Philips Xenium 99v The Complete Guide to Specs Pricing Pros & Cons

Design and Build

The Philips Xenium 9@9v features a compact design suitable for its release period, offering dimensions of 105 x 44 x 15.8 mm and a lightweight build of just 75 grams. It's crafted to be easily portable and user-friendly in daily usage. The device accommodates dual SIM functionality (Mini-SIM), which was relatively uncommon at the time, giving users the flexibility of operating two phone numbers on one device, a beneficial feature for business and personal use.

Display

Equipped with a TFT resistive touchscreen that supports 65,000 colors, the Philips Xenium 9@9v's display measures 1.75 inches, with a resolution of 128 x 160 pixels, yielding a pixel density of approximately 117 ppi. While it may pale in comparison to modern smartphone displays, this was quite sufficient for basic mobile operations in its time, offering acceptable clarity for reading text messages and navigating the primitive GUI.

Camera

Though not designed as a photography device, the Philips Xenium 9@9v includes a simple VGA camera with a resolution of 0.3 megapixels. It does not support video recording, aiming more for basic image capture suitable for contact photos or low-resolution sharing through MMS or email.

Battery Life

One of the standout features of the Philips Xenium series is battery longevity, and the 9@9v model is no exception. It houses a removable Li-Ion 890 mAh battery. This battery provides an impressive standby time of up to 750 hours and talk time of up to 8 hours, catering to users who prioritize lengthy battery endurance over frequent device charging.

Memory and Storage

The phone lacks a card slot for expandable storage, reflecting its status as a feature phone focused more on communication than media consumption. Despite this, it includes a phonebook feature and the ability to record call logs for up to 30 calls across received, dialed, and missed categories, addressing the essential needs of the target market.

Network and Connectivity

The Philips Xenium 9@9v supports GSM networks on 900/1800 bands. It features GPRS Class 10 for basic internet connectivity via WAP browsers, making it feasible for checking emails or browsing lightweight web pages. Notably, the device does not include modern wireless connectivity options such as WLAN or Bluetooth but does offer an infrared port and miniUSB for wired connections.

Sound and Multimedia

This mobile device provides built-in polyphonic ringtones and support for MP3 files, which were popular ringtone formats at the time. Although lacking a 3.5mm headphone jack, the phone comes with a speaker for hands-free calls or media consumption. Its capacity to download additional ringtones gave users a degree of personalization for their device alerts.

Software and Features

As a feature phone, its operating system includes basic functions such as SMS, EMS, MMS, and email capabilities. Java support (MIDP 2.0) allows for running small applications and games, which extend the usage beyond simple calling and text messages. It also contains a WAP browser for minimal online browsing and downloading capabilities.

Usability and Additional Features

The Philips Xenium 9@9v includes practical messaging capabilities, with support for SMS, EMS, MMS, and email. As for personal entertainment, users have access to built-in games and the possibility of installing more Java-based games and applications. Its simple interface and functionalities cater to those needing standard mobile communication features without the distractions of a smartphone’s complex app ecosystem.

Conclusion

Overall, the Philips Xenium 9@9v epitomizes the characteristics of feature phones in the late 2000s—offering essential communication tools with exceptional battery life. While lacking in modern features such as high-resolution touch displays or advanced connectivity options, it remains a reliable choice for users valuing phone call and text communication, dual SIM functionality, and minimalistic mobile engagement.