Philips Xenium 99k The Ultimate Review Specs Prices Pros & Cons

Overview of the Philips Xenium 9@9k

The Philips Xenium 9@9k is a feature phone that was announced in November 2007. It reflects a time when mobile phones were primarily used for basic communication, with additional features serving as bonuses rather than necessities. This device, while no longer in production, offers a glimpse into the earlier functionalities and expectations of mobile technology.

Design and Build

The Philips Xenium 9@9k sports a compact design with dimensions of 104.3 x 42 x 18.7 mm and a weight of 108 grams. This makes it a convenient phone to carry for everyday use. The build is robust, typical of phones from that era, designed to withstand casual drops and daily wear and tear. The phone uses a Mini-SIM format, which was standard during its time.

Display

Featuring a 1.8-inch TFT display, the Philips Xenium 9@9k displays 65K colors and has a resolution of 128 x 160 pixels, resulting in approximately 114 pixels per inch. While not comparable to modern-day screen clarity, this screen was adequate for the basic functionalities such as calls, text messages, and simplistic graphics seen in old mobile games.

Performance

As a feature phone, the Xenium 9@9k does not boast the advanced processing power seen in smartphones. The phone is primarily optimized for calls, messages, and light applications. It offers a smooth user experience for basic tasks, largely thanks to its minimalistic demands on hardware resources.

Storage and Memory

The phone comes with 2MB of internal storage – an amount that might seem minuscule by today’s standards but was quite acceptable at the time for storing contacts, messages, and a handful of basic applications. For those requiring additional storage, the phone provides a dedicated microSD slot to expand memory capabilities beyond its internal capacity, supporting the need for extra music or image files.

Camera

The Philips Xenium 9@9k comes equipped with a VGA camera offering 0.3 MP quality. It also allows for video recording at 128x96 resolution at 15 frames per second. While the camera may not meet the expectations of modern smartphone users, it allowed for basic photography and video recording suitable for documentation rather than professional use.

Battery Life

The standout feature of the Xenium series is its battery life. This model is powered by a removable Li-Ion 1790 mAh battery. In operational terms, it could offer up to 1440 hours of standby time and 17 hours of talk time, making it an ideal choice for those in need of long battery life without the frequent need for recharging.

Network and Connectivity

As a GSM-based device, the Philips Xenium 9@9k supports GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900, providing adequate connectivity for its time. It supports GPRS Class 10 but lacks EDGE capability. For short-range data transfer, the phone includes Bluetooth connectivity. Additionally, it features an FM radio and miniUSB for physical connection, though it lacks advanced connectivity options such as WLAN or GPS.

Sound and Multimedia

Sound capabilities in the Philips Xenium 9@9k include a loudspeaker and support for downloadable polyphonic and MP3 ringtones. Although there is no 3.5mm audio jack, users could manage their sound preferences through available features.

Software Features

The device runs on a proprietary operating system used for feature phones. It supports basic communication services such as SMS, MMS, and Email. For browsing, the phone is equipped with a WAP 2.0/xHTML browser, suitable for basic internet navigation. It also allows users to indulge in basic games pre-installed on the device. Unfortunately, it lacks Java support, which limits the extent of third-party applications available to the user.

Conclusion

The Philips Xenium 9@9k, while discontinued, represents a vital period in mobile technology history. Its focus on basic features augmented by robust battery life caters well to users prioritizing simplicity and endurance in their mobile devices. Despite modern innovations, phones like the 9@9k served as dependable tools during a transformational phase in communication technology.