Price and specifications of Philips V900 advantages, disadvantages, and a comprehensive explanation

Overview of the Philips V900

The Philips V900, released in March 2010, marked Philips' foray into the world of smartphones, running on the Android-based OPhone OS. Though discontinued now, it once stood as a competitive option with its balance of features and usability tailored for users who sought a blend of practicality and functionality in a mobile device.

Design and Build

The Philips V900 showcases a classic design with dimensions of 115 x 62.4 x 13.2 mm, weighing in at 153.5 g. The device presents a modest presence in the hand, primarily crafted to cater to those who preferred a solid grip and a straightforward aesthetic. The handset's body, primarily black, exudes simplicity and elegance, enhancing its appeal for users looking for an understated yet sophisticated device.

Display

The V900 comes with a 3.5-inch TFT display that supports up to 256K colors. This screen size, with a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels, offers decent visibility and color representation. Although the ~48.6% screen-to-body ratio might not compete with today's edge-to-edge screens, it was a sufficient provision at that time, providing users with ample interaction space while maintaining a compact form factor.

Platform and Performance

Under the hood, the V900 runs on the Android-based OPhone OS, an operating system that catered specifically to Chinese markets but offered a taste of the flexibility and personalization that Android systems are known for. This choice of OS opened up the Philips V900 to a realm of applications and customization options, allowing users to tailor their devices to their personal preferences and needs.

Camera Features

Equipped with a 3.15 MP autofocus main camera, the V900 provided basic photographic capabilities. It could capture images and record video at 320p, offering users a means to document their daily lives, albeit not at the high resolution and clarity seen in more contemporary models. The absence of a selfie camera might be seen as a drawback today, but at the time, selfies were not as prevalent, and the focus was primarily on the main rear camera.

Memory and Storage

Aiding the device's operations is the modest 40MB of internal storage, which was relatively limited. However, the inclusion of a microSDHC card slot was crucial for users requiring additional storage space, enabling them to expand their device’s capacity to store more applications, photos, and other media.

Battery Life

The V900 packs a removable Li-Ion 1450 mAh battery. Rated to provide up to 7 hours of talk time and up to 420 hours on standby, the battery life was one of the stronger suits of the device, ensuring that it could last through a full day's usage without needing a recharge.

Network and Connectivity

The device supports GSM technology with 2G bands (GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900), offering basic mobile connectivity suitable for text and voice communication. While data speeds were limited to GPRS Class 12 and EDGE Class 12, the presence of Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g allowed users to access faster internet connections when available. Additional connectivity options included Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP and miniUSB 2.0, enabling convenient data transfer and peripheral connectivity.

Sound and Additional Features

For audio, the V900 provides both a loudspeaker and a 3.5mm headphone jack, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of audio peripherals and allowing users to enjoy music and media on the go. Although lacking the advanced sensors found in modern smartphones, it offered a basic HTML browser for internet access.

End of Production and Legacy

Initially announced in February 2010, the Philips V900 had a brief market presence before being discontinued. Despite its eventual retirement from the consumer marketplace, it remains a testament to Philips' efforts in venturing into smartphone development, providing users at the time with a reliable and functional device.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Philips V900, with its blend of features, connectivity options, and durable battery life, served as a functional mobile device for many users during its time on the market. It offered an entry point into smart device usage, providing basic applications and internet capabilities reflective of early 2010s mobile tech evolution.