Display:854 x 480 pixels (Wide-VGA), 16:9 ratio (~297 ppi density)
Camera:5 MP, AF
Battery:
Released:Released 2008 July
The 923SH: An Innovative Feature Phone by Sharp
With the ever-changing mobile phone landscape, it can be easy to overlook some of the groundbreaking devices that paved the way for today's smartphones. The Sharp 923SH, released in 2008, is one such device. While it may not have the sleek design or advanced features of modern phones, the 923SH holds a special place in mobile phone history as one of the first feature phones to offer a unique and innovative design.
A Device Ahead of Its Time
Released in July 2008, the Sharp 923SH quickly gained attention for its impressive specifications and forward-thinking design. With a thickness of just 18.6mm and weighing only 132g, this device was compact and lightweight compared to other feature phones at the time. But what truly made the 923SH stand out was its "swivel and rotate" display, which allowed users to turn the screen horizontally or vertically for different viewing modes.
The 3.3 inch TFT display with 16M colors offered a sharp and vibrant viewing experience, with a resolution of 854 x 480 pixels. This gave users an impressive 16:9 screen ratio, before widescreen displays became the norm on smartphones. The additional 0.6 inch external display provided quick access to important information such as time, date, and notifications without having to open the phone.
Under the Hood
Beyond its unique design, the Sharp 923SH also boasted impressive specifications for a feature phone. It had 100MB of internal storage and a microSDHC slot for expandable storage. It was equipped with a 5MP main camera that could record videos in w480p at 30fps. The phonebook could hold up to 1000 entries and the call records could store up to 10 dialed, received, and missed calls.
One of the standout features of the 923SH was its DVB Tuner, which allowed users to watch television on their phone. This was a rare feature at the time and added to the device's appeal. Other features like an accelerometer, compass, and GPS also provided a sneak peek into the future of mobile technology.
Connectivity and Features
The Sharp 923SH had some limitations when it came to connectivity, lacking Wi-Fi and only offering Bluetooth 2.0. However, it did have an infrared port for quick data transfer. The device also featured email capabilities, along with SMS and MMS messaging. Users could also browse the internet using WAP 2.0/xHTML browser or play games that could be downloaded from the pre-installed app store.
The 923SH ran on a proprietary operating system and supported Java MIDP 2.0 for additional applications. It had a dedicated document viewer for popular file formats like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF. And for music and video enthusiasts, the device had MP3/eAAC+ and MP4/ASF/3gp players built-in.
All-Day Battery and Color Options
The Sharp 923SH was powered by a removable Li-Ion 790 mAh battery that offered up to 310 hours of standby time and up to 4 hours and 20 minutes of talk time on 2G networks. The standby and talk time dropped slightly on 3G networks, but were still impressive for a feature phone released over a decade ago.
The device was available in five eye-catching color options - black, blue, pink, white, and purple - giving users the opportunity to showcase their personal style.
Part of Mobile Phone History
The Sharp 923SH was announced in June 2008 and released to the market a month later. It quickly gained popularity and became known as one of the most innovative feature phones at the time. Discontinued in the following years, it may not have stood the test of time as a mainstay in the mobile phone world, but its contribution to the industry cannot be denied. The 923SH paved the way for future smartphones with its unique design and advanced features, making it an important part of mobile phone history.
