Panasonic X200 Comprehensive Review Specs and Pricing

Panasonic X200 Overview

The Panasonic X200 is a feature phone released in 2004, catering to users who prioritized basic communication needs over the advanced functionalities offered by smartphones. Despite its minimalistic approach, Panasonic managed to deliver a phone that was practical for its time, encapsulating a few essential features that appealed to a wide audience seeking affordability and simplicity in mobile technology.

Network Capabilities

The Panasonic X200 operated using GSM technology, specifically supporting the GSM 900 and 1800 bands. This enabled the phone to facilitate basic telecommunication capabilities prevalent during its era. It included GPRS Class 8 for basic data services but did not support EDGE technology, which was becoming more common for faster data services around that period.

Design and Build

Measuring 104 x 45 x 13 mm and weighing just 79 grams, the Panasonic X200 was compact and light, making it a convenient carry for users. It featured a classic bar phone design with rounded corners, contributing to its ergonomic feel. The device was built to accommodate a Mini-SIM and was available in two color variants: Black and White, offering users some degree of personalization.

Display Features

The phone had a TFT display capable of showing 65K colors, which was adequate for displaying text and basic graphics. With a resolution of 128 x 128 pixels, the screen could display up to five lines of text at a time. The 1:1 aspect ratio was typical for phones of that era and sufficed for reading messages and viewing contact details.

Memory and Storage

The Panasonic X200 did not come with an expandable memory card slot, a common limitation for feature phones at the time. However, it offered a phonebook with storage capacity for up to 300 contacts, each with five fields. It also supported a categorization into nine groups, allowing users to organize their contacts efficiently. Additionally, the phone maintained call records, saving the last 10 dialed, received, and missed calls.

Camera Specifications

The device was equipped with a VGA camera providing a resolution of 0.3 megapixels. Although modest by today’s standards, this was sufficient for capturing basic snapshots. However, it lacked video recording capabilities, which limited its usage to static photos.

Audio and Multimedia

The Panasonic X200 did not feature a loudspeaker or a 3.5mm headphone jack, but it supported vibration alerts and offered downloadable polyphonic ringtones. This functionality allowed users some customization in their auditory alerts despite the lack of more advanced audio features.

Connectivity and Additional Features

This model did not support modern connectivity features like WLAN, Bluetooth, or GPS. The presence of an infrared port represented its primary wireless data transfer capability, common in early 2000s mobile devices for exchanging contacts and other small files. It also did not include a built-in radio or USB connectivity, which limited its repertoire of modern tech interactions.

As for software, the phone supported messaging through SMS and MMS and included a WAP 2.0/xHTML browser for basic internet browsing over a GPRS connection. Users could also engage in limited gaming, with MobileGolf pre-installed and the option to download additional games leveraging the phone’s Java capabilities.

Battery Life

The Panasonic X200 was powered by a removable Li-Ion 600 mAh battery. This was sufficient to provide the device with a standby time of up to 210 hours and a talk time of approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes, meeting the typical demands for feature phones from that time.

Conclusion

In summary, the Panasonic X200 was a compact and efficient feature phone that delivered essential functionalities to its users. While lacking the advanced multitasking capabilities and high-end features seen in modern smartphones, it served well for voice communications, basic messaging, and minimal internet usage. Its aesthetics combined with its availability in two color options allowed consumers some degree of personalization. Despite being discontinued, it remains a nostalgic representation of early 2000s mobile technology.