Unveiling Sony Ericsson Aspen Specs Prices Pros & Cons Revealed

Overview of Sony Ericsson Aspen

The Sony Ericsson Aspen is a smartphone released in 2010, and it forms a part of the GreenHeart series, focusing on environmental friendliness and user-centered design. It was among the few devices back then that attempted to marry the familiar features of a QWERTY keyboard with a touchscreen experience. Operating on Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.5.3 Professional OS, it targeted business users who were familiar with Windows-based environments.

Design and Build

The Aspen comes with dimensions of 117 x 60 x 12.5 mm and weighs in at 130 grams. Designed with a sleek finish, it provides a substantial feel whilst being easy to handle. The inclusion of a physical QWERTY keyboard is a salient feature that delivers a tactile typing experience, appealing chiefly to professionals and text-heavy users.

Constructed with environmentally considerate materials, the Aspen's design aligns with sustainability objectives. Equipped with a 2.4-inch TFT resistive touchscreen, it offers a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels, which amounts to approximately 167 ppi. Although modest by today's standards, the screen size is adequate for emails and basic navigation.

Display Features

The display of the Sony Ericsson Aspen employs a TFT resistive touchscreen supporting 65K colors. Although limited in color richness compared to modern smartphones, it provides solid basic functionality with a traditional aspect ratio of 4:3, optimizing document reading and email management.

Performance

Fuelled by a 600 MHz ARM 11 CPU and a Qualcomm MSM7227 Snapdragon S1 chipset, the Aspen's performance reflects its era. Backed by 256MB of RAM, multi-tasking capabilities are pointedly restrained, primarily supporting fundamental apps like messaging, calls, and light browsing.

Graphical tasks are handled by an Adreno 200 GPU, an adequate provision for modest graphical requirements. While performance undercuts contemporary devices, the Aspen aligns with the expectations of its release period, best catering to less demanding mobile applications.

Camera Capabilities

Featuring a 3.15 MP primary camera, the Sony Ericsson Aspen delivers basic photography options. Video recording is supported at 480p at 15fps, a plausible choice for basic video capture. However, it lacks a dedicated front-facing camera, which means it does not support selfies or video calls natively without accessories.

Battery Life

The Aspen is powered by a removable Li-Po 1500 mAh battery, which provides decent longevity given the energy demands of devices in that era. The standby time is quoted as up to 560 hours on 2G and up to 500 hours on 3G, while talk time runs at up to 6 hours 30 minutes on 2G and up to 7 hours 30 minutes on 3G networks. For music enthusiasts, it offers up to 12 hours of music playback. The removable battery adds convenience for users who may need to replace it or carry a spare for long journeys.

Connectivity Options

Connectivity is handled with support for GSM / HSPA networks, offering 3G bands that include HSDPA 900 / 2100. The device provides data speeds up to HSPA 7.2/2 Mbps. Wireless capabilities encompass Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, along with Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP for smooth audio streaming.

Navigation is facilitated via GPS and A-GPS, enhancing location accuracy. Stereo FM radio with RDS adds an entertainment dimension, while the presence of a microUSB 2.0 port ensures straightforward connectivity for charging and data transfer.

Memory and Storage

Sony Ericsson Aspen is equipped with 256MB of ROM and 256MB of RAM. Though limited, it accommodates essential applications and system operations reasonably well. Additional storage expansion is supported via a microSDHC card slot, and initially, a 4GB card is included, allowing users to upgrade storage space for media and document files significantly.

Audio and Sound Quality

An integrated loudspeaker accompanies the Sony Ericsson Aspen while including a standard 3.5mm headphone jack. The device offers moderate audio quality with a loudspeaker voice capability measured at 71dB, noise at 66dB, and ring volume at 75dB. Audio quality tests reveal noise levels at -79.5dB and crosstalk at -79.8dB, offering satisfactory performance for everyday audio needs.

Pricing and Availability

Originally released in July 2010 and priced around 70 EUR, the Sony Ericsson Aspen catered to budget-conscious consumers prioritizing sustainability and functionality. Its availability has since ceased, with its discontinued status marking the end of its production lifecycle.

Conclusion

The Sony Ericsson Aspen embodies a blend of eco-conscious design and pragmatic features designed for the business-oriented user. While technological advancements have outpaced many of its functionalities, the Aspen remains an emblematic example of Sony Ericsson's efforts to bring together functionality, sustainability, and user-friendliness. Accuracy in fulfilling communication and organizational needs at its release time ensures its memorable stance among devices tackling mobile efficiency within environmental limits.