multimedia

The inclusion of a 3.5mm audio jack and loudspeaker makes the X5-01 a reasonable choice for music enthusiasts. It was capable of delivering a satisfactory audio performance for its users, supported by RDS FM radio and media playback capabilities on the Symbian platform.

Unique Selling Points

The Nokia X5-01 carved a niche with its unique form factor and the presence of a full QWERTY keyboard, making it ideal for users who prioritize texting and emailing. It's colorful design options and balance of multimedia features with traditional phone capabilities provide an attractive alternative in its market segment.

Conclusion

Though discontinued, the Nokia X5-01 remains a memorable device in Nokia’s lineup, especially for users who appreciated its unique design and efficient messaging capabilities. While technology has since progressed, offering higher specifications and capabilities, the X5-01 holds its place in tech history as a distinct, reliably built feature phone that catered well to its audience's needs in 2010.