Introducing the Q from Benefon: A Feature Phone Ahead of its Time
Overview:
The Q, released by Benefon in the year 2000, may have been ahead of its time. This feature phone boasted impressive dimensions and a sleek design that set it apart from other phones of its era. Although it may seem outdated now, the Q truly was a remarkable device when it was first introduced.
Design and Dimensions:
Weighing only 89g and measuring 18mm in thickness, the Q is a lightweight and slim device compared to other phones of its time. It has a compact body with dimensions of 100 x 46 x 18 mm, making it easy to hold and carry around. The Q also features a mini-SIM, which was a popular form of sim card back then.
Display:
The monochrome graphic display may seem basic compared to the color screens of today's smartphones, but the Q's display was impressive for its time. With a resolution of 100 x 48 pixels and six lines of text, users were able to view messages and information clearly. The display also included electro-luminescent lighting and dynamic and user-selectable font size options.
Storage:
One major limitation of the Q was its lack of a card slot for external memory. However, it does offer 50 phonebook entries and can store up to 10 dialed, received, and missed calls in its call record section.
Camera and Sound:
The Q may not have had a camera, but it made up for it with customizable sound options. While it did not have a loudspeaker, users could download monophonic ringtones and even personalize their own ringing melodies. Additionally, the Q offered an ascending alert feature and various SMS alert tones and levels.
Connectivity:
Although the Q doesn't have features like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or even a radio, it does have basic connectivity options like SMS messaging and email. It also had WAP 1.1 and HTMP(MS) browsers, along with TCP/IP support for enhanced internet browsing capabilities.
Battery Life:
The Q came with not one, but two battery options for users to choose from. The first is a removable Li-Po 620 mAh battery that allowed for up to 100 hours of standby time and 3 hours of talk time. The second option was a Lithium ion 650 mAh battery that offered 120 hours of standby time and 5 hours and 20 minutes of talk time.
Other Features:
Aside from the aforementioned features, the Q also came with a variety of other functions. It had clock and alarm features, three built-in games, and even phone ON/OFF timers. While it didn't have Java support for downloading additional apps, it did offer predictive text input, making typing on the device easier and faster.
Conclusion:
Overall, the Benefon Q was a feature phone that was truly ahead of its time. With its sleek design, compact dimensions, and impressive display and sound options, it proved to be a popular choice among users upon its release. Although it may seem outdated now, the Q will always hold a special place in the history of mobile phones.
Benefon Q Full Specifications
Network
Technology
GSM
2G bands
GSM 900 / 1800
GPRS
No
EDGE
No
Launch
Announced
2000
Status
Discontinued
Body
Dimensions
100 x 46 x 18 mm, 74 cc (3.94 x 1.81 x 0.71 in)
Weight
89 g (3.14 oz)
SIM
Mini-SIM
Display
Type
Monochrome graphic
Size
Resolution
100 x 48 pixels, 6 lines
Other
Electro-luminescent lighting
Dynamic & user-selectable font size
Memory
Card slot
No
Phonebook
50
Call records
10 dialed, 10 received, 10 missed calls
Camera
Other
No
Sound
Loudspeaker
No
Alert types
Vibration; Downloadable monophonic ringtones
3.5mm jack
No
Other
Personalised ringing melodies
Ascending alert
Several SMS alert tones and tone levels
Comms
WLAN
No
Bluetooth
No
Positioning
No
Radio
No
USB
Features
Sensors
Messaging
SMS, Email
Browser
WAP 1.1, HTMP(MS)
Clock
Yes
Alarm
Yes
Games
3
Java
No
Other
TCP/IP support
Predictive text input
Organizer
Phone ON/OFF timers