Siemens S75 Comprehensive Review of Specs Pricing Pros and Cons

Design and Build

The Siemens S75 was crafted during an era when mobile phones were transitioning from purely functional devices to style symbols. The phone's dimensions of 103 x 47 x 18.5 mm and a weight of 99g offer a compact and lightweight experience, ideal for everyday use. Its build reflects a balance between simplicity and elegance, available in colors like Piano Black and Zirconia.

The use of a Mini-SIM card slot and a somewhat thicker form factor compared to today's standards points to the technological constraints and design preferences of the mid-2000s. Nonetheless, it was considered stylish and fitting for professional use, aligning with Siemens' market positioning at the time.

Display

The Siemens S75 comes equipped with a 1.9-inch TFT display capable of showing 256K colors. The screen resolution stands at 132 x 176 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of approximately 116 ppi. While this might seem modest by today's standards, it was quite advanced during its release period. The display size and quality allow for adequate readability of messages and navigation through the phone's menu, although it might not cater to heavy multimedia usage.

Camera Capabilities

In the mid-2000s, having a camera on a mobile phone was considered a luxury. The Siemens S75 was equipped with a single 1.3 MP main camera featuring an LED flash. While it doesn't support high-resolution photography by modern standards, it was a suitable option for casual snapshots and capturing moments on the go. The presence of video recording capabilities offered additional functionality, making it a good all-round device for everyday use.

Network and Connectivity

The Siemens S75 was designed to operate on GSM technology, supporting frequencies in the 900, 1800, and 1900 bands. This tri-band capability allowed users to stay connected in a wide range of geographic locations, which was a significant advantage during its time. For mobile data, it supported GPRS Class 10 and EDGE, making it efficient for basic Internet browsing and email services.

Despite the absence of modern connectivity options like WLAN or GPS, the Siemens S75 was equipped with Bluetooth 1.2 and an Infrared port, facilitating wireless file transfers, which were quite novel at that time. The proprietary USB connection allowed for data synchronization with computers, which was a vital feature for many professionals.

Memory and Storage

The internal storage of the Siemens S75 was 20MB, which seems minimal compared to current devices, but during its release, it was adequate for storing contacts, messages, and a few multimedia files. It had a robust phonebook capable of storing 1000 contacts, each with up to 43 fields. This was a major draw for business users who needed to store extensive contact details.

Expansion was possible via an RS-MMC card slot, supporting up to 1 GB additional storage. It came with a 128 MB card included, which was beneficial for users looking to extend the device's storage capacity without immediately purchasing additional memory cards.

Battery Life

The Siemens S75 was powered by a removable Li-Ion 820 mAh battery. This provided adequate battery life for its power demands, offering up to 300 hours of standby time and around 5 hours of talk time. This performance made it reliable for daily communication needs, though users had to manage power usage to maximize battery life, especially with features like Bluetooth enabled.

Software and Features

Operating as a feature phone, the Siemens S75 ran the firmware that allowed essential mobile functions such as calling, text messaging (SMS), multimedia messaging (MMS), and basic Internet browsing via WAP 2.0/xHTML. It supported Java MIDP 2.0, permitting users to download and install additional apps and games, enhancing the user experience beyond the pre-installed features.

The device supported several messaging formats, including E-Mails and Instant Messaging, catering to the growing demand for mobile email access. The inclusion of downloadable polyphonic, MP3, and AAC ringtones showed the S75's alignment with consumer expectations for personalization features.

Entertainment and Audio

While it lacked a 3.5mm audio jack and a dedicated loudspeaker, the Siemens S75's support for MP3 and AAC ringtones provided users the flexibility to personalize incoming call alerts. The absence of a built-in radio might have been a downside for some users, but its support for downloadable games and MIDP 2.0 ensured various entertainment options.

Conclusion

The Siemens S75 was a testament to the gradual enhancement of mobile technology during its era. It offered a blend of essential features suited for both professional and casual use, wrapped in a design that met the stylistic and functional expectations of mid-2000s consumers. While it may appear basic by today’s standards, the S75 was a competitive offering in its time, adequately meeting the communication and minor multimedia needs of its users.