Siemens C45 Comprehensive Review and Pricing Breakdown

Design and Build Quality

The Siemens C45 is a classic feature phone that was announced in the fourth quarter of 2001 and has since been discontinued. Despite its age, the phone has a robust and reliable design that was typical of early mobile devices. It has dimensions of 109 x 46 x 23 mm and weighs 107 g, making it a compact and lightweight device. The phone uses a Mini-SIM card and comes in two colors: Oriental Blue and African Grey.

Display

The C45 features a monochrome graphic display with a resolution of 101 x 64 pixels, which allowed for up to 5 lines of text to be displayed. While primitive by today's standards, this display was fairly typical for feature phones of the early 2000s. The lack of color and basic display capabilities were common at the time, as mobile phones were primarily used for calls and text messages.

Network and Connectivity

As a GSM device, the Siemens C45 operated on 2G networks, specifically GSM 900 / 1800 bands. It did not support GPRS or EDGE, meaning data communication was not a feature of this phone. In terms of connectivity, the C45 did not include Bluetooth, WLAN, positioning services, radio, or USB connectivity, reflecting the period's focus on basic telecommunication functionalities.

Memory and Storage

Storage on the Siemens C45 was exceptionally limited by today's standards. It did not include a card slot for expanded memory. The phonebook could store up to 50 contacts, and it recorded the last 10 dialed, 10 received, and 10 missed calls. This limited capacity was sufficient for the simple needs of users at the time.

Sound

The Siemens C45 lacked a loudspeaker and a 3.5mm headphone jack. It supported vibration alerts and downloadable monophonic ringtones, which were a popular feature on phones of its era as they allowed for some customization in an otherwise uniform market.

Battery Life

The device was powered by a removable NiMH battery with a capacity of 650mAh. This battery provided a standby time of up to 200 hours and a talk time of up to 5 hours. Such battery life was adequate due to the phone's limited functionality and low power consumption features, such as the monochrome display.

Messaging and Applications

The primary messaging feature was SMS. The phone also supported WAP 1.2 browser capabilities, which allowed users to access a very rudimentary mobile internet experience. There were 3 built-in games available: Stack Attack, Balloon Shooter, and BattleMail. Additionally, the phone featured basic utilities such as a clock and an alarm.

User Interface and Languages

The Siemens C45 supported 20 different languages, making it accessible to a wide international audience. The user interface was simple and typical of feature phones, focusing on ease of use for making calls, sending texts, and using the limited additional functions.

Conclusion

The Siemens C45 was emblematic of early mobile phones, offering basic functionality with reliable build quality. While it lacks the advanced features seen in modern smartphones, it served the essential purpose of keeping people connected through calls and messages. As technology has evolved, the C45 remains a nostalgic reminder of the early 2000s mobile landscape.