Samsung S500 Comprehensive Review Specs and Pricing

Network

The Samsung S500, released in 2003, caters to 2G network technology. It was designed to operate on GSM frequencies, covering GSM 900 and 1800 bands. This basic connectivity was typical of mobile phones at the time, allowing users to make calls and send text messages across a range of global GSM networks. While GPRS Class 10 allowed for some basic data connectivity, users were limited by the absence of EDGE and more advanced data technologies.

Launch

Samsung announced the S500 in 2003, and it quickly became available. However, as technology advanced, the phone was eventually discontinued. Its availability was part of the early 2000s era of Samsung’s expansion into new mobile phone designs and formats, and it remains a testament to the innovations of that time.

Body

The design of the Samsung S500 was compact and focused on portability. It had dimensions of 83 x 43 x 22 mm and a weight of only 80 grams. This lightweight and compact design made it easy to carry around in a pocket or purse. The phone used a Mini-SIM card, which was the standard at the time for most mobile phones.

Display

The display featured a TFT screen capable of displaying 65K colors, a vibrant feature for simple graphics and text during its time. The screen resolution was 128 x 160 pixels, spread over 8 lines, allowing users to view text messages, phone menu options, and simple animations efficiently.

Memory

Memory capabilities of the Samsung S500 were sufficient for basic phone functionalities. There was no expandable memory through card slots, but the phone had an internal phonebook capacity of 500 entries, each with six fields, plus contact group capabilities for organizational purposes. Call records could store the last 10 dialed, received, and missed calls, offering users a simple call history feature.

Sound

The S500 lacked a loudspeaker and a 3.5mm headphone jack, common across mobile devices at the time. However, it provided customizable alert types, including vibration and downloadable polyphonic ringtones, adding a personalized touch to call and message notifications.

Comms

Regarding communications features, the Samsung S500 did not support modern wireless communication features such as WLAN or Bluetooth. It offered an Infrared port, which was an essential data exchange feature at the time. There was no built-in radio, and connectivity over USB was minimal.

Features

The Samsung S500 was equipped with basic features standard for feature phones. It supported messaging formats such as SMS and EMS, allowing users to send and receive text messages. The browser supported WAP 1.2, providing limited internet browsing capabilities. Additionally, users could download basic games that added entertainment value without Java support.

Battery

The phone was powered by a removable Li-Ion 800 mAh battery. It facilitated standby times of up to 550 hours and talk times of up to 5 hours. The removable nature of the battery allowed users to carry a spare or replace the battery when performance degraded.

Miscellaneous

The Samsung S500 was offered in a silver color option, keeping in line with the minimalist aesthetic popular at the time. This phone incorporated both functional and design elements that made it a popular choice for consumers looking for a simple, reliable mobile device in the early 2000s.