Vodafone 553 The Complete Guide to Specs Pricing Pros and Cons

Design and Build

The Vodafone 553 is a blend of style and functionality. With dimensions of 108 x 53 x 14.9 mm and weighing 119 g, it is compact and easy to carry. Its design includes a QWERTY keyboard which was a distinct advantage for users who prefer physical keys over touch-based typing. The phone is available in a variety of appealing colors such as white, black, pink, and silver, allowing users to pick one according to their personal taste.

Display

The device features a 2.8-inch TFT resistive touchscreen display with a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels. With around 256K colors, the screen delivers decent visuals considering the era it was launched in. Although the screen-to-body ratio stands at approximately 42.4%, the tactile feedback of the resistive touchscreen aimed to enhance user interaction.

Camera

The Vodafone 553 is equipped with a single 2 MP camera. While basic by today's standards, it provided functional photography and video capabilities for users of the time. The camera allowed users to capture important moments with reasonable clarity and ease.

Memory and Storage

Internally, the Vodafone 553 offers 50 MB of storage, which could be expanded via a microSDHC slot. This expansion feature was particularly beneficial for users looking to store more media and applications. Additionally, the phonebook capacity to store 1000 contacts and practically unlimited call records was impressive.

Network and Connectivity

The Vodafone 553 is a dual-band GSM device supporting GSM 900 / 1800 networks, ensuring solid connectivity across many regions. For data, the phone uses GPRS and EDGE technologies (Class 12), making internet browsing via the WAP 2.0/xHTML and HTML browsers feasible. While it lacks WLAN, it supports Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP for wireless data transfer.

Sound

The phone is equipped with a loudspeaker for media playback and hands-free operation. However, it does not include a 3.5mm headphone jack, which may require users to seek alternate solutions for personal listening experiences.

Additional Features

Vodafone 553 packs several other features such as messaging options (SMS, MMS, Email, IM) and support for Java applications (MIDP 2.0), broadening the scope for using basic applications and playing games. The phone includes an FM radio feature, providing users an additional media source.

Battery Life

The device is powered by a removable Li-Ion 900 mAh battery. It offers a standby time of up to 384 hours and a talk time of about 5 hours and 20 minutes, adequate for moderate usage during that time period.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Vodafone 553 is a mid-range feature phone that managed to stand out due to its QWERTY keyboard and compact design. While it may not meet modern smartphone standards, it was a reliable device in its category at the time of release. During an era where feature phones were still widely used, it provided a suitable balance between cost, functionality, and style.