Plum Velocity Comprehensive Review of Specs Prices Pros & Cons

Overview of Plum Velocity

The Plum Velocity is a smartphone that was introduced in September 2011 and was known for its basic functionalities combined with some smart features for its time. Although it has been discontinued, the phone offers interesting insights into the early Android devices that tried to blend multiple functionalities at an affordable price.

Network Capabilities

The Plum Velocity supports GSM technology with 2G bands including GSM 850, 900, 1800, and 1900. This allowed users to have dual SIM slots, providing the flexibility for balancing personal and professional contacts on the same device. The connectivity relied on GPRS Class 12 and EDGE Class 12 for data transmission, which were quite common during that period for basic internet access and MMS services.

Design and Build

In terms of physical design, Plum Velocity measures 113.5 x 62.5 x 12.6 mm and weighs approximately 135 grams. It features a classic QWERTY keyboard for easy typing, which was a favored design for many users who came from using feature phones with physical keypads. The dual Mini-SIM slots made it convenient for users who traveled or had multiple network needs.

Display

The device comes with a 2.6-inch TFT resistive touchscreen. The resolution stands at 320 x 240 pixels with an approximate pixel density of 154 ppi. While not a high-resolution display by today’s standards, it was adequate for basic tasks like messaging, browsing, and accessing apps designed for the screen size.

Hardware and Performance

The Plum Velocity is powered by a Mediatek MT6516 chipset with a 416 MHz CPU. It houses 512MB of internal storage, coupled with 256MB RAM, providing enough space for storing contacts, messages, and a limited number of applications. Additionally, it includes a dedicated microSDHC card slot for expanded storage, which was essential for users wishing to save more multimedia files.

Camera Features

The phone is equipped with a 2 MP primary camera featuring LED flash support, capable of recording videos in 720p@30fps. While certainly not a professional-grade camera, it sufficed for casual snapshots and sharing images on social media. There is also a basic selfie camera for video calling or taking self-portraits.

Sound and Audio

Audio features include a built-in loudspeaker, but the absence of a 3.5mm headphone jack required users to rely on Bluetooth or USB audio solutions for private listening experiences. The device supports Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP for wireless audio streaming.

Communication and Connectivity

For wireless communication, the phone comes with Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, enabling internet connectivity through Wi-Fi networks. The GPS and A-GPS services enabled basic navigation features, which would have been suitable for basic location-based services. FM radio is also incorporated, adding another layer of audio entertainment for users.

Battery and Power Management

Plum Velocity is equipped with a removable Li-Ion 800 mAh battery, model BL-5K. The phone offers a standby time of up to 200 hours and a talk time of up to 6 hours, which was standard for devices of similar specifications in its era. The removable battery design allowed users to easily replace it if necessary.

Software and Operating System

The smartphone runs on Android 2.2 (Froyo), which, at the time, provided users access to a variety of applications through the Android Market. Though it lacks the speed and features of modern Android versions, it allowed users to experience mobile apps, internet services, and email on a basic level.

Conclusion

The Plum Velocity reflects a transitional period in smartphone history, where users were introduced to touchscreen interfaces while still enjoying the familiarity of physical keypads. Although its capabilities are modest compared to contemporary devices, it served its purpose well by providing essential mobile services at an approachable price point during its release period. Its dual SIM functionality, extended battery life, and classic design are particularly notable features that catered to its target demographic.