Panasonic X100 InDepth Review on Specs Pricing and Performance

Network

The Panasonic X100 operates on the GSM network technology. It was equipped to connect to 2G bands GSM 900 and 1800, ensuring basic connectivity for calls and text messaging in areas where these frequencies are used. Supporting GPRS Class 4, the device was capable of limited data transmission and slower internet connectivity by modern standards. However, it does not support EDGE for faster data rates, which was quite typical for feature phones from the early 2000s.

Launch

Announced in the second quarter of 2004, the Panasonic X100 represents the era of early feature phones, before the widespread adoption of smartphones. It has since been discontinued, but it remains a part of the evolution of mobile technology, showcasing the transitional period in mobile communication when basic features such as SMS and simple gaming were considered significant advancements.

Body

The phone's dimensions are 90 x 44 x 18 mm, with a volume of 69 cc, making it compact and pocket-friendly. Weighing just 79 grams, the X100 was notably lightweight, providing a sense of portability and convenience that was appreciated by users at the time. The device uses a Mini-SIM, consistent with the standard of SIM cards during its release period.

Display

The Panasonic X100 features a TFT display capable of showing 65K colors, which provided a decent color representation for its time. The screen resolution is 128 x 128 pixels with a 1:1 ratio. This level of resolution was typical for feature phones, offering adequate clarity for basic menu navigation and the display of simple images, such as contact photos.

Memory

Without a card slot, the Panasonic X100 had inherent limitations in expandable storage, which was common in feature phones of its age. The phonebook capacity is 200 entries, each allowing 10 fields along with Photo call features and support for 10 groups, balancing user requirements for somewhat detailed contact management. Call records could maintain lists of 50 dialed, 50 received, and 20 missed calls, reflecting the usage patterns of typical users in that period.

Main Camera

The main camera is a single CIF camera, with no video recording capabilities. This 0.1MP camera was intended for simple point-and-click photos that one could use for contact images or small on-screen viewing. The absence of a selfie camera or high-resolution options highlights the phone's focus on basic functionality rather than photographic prowess.

Sound

The Panasonic X100 doesn't have a loudspeaker option or a 3.5mm headphone jack, which limits its playback capabilities mostly to ringtones and alerts. The alert types include vibration and downloadable polyphonic ringtones, with a composer feature for users to create their own ringtones, a popular feature in phones of its time.

Comms

Communication features were mostly limited as the device lacks WLAN, Bluetooth, Positioning services, and radio capabilities. The absence of these features, particularly Bluetooth and WLAN, mark it as a phone from the pre-smartphone era, where connectivity was constrained to voice and simple data services like SMS and GPRS.

Features

The Panasonic X100 had basic onboard features typical for its design era. It supported SMS, EMS, and MMS, allowing users to communicate via text and multimedia messages. There was a simple WAP 2.0/xHTML browser for basic internet access. Pre-installed games such as Wall Breaker and Move Box added entertainment value. The phone did not support Java, limiting the capacity for third-party application installation.

Battery

Powered by a removable Li-Ion 730 mAh battery, the X100 offered standby time up to 200 hours and talk time up to 7 hours. Such specifications were well-suited for its basic operational needs and ensured that the phone could function throughout a working day without frequent recharges, which was highly appreciated due to less accessibility to charging facilities back then.

Miscellaneous

The available colors of the Panasonic X100 were Blue, Dark Silver, and Silver, providing users with some choice to match their personal style preferences. These colors helped the device maintain an understated professional appearance, which was attractive to business users and casual consumers alike at the time of its release.