Philips W6500 Comprehensive Review & Pricing Insight

Overview of Philips W6500

The Philips W6500 is a smartphone that was announced and released in October 2013. As a product from Philips, it showcases some unique features that set it apart from its competitors at the time. Although it has been discontinued, the phone played a significant role in the evolution of smartphones, especially those targeting users who required dual-SIM capabilities at a more affordable price.

Design and Build

The Philips W6500 measures 128.7 x 66 x 11.8 mm and weighs a solid 150.8 grams. This robust form factor ensures durability. Despite its slightly thick profile, the phone fits comfortably in hand, thanks to its compact 4.3-inch display. A standout feature of its design is the dual-mini SIM slots, allowing for simultaneous usage of two SIM cards, a great feature for business users and travelers.

Display

The W6500 is equipped with a 4.3-inch TFT display, offering a resolution of 540 x 960 pixels. With a pixel density of approximately 256 ppi, the screen provides vibrant colors and respectable clarity for its time. While it’s not Full HD, the display caters well to basic multimedia consumption and daily tasks, providing decent viewing angles and brightness levels.

Performance

Powered by a quad-core 1.2 GHz processor, the Philips W6500 was designed to handle smartphone operations smoothly. While it may not compare to the high-performance devices of today, at its launch, it offered good performance for standard tasks such as browsing, app usage, and basic gaming. The device operates on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, which was popular for its user-friendly interface and improved functionalities over previous Android versions.

Memory and Storage

The W6500 comes with 4GB of internal storage, which was quite common for phones from that era. However, the presence of a dedicated microSDHC slot is a significant advantage, allowing users to expand storage as needed. Additional storage can be utilized to store media, documents, and more applications, making it versatile for users with various storage needs.

Camera

The phone features a single 5MP rear camera, equipped with autofocus (AF) and an LED flash. This setup enables users to capture decent images in good lighting conditions. Although it may not compete with the high megapixel cameras available now, it was suitable for capturing quick snapshots and basic video recordings during its time. Unfortunately, the device lacks a front-facing camera, limiting its capabilities in terms of video calls and selfies.

Battery

A key feature of the Philips W6500 is its removable Li-Ion 2400 mAh battery. This was relatively high capacity for its time, promising up to 13 hours of talk time and up to 800 hours on standby. The removable aspect allows users to replace the battery if needed, prolonging the overall lifespan of the device.

Connectivity and Additional Features

The W6500 supports GSM and HSPA technologies, providing reliable 2G and 3G connectivity. It also includes essential features such as Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP, EDR, and LE functionalities, and GPS for navigation. Notably, there is no NFC or radio features. The phone charges and connects via a microUSB 2.0 port, common for devices released during this period.

While it’s modest in terms of modern standards, the device provides a reliable performance for its time, aided by essential sensors like an accelerometer and proximity sensor. The presence of a 3.5mm audio jack ensures compatibility with traditional audio devices which is valuable for users who prefer wired headsets.

Conclusion

In summary, the Philips W6500 offered a mixture of functionality and practicality when it was released. Although it doesn't boast high-end specifications, its features, such as dual SIM capabilities, a removable battery, and expandable storage, contributed to its appeal among a range of users, particularly those looking for basic smartphone operations without the frills. Its enduring design and reliability remain noteworthy in the context of its era.