Philips T3566 InDepth Review Specs Pricing & More

Philips T3566 Overview

The Philips T3566 is a classic smartphone that was first announced and released in October 2013. It represents a throwback to the early 2010s era of smartphone technology, offering modest features and specifications that were quite adequate at the time of its release. Though it has been discontinued, it remains a device of interest for those studying the evolution of mobile technology.

Design and Build Quality

The Philips T3566 is built to be both functional and durable. With dimensions of 126.8 x 68 x 12 mm, it possesses a compact form factor compared to modern devices, making it comfortable to hold and use with one hand. The phone weighs 137 grams, which is relatively light, yet it maintains a sense of robustness. The device supports dual SIM (Mini-SIM, dual stand-by), giving users the convenience of managing two separate phone numbers or plans simultaneously. Its black color and classic design speak to a time where simplicity and practicality were key considerations in mobile design.

Display

Sporting a 4.0-inch TFT display, the Philips T3566 offers a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels with a 5:3 ratio, delivering a pixel density of approximately 233 ppi. While this is modest by today's standards, it was sufficient for day-to-day tasks such as browsing the web, checking emails, and social media usage. The display size and quality reflect the technological capabilities and user expectations of the era in which the phone was released.

Performance

Under the hood, the Philips T3566 is powered by a dual-core 1.2 GHz processor. Paired with 256MB of RAM, the device is equipped to handle basic smartphone functions. The internal storage is limited, with only 256MB available, but this is expandable via a dedicated microSDHC slot, providing users with additional space for apps, photos, and music.

Camera

The phone features a single 2 megapixel rear camera. Although it lacks advanced features seen in contemporary devices, it provides basic photo and video recording capabilities suitable for capturing simple moments. There is no front-facing camera, which reflects the primary use of cameras at the time for casual photography rather than selfies or video calls.

Software

The Philips T3566 runs on Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean), a version of Google’s operating system known for its smooth interface and customizable features. Jelly Bean was acclaimed for introducing Google Now and improvements to touch performance and system responsiveness, enhancing the user experience when navigating through applications and menus. Despite being outdated today, it represented a significant step forward in smartphone software design at the time.

Battery Life

The device is powered by a Li-Ion 2000 mAh removable battery, which was fairly standard for devices released during this period. On a full charge, it offers up to 15 hours of talk time or up to 420 hours on standby, providing adequate power for a day of moderate usage. The removable nature of the battery allowed users to swap batteries and extend the phone's uptime, a feature that is becoming increasingly rare in modern smartphones.

Connectivity

Connectivity options for the Philips T3566 are basic, including GSM and HSPA network technologies. It supports 2G and 3G bands, providing satisfactory mobile internet access for that time. The device also features Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g for wireless internet connectivity, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP and EDR for transferring files between devices or using wireless accessories, and a micro USB 2.0 port for charging and data transfer. However, it does not support positioning technologies like GPS, nor does it feature NFC or a radio.

Audio and Sound

The phone is equipped with a loudspeaker, and it maintains the standard 3.5mm headphone jack, allowing users to connect a variety of audio devices for hands-free calling or music playback. The audio features are typical of the era, fulfilling users' basic needs for sound output in a mobile device.

Additional Features

In terms of sensors, the Philips T3566 is equipped with an accelerometer, which provides orientation-based control and contributes to the overall user experience by supporting certain features like auto-rotate for the display. However, the device does not boast more modern sensor capabilities like fingerprint scanners or gyroscopes.

Conclusion

Overall, the Philips T3566 represents an entry-level smartphone from the time it was released, aimed at users who required basic functionality without the need for high-end specifications or features. It provides a snapshot of smartphone technology and user expectations from 2013, a period when smartphones were just beginning to transition into the highly advanced and multifunctional devices we are accustomed to today.