In 2004, BenQ released the A500, a feature phone that was ahead of its time. Boasting a slim and lightweight design, it quickly became a popular choice for many.
A Revolutionary Design
The A500 had a sleek and compact body, weighing in at only 98g with a thickness of just 23.1mm. Its dimensions of 83.5 x 45 x 23.1 mm made it one of the smallest phones on the market at the time. Plus, its Mini-SIM card slot allowed for easy insertion and usage.
Vibrant Display
The device featured a 1.9 inch TFT display with 256K colors, providing a clear and vibrant viewing experience. It also had a second external CSTN display with 4096 colors, allowing users to see notifications and caller information without having to open the phone.
Enough Storage for Essential Needs
Although the A500 only had 20MB of internal storage and no card slot, it was enough to store essential contacts, messages, and pictures. The phonebook could hold up to 500 contacts with 8 fields each, and users could also save up to 1000 short messages. This feature made it perfect for those who needed a reliable phone for communication purposes.
Capture Memories with the VGA Camera
At a time when camera phones were still a novelty, the A500 amazed users with its VGA camera that could capture memories through photos and videos. It may not have been the best quality, but it was certainly impressive for a feature phone.
Entertainment on the Go
The A500 was also equipped with entertaining features, including three pre-loaded Java games and the ability to download more. Users could also personalize their phone with wallpapers and themes.
Long Battery Life
The removable Li-Ion 700 mAh battery of the A500 offered a standby time of up to 180 hours and talk time of up to 3 hours, ensuring that users could rely on their phone for extended periods without needing to charge.
Discontinued but Not Forgotten
Unfortunately, despite its groundbreaking features, the BenQ A500 was discontinued. However, it remains a beloved device for those who used it and can be found in online collections or second-hand markets.
In conclusion, the BenQ A500 may have been a feature phone, but it was certainly ahead of its time. Its compact design, vibrant display, and essential features made it a popular choice for many in 2004. Even though it is no longer available, it is remembered as a revolutionary device in the world of mobile phones.
BenQ A500 Full Specifications
Network
Technology
GSM
2G bands
GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900
GPRS
Class 10
EDGE
No
Launch
Announced
2004, Q4
Status
Discontinued
Body
Dimensions
83.5 x 45 x 23.1 mm (3.29 x 1.77 x 0.91 in)
Weight
98 g (3.46 oz)
SIM
Mini-SIM
Display
Type
TFT, 256K colors
Size
1.9 inches, 30 x 37 mm, 11.4 cm2 (~30.2% screen-to-body ratio)
Resolution
128 x 160 pixels (~108 ppi density)
Other
Second external CSTN display, 4096 colors
Wallpapers, themes
Downloadable pictures