Toshiba TS705 InDepth Review of Specs Prices Pros & Cons

Overview of Toshiba TS705

The Toshiba TS705 was announced in September 2006, offering a glimpse into the mobile technology of that era. Though it never officially made it to market due to its cancellation, the TS705 was poised to be an interesting addition to Toshiba's lineup of feature phones. With its compact design, basic multimedia capabilities, and connectivity features, it catered to users looking for essential mobile communication tools with a hint of extra functionality.

Network Capabilities

The Toshiba TS705 was designed to operate on GSM and UMTS networks, making it suitable for a range of global frequencies. It supported 2G bands including GSM 900, 1800, and 1900, as well as 3G UMTS 2100. The device promised connectivity speeds up to 384 kbps, aligning with the standard of early 3G networks available during its time.

Design and Build

In terms of physical design, the TS705 featured dimensions of 105 x 46 x 15 mm, and it weighed approximately 95 grams. This made the device compact and lightweight, ideal for users who preferred a less bulky phone. It utilized a Mini-SIM format, which was commonplace in mobile phones of its genre. The device was projected to be available in two color variants: Silver and Black, offering a choice to users based on their aesthetic preferences.

Display Characteristics

The phone sported a 1.8-inch TFT display capable of displaying 256K colors, with a resolution of 176 x 220 pixels. This meant that while the display was small by today's standards, it was adequate for basic navigation and viewing of multimedia at the time. The screen occupied approximately 21.1% of the device's body, reflecting the design trends of feature phones where screens were significantly smaller compared to current devices.

Camera Features

Despite being a feature phone, the TS705 was equipped with a 1.3 MP rotating main camera. This allowed for capturing basic photos and videos. However, compared to modern smartphone cameras, the image quality was quite rudimentary. There was no dedicated selfie camera, as feature phones from that period seldom supported front-facing cameras.

Memory and Storage

Internal memory in the TS705 was limited to 10MB, a common specification for feature phones that primarily stored contact information and messages. However, users had the option to expand storage using a dedicated microSD card slot, allowing them to store additional files and media.

Audio and Sound

The TS705 was designed to deliver audio through a loudspeaker with stereo support. It supported several alert types including vibration and downloadable polyphonic or MP3 ringtones, catering to users who appreciated customizable audio alerts. Notably, the device lacked a 3.5mm headphone jack, which suggested reliance on Bluetooth for personal audio outputs.

Connectivity Options

Connectivity wise, the TS705 offered essential features for its time. While it did not support WLAN or radio, it included Bluetooth capabilities, enabling wireless data transfer and connectivity with other Bluetooth-enabled devices. USB 1.1 was supported for charging and data transfer, aligning with the technology standards of the period.

Battery Life

The Toshiba TS705 was powered by a removable Li-Ion battery, a feature that provided convenience for users who needed to replace batteries on-the-go. The device promised a stand-by time of up to 250 hours and a talk time of up to 3 hours, which was competitive for mobile phones of its era, emphasizing a balance between functionality and battery efficiency.

Operating System and User Interface

This device ran on a feature phone operating system, which meant it provided essential mobile features like calling and messaging without the complexity of a smartphone OS. It supported a variety of messaging formats including SMS, EMS, MMS, and Email, offering versatility in communication options.

Additional Features

Additional features included Java support with MIDP 2.0, allowing users to run basic applications and games that were compatible with the Java framework. The onboard browser supported WAP 2.0/xHTML, enabling minimalistic web browsing experiences suitable for a feature phone.

A Glance into the Past

Overall, the Toshiba TS705 reflected the transition phase of mobile phones during the mid-2000s, where feature phones began adopting multimedia and connectivity features to stay relevant. Although it never reached consumers due to its cancellation, its specifications provide an interesting insight into the technological aspirations of that time, highlighting how far mobile technology has evolved since then.