Philips Xenium 99d Full Specs Pricing Pros & Cons Explored

Overview of Philips Xenium 9@9d

The Philips Xenium 9@9d is a feature phone that was introduced in March 2006. Known for its durability and long battery life, the Xenium series has always aimed to provide users with simple and reliable communication solutions. Although the 9@9d has been discontinued, it remains a noteworthy model from Philips due to its distinctive features and performance for its time.

Design and Build

The Philips Xenium 9@9d features a compact and straightforward design, measuring 108 x 45 x 18.5 mm and weighing just 96 grams. This made it lightweight and easy to carry for daily use. The device was available in Dazzling Silver and Luminous Black, providing users with a choice of classic colors. With its Mini-SIM slot and sturdy construction, the phone was designed to withstand the rigors of everyday use, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a reliable device.

Display

The phone sports a CSTN display capable of showing 65K colors, with a resolution of 128 x 160 pixels. While not comparable to today's high-resolution screens, this display was adequate for viewing text messages and basic graphics. The size of the screen is not specified, but it was typical for feature phones of that era, offering a sufficient viewing experience for the simplicity it aimed to deliver.

Camera Capabilities

Incorporating a 1.3 MP main camera, the Philips Xenium 9@9d provided basic photography capabilities. It also featured an LED flash to assist in low-light conditions and the functionality to record video, which was a practical feature for users wanting to capture everyday moments. Despite its modest specs compared to modern smartphones, the camera fulfilled the essential photographic needs of many users during its time.

Battery Life

One of the standout features of the Philips Xenium 9@9d is its battery life. Equipped with a removable Li-Ion 1100 mAh battery, it offered an impressive standby time of up to 850 hours and talk time of up to 8 hours. This long battery life was a major selling point, providing users with confidence that their phone would last through extensive use without frequent recharging.

Performance and Storage

Under the hood, the Philips Xenium 9@9d was designed as a feature phone, focusing more on essential tasks rather than processing power or multitasking capabilities. It included 18MB of internal storage, allowing the user to store contacts, text messages, and some media files. However, the phone did not support expandable storage via card slots, which was a common limitation among feature phones.

Network and Connectivity

The phone supported GSM technology and was compatible with 2G bands including GSM 900, 1800, and 1900. While it did not support EDGE, it provided GPRS Class 10 for data transmission. For connectivity, it included Bluetooth and an infrared port, allowing users to transfer files between devices. However, it lacked WLAN, positioning services, and radio. A USB 1.1 port was included for wired connectivity and charging.

Sound and Multimedia

The sound features of the Philips Xenium 9@9d were basic, as it did not include a loudspeaker or a 3.5mm headphone jack. However, it supported downloadable polyphonic ringtones and vibration alerts. It offered messaging options including SMS, EMS, and MMS, allowing users to communicate in multiple formats. The browser feature enabled basic web browsing, supplemented by several built-in games with the option to download more, thanks to the device's Java MIDP 2.0 support.

Conclusion

The Philips Xenium 9@9d stood out in its time as a reliable and durable feature phone with an emphasis on long battery life. It's a classic example of how mobile phones from the early 2000s balanced basic functionality with user-friendly design. Despite advancements in mobile technology, the Xenium 9@9d remains a memorable device for those who experienced its simplicity and endurance first-hand.