Palm Pixi Plus Unveiling Specs Pricing Pros & Cons

Introduction to Palm Pixi Plus

The Palm Pixi Plus is an iconic device that represents the mid-2000s era of mobile technology. Released in 2010, this device aimed to build upon its predecessor, the Palm Pixi, by offering enhanced connectivity options and some software improvements. Despite its eventual discontinuation, the Palm Pixi Plus holds a special place in the hearts of technology enthusiasts for its design, compact form factor, and unique user experience powered by Palm webOS.

Design and Build

The Palm Pixi Plus is notable for its slim and lightweight design. With dimensions of 111 x 55 x 10.9 mm and weighing only 92.5 grams, it is extremely portable and fits comfortably in the hand. The device features a QWERTY keyboard, which appeals to users who prefer physical keys over touchscreen keyboards for typing.

The body is constructed out of durable materials, offering a solid feel. The build quality is complemented by a sleek black finish, making the device not just functional but also aesthetically pleasing. The compact screen size of 2.63 inches allows for portability, although it does limit the viewing experience compared to the larger screens available on contemporary smartphones.

Display

The display of the Palm Pixi Plus uses TFT technology and supports 256K colors, providing decent color representation for the time of its release. With a resolution of 320 x 400 pixels and a ~195 ppi density, the display is fairly crisp considering its small size. The screen-to-body ratio is about 35.7%, which may seem low by today’s standards, but it was a reasonable tradeoff for having a physical keyboard.

Platform and Performance

The Palm Pixi Plus runs on Palm webOS, an operating system that was well-received for its intuitive user interface and multitasking capabilities. The OS offers features like card stacks, which allow users to switch between different applications seamlessly.

Under the hood, the device is powered by a Qualcomm MSM7627 chipset with a 600 MHz ARM 11 CPU and an Adreno 200 GPU. While these hardware specifications may seem modest, they were sufficient for handling the basic tasks and applications available at the time. The device includes 256MB of RAM, which further supports everyday functions and multitasking, optimized for the webOS environment.

Storage

The Palm Pixi Plus comes with 8GB of internal storage, which was a considerable offering for mid-range smartphones during that period. However, it does not support external memory cards, limiting expansion options. This limitation encourages users to manage their storage carefully, focusing on cloud solutions and mindful data usage.

Camera Capabilities

The Palm Pixi Plus includes a 2MP rear camera with an LED flash. While it may not match the megapixel counts of more advanced smartphones, it provides basic photographic functionality. The camera can capture images and record video, making it suitable for everyday snapshots but not for professional use. The lack of a front-facing camera reflects the device's primary focus on communication rather than multimedia.

Connectivity and Communication

In terms of network connectivity, the Palm Pixi Plus offers GSM and HSPA technology, supporting both 2G and 3G bands. The device is capable of achieving HSPA speeds of up to 7.2/5.76 Mbps, which is sufficient for basic web browsing and online communication.

The device also features Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g for wireless internet connectivity, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP for connecting to other devices, and GPS with A-GPS for navigation. The presence of a 3.5mm audio jack allows for easy connection to headphones and external speakers, broadening its functionality as a portable media player.

Additional Features and Sensors

The Palm Pixi Plus includes essential sensors like an accelerometer and proximity sensor, which enable various interactive functions and improve the user experience. The web browser supports WAP 2.0/HTML, allowing users to browse the internet with ease.

Battery Life

The device is equipped with a removable Li-Ion 1150 mAh battery. This battery size provides reasonable performance, offering up to 350 hours of standby time and up to 5 hours and 30 minutes of talk time on 2G networks. On 3G, the talk time reduces to approximately 4 hours. While these figures may seem modest, they were standard for smartphones of the era.

Market Position and Legacy

Upon its release, the Palm Pixi Plus was priced around 210 EUR, positioning it as a mid-range device. Despite its discontinuation, it remains a memorable device due to its distinctive operating system and design philosophy. It represents an era of innovation where manufacturers were exploring various form factors and software solutions to captivate consumers.

Ultimately, the Palm Pixi Plus serves as a milestone in mobile technology, highlighting the evolution of smartphones and the relentless pursuit of blending functionality with design. Its impact is still felt today, serving as inspiration for modern smartphone concepts that balance physical and digital interfaces.

Conclusion

The Palm Pixi Plus remains a significant chapter in the history of mobile devices. It exemplifies the transitional period of technology where smartphones were becoming more accessible and feature-rich. With its unique design, user-friendly interface, and practical functionality, the Pixi Plus continues to attract the interest of tech enthusiasts and collectors worldwide.