Price and specifications of Sony Ericsson K850 advantages, disadvantages, and a comprehensive explanation

Introduction to Sony Ericsson K850

The Sony Ericsson K850 was a revolutionary mobile device introduced in June 2007 and released in October of the same year. It was a part of Sony Ericsson's Cyber-shot series and aimed to deliver high-quality camera capabilities along with essential mobile functionalities. Though now discontinued, the K850 was a remarkable handset at the time of its release, setting a benchmark for camera phones with its impressive 5-megapixel camera.

Design and Build

The K850 sported dimensions of 102 x 48 x 17 mm and weighed about 118 grams, offering a solid and compact design. The mini-SIM format and its structure made it suitable for one-handed operation, with a sleek and slightly contoured design that fit comfortably in the hand. Available in Luminous Green, Velvet Blue, and Quicksilver Black, the phone attracted users with its aesthetic appeal. The design also included a unique auto lens cover for the camera, ensuring lens protection when not in use.

Display

The device was equipped with a 2.2-inch TFT display featuring 256K colors, boasting a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels. This display size, though modest by today's standards, ensured clear and bright visuals for user interface navigation, photo viewing, and web browsing. The screen-to-body ratio and pixel density were adequate for the phone's intended multimedia functionalities.

Camera

The hallmark of the Sony Ericsson K850 was its 5-megapixel camera. The camera included autofocus and a xenon flash with a 3LED video light, allowing for competent low-light photography, a rarity in phones at that time. It also featured an auto lens cover, offering enhanced lens safety. The phone supported video recording at 320p@30fps, which was significant during that era. There was also a secondary camera primarily for video calling, though it was relatively less powerful.

Network and Connectivity

The K850 supported GSM and HSPA technologies, accommodating 2G and 3G bands, specifically HSDPA 850/1900/2100. It provided a data speed of up to 3.6 Mbps, ensuring quick data access and better connectivity for browsing and multimedia downloads. However, the phone did not support WLAN connections but included Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP for wireless audio streaming, and USB 2.0 for wired data transfers.

Memory and Storage

With an internal storage capacity of 40MB, the K850 wasn't particularly spacious for today's needs. However, it came with an expandable memory option via a Memory Stick Micro (M2) or a microSDHC slot, with a 512MB card included, which was appreciable at the time. It supported a phone book capacity of 1000 x 20 fields, alongside call records management for 30 received, dialed, and missed calls.

Battery Life

The phone was powered by a removable Li-Po 930mAh battery, providing a standby time of up to 400 hours on 2G and 350 hours on 3G networks. The talk time could extend up to 9 hours on 2G and about 3.5 hours on 3G, highlighting efficient energy use but fall short of modern expectations. The removable aspect of the battery offered convenience for users to replace it when necessary.

Software and Features

Operating as a feature phone, the Sony Ericsson K850 had simple, yet effective software functionality, including SMS, MMS, Email, and Instant Messaging. It was equipped with an accelerometer, stereo FM radio with RDS, along with WAP 2.0/HTML browser capabilities, and Java support for downloadable applications and games.

Market Impact and Legacy

In its prime, the K850 was priced around 160 EUR, making it a viable option for many users seeking high-quality camera phones. It notably contributed to the growing trend of mobile photography, setting a precedent for future smartphones. The legacy of the K850 is primarily in its combination of a robust camera with the rudimentary features of mobile phones of that era, indicating the early stages of convergence between dedicated cameras and mobile technology.

Conclusion

Though the Sony Ericsson K850 may seem antiquated by today's cutting-edge technology standards, its contribution to mobile device evolution cannot be overlooked. It heralded a new age where cameras became crucial aspects of mobile telephones, pushing forward the integration of multimedia capabilities in everyday gadgets. The Sony Ericsson K850 holds a special place in the chronicles of mobile technology, and certainly stands as a symbol of innovative progress during its time.