Unveiling the Spice M5170 Specs Prices Pros & Cons

Overview of Spice M-5170

The Spice M-5170 is a feature phone that was launched and released in 2010, and although it has since been discontinued, it offers a range of basic yet essential functionalities that catered to the needs of users during that period. The M-5170 was known for its reliable performance and affordable price point, making it a suitable option for those seeking a straightforward mobile communication device.

Network and Connectivity

The Spice M-5170 supports GSM technology, operating on 2G bands specifically at GSM 900/1800 MHz. It provides basic GPRS connectivity, allowing users to send and receive data at a slower speed, providing adequate support for essential online activities such as browsing WAP 1.2 websites and sending MMS. However, it does not support EDGE, meaning that faster data transmission was not available for this model.

Design and Build

With dimensions of 111 x 47.5 x 14.6 mm and a weight of just 78 grams, the Spice M-5170 is compact and lightweight, making it easy to carry. The phone is designed to be user-friendly, with a simple interface and a robust body. The design incorporates a classic keypad layout, catering to users who prefer physical buttons over touch interfaces. It is equipped with a Mini-SIM slot, which was standard for many feature phones of that era.

Display

The phone features a 2.0-inch TFT display with a resolution of 176 x 220 pixels, offering moderate clarity and color representation (~141 ppi pixel density). While the screen size and resolution might seem limited by modern standards, it was typical for feature phones at the time, providing enough visual output for basic menus and applications that the phone supported.

Memory and Storage

The Spice M-5170 includes a microSD card slot for additional storage, allowing users to expand their phone's capacity to accommodate more contacts, photos, and media files. The phonebook can store up to 1000 entries, and it maintains call records for 20 dialed, 20 received, and 20 missed calls, ensuring that users could easily manage their contacts and communications.

Camera

The device is equipped with a basic single 0.1MP camera capable of capturing simple images and video. While the camera is not designed for high-quality photography, it served to provide a functional camera option for users who desired a basic level of multimedia capability.

Audio and Sound

The Spice M-5170 includes stereo speakers and a 3.5mm audio jack, facilitating audio playback from various sources. It also supports FM radio, which was a popular feature in feature phones, offering entertainment and access to information without relying on internet connectivity. The phone also supports scheduled recording of radio broadcasts, adding more versatility to its audio features.

Communication Features

For short-range wireless communication, the phone is equipped with Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP support, enabling users to share files with other Bluetooth-enabled devices. Notably, other features such as WLAN connectivity and GPS positioning are absent, aligning with the phone's status as a feature phone with essential, rather than advanced, capabilities. It also features a proprietary USB port for charging and data transfer.

Additional Features

The Spice M-5170 caters to entertainment needs with downloadable games, providing some level of gaming despite lacking support for Java. Messaging capabilities include support for SMS and MMS, which were the primary forms of mobile communication before the widespread use of smartphones with internet-based messaging.

Battery Life and Performance

The device is powered by a removable Li-Ion 1200 mAh battery, promising a standby time of up to 350 hours and a talk time of up to 4 hours. This provided a reasonable battery life for typical daily usage, ensuring users could rely on their device throughout the day with moderate communication and multimedia usage.

Pricing and Market Availability

During its time of release, the Spice M-5170 was available at an approximate price of 30 EUR. The affordable pricing made it an attractive choice for users seeking a budget-friendly mobile phone option that didn't compromise on essential features.

Conclusion

Overall, the Spice M-5170 served its purpose well as a feature phone that fulfilled the fundamental communication and multimedia needs of its users in 2010. While it doesn't match the capabilities of modern smartphones, its simplicity, reliability, and affordability made it a popular choice among budget-conscious users and those preferring a straightforward, easy-to-use mobile device.