The year was 2005. The world was still in awe of flip phones and texting was just becoming a popular form of communication. In the midst of this era, LG released a feature phone that would stand out from the rest - the U8210.
A Revolutionary Release
Announced in the first quarter of 2005, the LG U8210 boasted features that were ahead of its time. It could connect to both GSM and UMTS networks, making it ideal for global use. It also had a microSD slot for expandable storage, which was not a common feature in phones back then.
Sleek Design and Extraordinary Dimensions
The LG U8210 had a unique design - it was a slider phone with a 180 degree rotating camera lens. This allowed users to take both front-facing and rear-facing photos, something that was not possible with most phones at the time. It was also relatively slim and lightweight, with a thickness of 24.8mm and weight of 115g.
Impressive Display and Memory Capacity
The U8210 had a TFT display with 256K colors, a significant improvement from the standard 65K colors found in most phones of that era. It also had a secondary external display with 65K colors, perfect for displaying notifications or caller ID. With 20MB of internal storage and the option to expand with a microSD card, users had plenty of space to store their files and media.
Advanced Camera Features
The U8210 had a 1.3-megapixel camera with an LED flash, allowing users to capture high-quality photos even in low light. The rotating lens also meant that users could take impressive selfies before the term even existed.
Entertainment and Connectivity Options
The LG U8210 may have been a feature phone, but it still offered a variety of entertainment and connectivity options. Users could download and play games, listen to music, and even browse the internet using WAP 2.0/xHTML. It also had Bluetooth, Infrared, and a proprietary USB port for data transfer.
Long Battery Life
The U8210 was equipped with a removable Li-Po 1400 mAh battery, which boasted an impressive standby time of up to 250 hours and talk time of up to 3 hours and 40 minutes. This meant that users could stay connected all day without worrying about their battery dying.
A Device Ahead of its Time
Discontinued shortly after its release, the LG U8210 may not have gained widespread recognition, but it was truly a device ahead of its time. With its advanced features and sleek design, it set the standard for future phone releases. The U8210 was a reminder that even in 2005, LG was pushing the boundaries of what a feature phone could do.
LG U8210 Full Specifications
Network
Technology
GSM / UMTS
2G bands
GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands
UMTS 2100
Speed
Yes, 384 kbps
Launch
Announced
2005, Q1
Status
Discontinued
Body
Dimensions
89.8 x 47.7 x 24.8 mm (3.54 x 1.88 x 0.98 in)
Weight
115 g (4.06 oz)
SIM
Mini-SIM
Display
Type
TFT, 256K colors
Size
Resolution
176 x 220 pixels
Other
Second external CSTN, 65K colors display (96x96 pixels)
Downloadable wallpapers
Memory
Card slot
microSD (dedicated slot)
Phonebook
500 entries
Call records
10 dialed, 10 received, 10 missed calls
Internal
20MB
Main Camera
Single
1.3 MP
Features
180 deg rotating lens, LED flash
Video
Yes
Selfie camera
Other
No
Sound
Loudspeaker
No
Alert types
Vibration; Downloadable polyphonic ringtones
3.5mm jack
No
Comms
WLAN
No
Bluetooth
1.1
Positioning
No
Infrared port
Yes
Radio
No
USB
Proprietary
Features
Sensors
Messaging
SMS, EMS, MMS, Email
Browser
WAP 2.0/xHTML
Games
Yes + downloadable
Java
Yes, MIDP 2.0
Other
MP3/AAC/MP4 player
Predictive text input
Organizer