Price and specifications of Sharp GX15/GZ100 advantages, disadvantages, and a comprehensive explanation

Sharp GX15/GZ100 Overview

The Sharp GX15, also known as the GX15/GZ100, is a feature phone that was officially announced in 2004 and has since been discontinued. Despite its modest specifications by today's standards, the GX15 was a competent device for its time, providing essential communication features along with some multimedia capabilities.

Network Capabilities

The Sharp GX15 operates on GSM technology, supporting GSM 900, 1800, and 1900 bands. It offers GPRS class 10 data connectivity but does not support EDGE. The lack of EDGE capability means that data transfer speeds are relatively slow, focusing more on basic communication needs rather than high-speed internet access.

Design and Build

With dimensions of 105 x 45 x 18 mm and a weight of 90 grams, the GX15 was designed to be compact and lightweight, making it easy to carry around. It features a conventional design characteristic of early 2000s mobile phones, housing a Mini-SIM card slot.

Display Features

The device sports a TFT display with support for 65K colors. The screen resolution is 120 x 160 pixels, offering a basic visual experience suitable for the phone’s capabilities at the time. This display configuration was typical for feature phones during this period, providing clear enough imagery for text and simple graphics.

Memory and Storage

The internal memory of the GX15 is limited to 1.8MB with no option for external card storage. This storage capacity was meant to accommodate essential data, allowing the user to save contact information (up to 650 entries) and short messages. The device also keeps track of call records, maintaining logs of 10 dialed, 10 received, and 10 missed calls.

Camera

Equipped with a VGA camera, the GX15 allowed users to capture basic photos. The presence of a video recording feature was a valuable addition at the time, albeit with limited quality compared to modern cameras. However, it did not offer a front-facing (selfie) camera, which was common in most feature phones of this era.

Sound and Alerts

The Sharp GX15 lacks a loudspeaker and a 3.5mm audio jack, but it supports vibration alerts and downloadable polyphonic ringtones. Users could further personalize their alert tones with a composer built into the phone.

Connectivity and Communication

In terms of connectivity, the GX15 offered Bluetooth version 1.1 and an Infrared port for data transfer and communication with other devices. However, it did not support WLAN or Radio, and it used a proprietary USB connection for charging and data sync, which limited its compatibility with universal accessories.

Operating System and Features

As a feature phone, the GX15 operated on a proprietary system designed specifically for basic tasks such as SMS, MMS, and Email messaging. It also included a WAP 2.0/xHTML browser for accessing simplified web versions, as internet browsing was evolving. The phone came with four pre-installed games and supported Java MIDP 2.0 for additional app downloads.

Battery Life

Powering the Sharp GX15 is a removable Li-Ion 780 mAh battery. It offered a standby time of up to 210 hours and talk time of up to 3 hours and 30 minutes, providing sufficient battery life for standard daily use without requiring frequent charges.

Features and Miscellaneous

The device was offered in a silver color, which was a popular choice at the time. While it lacked sensors and some advanced features seen in more modern phones, the GX15 delivered a variety of basic functionalities, making it an attractive option for consumers seeking reliability in communication.

Conclusion

Reflecting on the Sharp GX15 provides insight into the evolution of mobile technology. It serves as a reminder of the simplicity and durability of feature phones, catering to consumers who valued straightforward functionality over the complexity found in today's smartphones. The GX15 had its niche in the market and was well-regarded for its practical design and essential features.