Samsung i250 Unveiling Specs Prices and Performance

Overview of Samsung i250

The Samsung i250 was one of the early smartphones envisioned by Samsung, announced in the first quarter of 2004. Unfortunately, the device was eventually cancelled, but it remains an interesting piece of technology history due to its ambitious specifications for the time. The i250 was intended to be operated on the Microsoft Smartphone 2003 operating system and was designed to function on GSM networks with support for multiple bands, offering potential global usability.

Design and Build

The Samsung i250 was developed with a compact design, measuring 94 x 50 x 26 mm and weighing 130 grams. It sported a mini-SIM card slot typical of that era. The phone's compact design was intended to be user-friendly while ensuring a solid build, aiding in portability and ease of use.

Display

The device featured a TFT display capable of showing 65,000 colors, with a resolution of 176 x 220 pixels. This was fairly advanced for mobile devices during its time, offering users a vibrant and clear display that could handle a range of applications and media.

Performance and Platform

Operating on Microsoft Smartphone 2003, the Samsung i250 was expected to deliver a functional smartphone experience, integrating traditional phone features with new smart capabilities. The operating system was designed to support mobile communication needs while introducing basic applications for enhanced productivity and connectivity.

Memory and Storage

The Samsung i250 came equipped with 32MB of RAM and 64MB of ROM, coupled with support for miniSD memory cards. This allowed users to expand their storage capabilities, which was particularly useful for those looking to store more media, applications, or personal data on their device.

Camera

The main camera of the device was a modest 1 MP shooter, which, despite its limitations, was equipped with an LED flash. This offered users basic photography capabilities, enabling them to capture spontaneous moments with ease. However, the device did not support video recording, which was a typical limitation of early camera phones.

Audio and Connectivity

Samsung i250 provided a range of audio and connectivity options. It was designed to support downloadable polyphonic ringtones and offered Bluetooth connectivity, which was an emerging standard for wireless data transfer at the time. Although it lacked a loudspeaker and a 3.5mm headphone jack, it came with an infrared port, offering another method for data transmission, such as sending contact information or calendar entries to other devices.

Network Capabilities

The device supported GSM technology across 900, 1800, and 1900 MHz frequency bands, making it compatible with many networks worldwide. It also supported GPRS Class 10 for data services, although it lacked the higher-speed EDGE technology that would later become more common in mobile devices.

Battery and Power

Powered by a removable 780mAh Li-Ion battery, the Samsung i250 was designed for basic mobile use. The battery was considered adequate for the functionality provided by the device, although it offered limited performance compared to modern standards.

Miscellaneous Features

The i250 came equipped with a WAP 2.0/xHTML browser and HTML (PocketIE), which allowed users basic web browsing capabilities. While these features were quite elementary compared to today's smartphones, they offered users the first taste of mobile internet access.

Conclusion

Despite never making it to market, the Samsung i250 demonstrates the ambitions and technological advancements being explored in the early 2000s. As an intended competitor in the budding smartphone market, it represented Samsung's foresight in targeting a segment that would later dominate the tech industry. While its specifications may seem modest today, the i250 was part of a wave of early technology that set the stage for the evolution of mobile devices into the multipurpose, high-performance smartphones we rely on today.