Philips 399 Unveiling Specs Prices Pros & Cons

Overview

The Philips 399 is a feature phone that was announced in July 2007 but was unfortunately never released to the market as its status remains cancelled. Despite its cancellation, the Philips 399 remains an intriguing device representing the typical design and technological capabilities of mid-2000s mobile devices.

Design and Build

The Philips 399 sports a compact and lightweight design with dimensions of 102 x 49 x 13 mm and weighs approximately 80 grams. It features a Mini-SIM slot, aligning with the standard of phones during that period. The device is available in three appealing colors: Matt Black, High Glossy Black, and Red.

Display

The mobile boasts a 2.6-inch TFT resistive touchscreen display that supports 256K colors. With a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels, the display offers a modest visual experience with a pixel density of approximately 154 ppi. The screen-to-body ratio of this device is about 41.9%, typical of feature phones of that era.

Camera

On the camera front, Philips 399 is equipped with a single rear camera of 1.3 MP, capable of recording video at 120p resolution. Though basic compared to modern standards, it provided adequate functionality for capturing simple photos and videos at the time.

Memory

The phone comes with an internal memory of 11MB, supplemented by a dedicated microSD card slot for additional storage needs. It features a phonebook with photocall capabilities and can store records of 30 received, dialed, and missed calls.

Sound

The audio functionalities include a loudspeaker for hands-free operation and compatibility with vibration alerts. It supports a range of alert tones, including downloadable polyphonic and MP3 ringtones. Notably, it lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack, which was a common omission for mobile phones of that era.

Connectivity and Communications

Connectivity options include Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP support and miniUSB connectivity for data transfer. However, the device does not support WLAN, positioning services, or radio, emphasizing its simpler, more direct communication focus. The device operates on GSM technology supporting bands 900 / 1800 for 2G networks.

Battery Life

Powering the Philips 399 is a removable Li-Ion 820 mAh battery. The device offers a talk time of up to 3 hours and can remain on standby for up to 240 hours, providing reasonable battery life for a feature phone.

Software Features

The operating system classifies it as a feature phone, providing essential messaging capabilities such as SMS, EMS, and MMS. Internet browsing is supported through a WAP browser, and entertainment needs are met with its gaming and Java MIDP 2.0 capabilities. This device, however, lacks any advanced sensors which have become commonplace in modern smartphones.

Conclusion

While the Philips 399 never got the chance to shine in the consumer market, its design and features make it a notable example of mid-2000s mobile technology. It provides a snapshot of evolving technology trends before the widespread adoption of smartphones, showcasing humble hardware and straightforward software intended for efficient communication.