Philips 390 Unveiling Features Prices Pros & Cons

Overview

The Philips 390 was a mobile phone announced in May 2007, yet it never made it to the production phase as its release was eventually cancelled. Developed by Philips, this device was set to cater to basic mobile communication needs with standard features suitable for the market at that time. Despite its cancellation, a look into its intended specifications provides us with an interesting snapshot of mobile technology during that era.

Design and Build

With dimensions of 97 x 48 x 16 mm and a weight of merely 98 grams, the Philips 390 was designed to be a compact and lightweight device. It featured a classic bar form factor with a Mini-SIM slot, catering to the necessity of portability without compromising on basic functionality. The device was set to be available in a classic black color, reflecting a simplistic and professional aesthetic.

Display

The Philips 390 came with a 2.0-inch TFT display supporting 256K colors, an adequate choice for basic cell phones of that time. With a resolution of 176 x 220 pixels (~141 ppi density), it was sufficient for viewing simple graphics and UI elements, despite not matching the higher resolutions seen in later smartphones. The screen-to-body ratio was approximately 27.0% which, by modern standards, seems minimal but was quite acceptable in those days.

Performance and Storage

Showing its status as a feature phone, the Philips 390 did not include advanced processing capabilities typical of smartphones. The internal storage was capped at 64MB, a plausible amount for storing contact information and a limited number of SMS messages, given the phone's targeted basic use. Additionally, it had a dedicated microSD card slot which allowed users to add additional storage and improve their usage experience.

Camera

A defining feature was its 1.3 MP rear camera, which provided the ability to capture images and record videos at a simple 120p resolution. While this specification may seem obsolete in today's standards, for 2007, it represented a practical approach for a non-smartphone device where high-quality imaging was not a primary concern.

Network and Communication

The Philips 390 was equipped with GSM technology supporting 900 and 1800 MHz bands. It catered to GSM networks, a staple for mobile communication in the mid-2000s. However, it lacked GPRS Class 10 data support, and more notably, there was no support for EDGE, WLAN, or Bluetooth, which limited its data transfer capabilities. Instead, it had a proprietary USB interface but no standard 3.5 mm audio jack.

Battery Life

This device was powered by a removable Li-Ion 620 mAh battery, promising a stand-by time of up to 250 hours and a maximum talk time of approximately 3 hours. This was fairly competent for a feature phone of its time, as energy consumption was relatively low due to the absence of power-hungry applications and features.

Additional Features

The Philips 390 supported SMS, EMS, and MMS messaging formats. It also included a WAP 2.0/xHTML web browser for basic internet connectivity through GPRS. The phone provided three embedded games, though it lacked Java support which would have expanded its gaming and application capabilities. It also allowed for vibration alerts and downloadable polyphonic and MP3 ringtones, though it did not include a loudspeaker.

Conclusion

Although the Philips 390 never reached the market, it remains an intriguing depiction of mid-2000s mobile technology and offers a glimpse into the features that were prioritized at the time for feature phones. Its straightforward design and functionality highlight the simplicity of mobile phones before the smartphone revolution reshaped the industry. The absence of advanced features such as mobile browsing, high-resolution cameras, or multimedia capabilities kept it in line with the era's standard feature set for basic mobile communication needs.