Price and specifications of Wiko Highway advantages, disadvantages, and a comprehensive explanation

Device Overview

The Wiko Highway, released in early 2014, emerged as an interesting option in the smartphone market with a focus on balancing appealing aesthetics and respectable performance. Although it has been discontinued, the device still holds value for technology enthusiasts who appreciate exploration into past smartphone innovations.

Network & Connectivity

The device supports GSM and HSPA network technologies, accommodating 2G GSM bands (850/900/1800/1900 MHz for both SIM slots) and 3G HSDPA bands (900/2100 MHz). The Wiko Highway provides HSPA speeds of 21.1/5.76 Mbps, offering sufficient capability for browsing and online communication, which was standard for its time.

Launch Details

Announced in January 2014 and released a month later, the Wiko Highway was introduced as a discontinuation-friendly yet efficient device. Despite being discontinued, it maintains a legacy for those interested in the progression of smartphone technology.

Design & Build Quality

The smartphone features dimensions of 144 x 70 x 7.7 mm and weighs 154 g. With a sleek, slim build, it incorporates a Dual SIM (Micro-SIM) capability, which was particularly appealing for users seeking to combine personal and business contacts in one device.

Display

The Wiko Highway comes with a 5.0-inch IPS LCD display offering a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of approximately 441 ppi. This ensures crisp and vivid visuals. The screen is further protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 2, enhancing its durability against scratches and drops.

Platform & Performance

Running on Android 4.4.2 KitKat, the device is powered by the Mediatek MT6592 chipset with an octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A7 CPU. Equipped with Mali-450MP4 GPU, the Highway provided an optimized performance for its time, supporting everyday tasks and moderate gaming requirements with ease.

Memory & Storage

The Wiko Highway offers internal storage options of 16GB and 32GB paired with 2GB RAM, but lacks a card slot for expandable memory. This could be a limitation for users requiring extensive media storage, although it aligns with many of the higher-end devices from that era.

Camera Capabilities

The main camera of the Highway is a 16 MP sensor equipped with autofocus, LED flash, and HDR capabilities, capable of recording 1080p video at 28 fps. The front-facing camera boasts an 8 MP resolution, making it competitive for selfies and video calling in its launch period.

Audio & Extras

The Wiko Highway supports stereo speakers and includes a 3.5mm headphone jack, catering to audio enthusiasts. Other communication features consist of Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP, GPS for navigation, and stereo FM radio for on-the-go entertainment.

Battery Life

The device is powered by a non-removable Li-Ion 2350 mAh battery. On stand-by, it can last up to 253 hours, while providing talk time up to 16 hours and 30 minutes on 2G and up to 11 hours and 30 minutes on 3G networks. While not extraordinary, these figures were adequate given its specifications.

Color Variants & Pricing

Initially available in colors such as Black, White, Blue Electric, Orange, and Purple, the Wiko Highway had diverse aesthetic options. With a starting price of around 350 EUR, it positioned itself as an affordable option in the premium mid-range segment.

Conclusion

In summary, the Wiko Highway represents a notable snapshot of smartphone technology from the early 2010s. Its well-balanced specifications, coupled with an attractive design, made it appealing to a broad range of users. While it doesn't match contemporary standards, its introduction when it was released made it a commendable effort by Wiko in expanding their footprint in the smartphone market.