XOLO A500S Full Specs Prices & Insights

Overview

The XOLO A500S is a smartphone that was announced and released in August 2013. Despite being discontinued, it played an important role in the budget smartphone market during its time. This device came packed with modest features that catered to the basic needs of a smartphone user, striking a balance between cost and functionality.

Design and Build

The XOLO A500S has dimensions of 125 x 63.2 x 9 mm and weighs 120 grams, which makes it a compact and lightweight device. The body hosts a dual SIM (Mini-SIM, dual stand-by) capability, allowing users to switch between two SIM cards with ease. Its design is minimalistic, with a choice of colors including Black, White, Red, and Blue, designed to appeal to a wide range of users. The exterior aesthetic is simple yet functional, perfect for its target market in the budget category.

Display

This device features a 4.0-inch TFT display with a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels. Achieving a screen-to-body ratio of approximately 57.6%, the screen delivers a pixel density of about 233 ppi. While not the most advanced in terms of screen technology, it offers adequate visual clarity for regular usage such as social media, light gaming, and media playback.

Camera

The XOLO A500S comes with a single rear camera system that incorporates a 5 MP camera supported by an LED flash. It is capable of shooting videos at 720p@30fps. For selfies and video calls, there’s a VGA front camera, which, although basic, serves the purpose for video chatting and taking quick selfies. The camera capability reflects the device's affordable pricing but provides users with essential photography tools.

Performance and Hardware

Under the hood, the XOLO A500S is powered by a Mediatek MT6572W chipset featuring a dual-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7 CPU and Mali-400 GPU. While the 512MB RAM and 4GB of internal storage (expandable via microSDHC) categorize it as an entry-level device, it is sufficient for running the Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) OS smooth enough for essential applications and some light multitasking.

Battery Life

The device is equipped with a removable Li-Ion 1400 mAh battery. Given the hardware specifications, the battery offers reasonable longevity. Official estimates suggest up to 10 hours of talk time on a 2G network, up to 8 hours on a 3G network, and a standby time of up to 492 hours (2G) or 470 hours (3G). The battery life should suffice for casual use throughout a standard working day.

Network and Connectivity

Supporting GSM and HSPA with speeds up to 21.1/5.76 Mbps, the XOLO A500S is suitable for 2G and 3G networks. The inclusion of Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n with hotspot capability ensures connectivity options beyond cellular data. Bluetooth 3.0 enriches the connectivity features, allowing easy pairing with various peripherals, and USB microUSB 2.0 facilitates charging and data transfer.

Additional Features

The XOLO A500S is packed with basic features expected of its price range. It comes with an FM Radio, allowing users to tune into their favorite stations on the go. The inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack ensures compatibility with a wide range of audio accessories. The device is equipped with basic sensors like an accelerometer and proximity sensors that automate certain usability processes.

Conclusion

The XOLO A500S represented an affordable entry-point into the smartphone market during its time. Its straightforward feature set provides users with the essentials without the complexity or high cost of more advanced models. While it may not appeal to power users or those desiring cutting-edge smartphone technology, the XOLO A500S is quite capable for casual users who prioritize basic communication and multimedia consumption.

Overall, the XOLO A500S stands out as a quintessential budget device from 2013, with all its limitations and advantages. Despite its discontinuation, it offers insight into the era's budget smartphone capabilities and the shifting dynamics in consumer expectations and technological advancements.