Samsung Droid Charge I510 Complete Specs Pricing Pros & Cons

Overview of Samsung Droid Charge I510

The Samsung Droid Charge I510 is an Android smartphone released in May 2011. It was part of the Droid series and offered several advanced features for its time, including a focus on robust network capabilities and multimedia usage. Although it has been discontinued, the phone remains notable for being one of the first to leverage 4G LTE technology, offering substantial speed improvements over 3G.

Network Capabilities

The Samsung Droid Charge is equipped with multiple network technologies. It supports CDMA, EVDO, and LTE, making it compatible with a broad range of network providers. This device was among the early adopters of 4G LTE, providing users with fast internet speeds and seamless connectivity. Its network compatibility includes:

• 2G bands: CDMA 800 / 1900
• 3G bands: CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
• 4G bands: LTE 13

The speed capabilities of the device include EV-DO Rev.A at 3.1 Mbps and LTE, ensuring high-speed data transfer for browsing and downloading.

Launch and Availability

The Samsung Droid Charge I510 was announced in January 2011 and released in May of the same year. Despite being a popular choice for a while, it was discontinued after some time as newer models with advanced technologies became available.

Design and Body

The phone sports a sleek design with dimensions of 130 x 68 x 12 mm, weighing 143g. It features a Mini-SIM slot and comes in a classic black color. Its compact form factor made it easy to handle and carry, while maintaining a sturdy build quality.

Display Characteristics

The Samsung Droid Charge is known for its impressive Super AMOLED Plus display, measuring 4.3 inches. The screen-to-body ratio is approximately 59.5%, and it sports a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels with a density of about 217 pixels per inch. This display technology was advanced at the time, offering vibrant colors and excellent contrast ratios, enhancing the multimedia experience significantly.

Platform and Performance

The device runs on Android 2.2 Froyo and is powered by the Hummingbird chipset. Its CPU is a 1.0 GHz Cortex-A8, accompanied by a PowerVR SGX540 GPU. Although the specifications might seem modest by today’s standards, at the time, they provided a balanced performance for daily tasks, multimedia consumption, and light gaming.

Memory and Storage

Internally, the Droid Charge offers 2GB of storage, which might appear limited. However, it includes a dedicated microSDHC slot, allowing users to expand storage capacity significantly, catering to those with large media collections or app requirements.

Camera Specifications

The Samsung Droid Charge comes with a single 8 MP rear camera equipped with autofocus and an LED flash, supporting video recording capabilities. The front-facing camera is 1.3 MP, suitable for basic video calls and selfies. While these camera specifications might seem basic now, they provided solid performance for capturing everyday moments back in 2011.

Audio and Multimedia

Multimedia was a strong suit for the Droid Charge. It includes a loudspeaker and a 3.5mm headphone jack, catering to audio needs. The Super AMOLED Plus display further enhances video playback, making the smartphone a reliable companion for entertainment on-the-go.

Connectivity Options

The phone supports a range of connectivity options:

• WLAN: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, DLNA, hotspot capabilities
• Bluetooth 3.0 with A2DP
• GPS with A-GPS for location services
• MicroUSB 2.0 for data transfer and charging

These features make it versatile in terms of connectivity and data transfer.

Sensor and Interface

The Droid Charge is equipped with essential sensors such as the accelerometer, proximity sensor, and compass. The browser supports HTML5 and Adobe Flash, offering a satisfactory web browsing experience.

Battery Life

The phone features a removable Li-Ion 1600 mAh battery, providing up to 280 hours of standby time and up to 11 hours of talk time. This was considered adequate at the time, allowing for a full day of moderate usage without requiring a recharge.

Miscellaneous Features

The Samsung Droid Charge operates with a specific absorption rate (SAR) of 1.01 W/kg for head exposure and 1.00 W/kg for body exposure, adhering to safety regulations. Priced around 130 EUR upon release, it positioned itself as a competitive option in the smartphone market.

Conclusion

Even though the Samsung Droid Charge I510 is discontinued, its contribution to smartphone technology—especially with LTE adoption—is noteworthy. It balanced innovation with practical features, creating a satisfying user experience for its time. The design approach, robust network capabilities, and multimedia offerings gave it a respected place in the history of smartphones.