Philips W8355 Comprehensive Review of Features Pricing and Performance

Overview of Philips W8355

The Philips W8355, released in March 2013, is a smartphone designed for practical use, accommodating users who prioritize essential functionalities over high-end specifications. It features a balanced set of specs suitable for routine applications and day-to-day tasks.

Design and Build

The Philips W8355 boasts dimensions of 147.6 x 79 x 10.9 mm and weighs 224.5 grams, reflective of its substantial build. With a thickness of 10.9 mm, this device offers a sturdy grip, making it comfortable and secure to handle. The phone supports dual SIM (Mini-SIM) functionality, catering to users who require multiple numbers for personal and work use.

Display

The W8355 is equipped with a 5.3-inch TFT display, offering a screen resolution of 540 x 960 pixels. This resolution results in a pixel density of approximately 208 ppi. While this might not compete with modern high-definition displays, it was sufficient at the time of release for basic tasks and multimedia consumption. The screen's size provides a decent area for viewing content and engaging with apps.

Platform and Performance

This smartphone runs on Android 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich), which was popular during its release period. It is powered by a Qualcomm MSM8225 Snapdragon S4 Play chipset featuring a dual-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A5 CPU and an Adreno 203 GPU. Despite its modest processing capabilities, the phone handled basic applications and light multitasking adequately at its time of launch.

Memory and Storage

The Philips W8355 comes with 4GB of internal storage and 512MB of RAM. While the internal memory capacity might seem limited by today's standards, it is expandable via a dedicated microSDHC card slot, which provides users with the option to increase storage as necessary. This expansion capacity allows users to store more media files and applications without running into storage constraints quickly.

Camera Features

The main camera on the Philips W8355 is a single 5 MP sensor with autofocus and LED flash, capable of capturing basic photographs suitable for everyday use. Users can record video with this setup, although advanced video features are not available. The device also includes a 2 MP front-facing camera, intended for simple selfie captures and video calls. These camera specifications reflect functionality tailored towards entry-level smartphone users.

Connectivity

Connectivity options on the W8355 include Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g for internet browsing and Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP for wireless connectivity with other devices. GPS functionality is present, assisting in navigation and location-based services. The device supports microUSB 2.0 connections, but notably, it lacks NFC and radio capabilities, which may limit its appeal to users seeking those features.

Battery Life

Philips equipped the W8355 with a removable Li-Ion 3000 mAh battery, offering up to 742 hours of standby time and up to 13 hours of talk time, which was considered commendable for smartphones released in the same era. The battery's capability to be replaced ensures longevity for the device, as users can easily swap a worn-out battery with a new one, prolonging the phone's usability.

Additional Features

The Philips W8355 includes standard sensors such as an accelerometer and proximity sensor, which support basic gesture and interaction capabilities within applications. The device retains the 3.5mm headphone jack, allowing users to connect wired audio devices without the need for adapters.

Market Placement and Conclusion

At the time of its release, the Philips W8355 was priced competitively, targeting users who needed reliable phone functions without the premium cost associated with flagship models. Though it has since been discontinued, the W8355 represents a segment of smartphones that combined essential functionalities with competitive pricing, making it a reasonable choice for cost-conscious consumers during its market period. The device's emphasis on practicality rather than cutting-edge technology highlights a fundamental market need that persists even with advances in smartphone technology today.