NEC N500i

NEC N500i: A Retro Classic Launching in 2006

In the height of flip phones and the early days of mobile technology, the NEC N500i launched in February 2006. With its sleek design and impressive features, it quickly became a must-have for tech enthusiasts. Let's take a closer look at this iconic phone that made waves in the mobile market.

Design & Display:
The NEC N500i boasted a compact and elegant design, fitting easily into a pocket or purse. Its dimensions were 93 x 46 x 25 mm, making it one of the most pocket-friendly phones at the time. The phone weighed just 99 g, making it incredibly lightweight.

One of the standout features of the N500i was its dual display, with a TFT 65K color main display and a second external display with 4096 colors. The main display measured 1.9 inches, with a resolution of 176 x 220 pixels. Even with the second display, the phone still had a screen-to-body ratio of 26.6%, allowing for a larger display area. This was considered impressive back in 2006 when most phones had smaller screens and chunkier frames.

Memory:
The NEC N500i may have been small, but it packed a punch when it came to internal storage. It had 54MB of internal memory, allowing users to store their photos, music, and other files. However, there was no external card slot, limiting the amount of storage that could be added. The phonebook could hold up to 500 entries, with 20 for dialed, received, and missed calls.

Camera:
For a phone released in 2006, the NEC N500i's 1.3MP single rear camera was considered quite impressive. It also had an LED flash, allowing for better photos in low light. The camera also had a video recording feature, making it one of the earliest phones to have this function.

Battery Life:
With a removable Li-Ion 850 mAh battery, the NEC N500i had impressive battery life. It could last up to 200 hours on standby and up to 2 hours and 50 minutes of talk time, making it a reliable phone for frequent use.

Network & Connectivity:
The N500i had GSM technology, which was the standard for most phones back in 2006. It also had the Class 10 GPRS and EDGE features, allowing for faster internet speeds than other phones at the time.

Other Features:
The NEC N500i came in only one color – black. However, it had a few other cool features such as MP3/AAC/MP4 player, predictive text input, and an organizer. It also had a voice memo and could sync with your computer using SyncML. The phone also had mid-level games pre-installed, with the option to download more.

Unfortunately, the N500i did not have some features that are now standard on smartphones, such as Wi-Fi, GPS, and a front camera for selfies.

Discontinuation:
Despite its initial success, the NEC N500i was discontinued after a while. With the rapid advancements in mobile phone technology, the N500i was quickly overshadowed by newer and more advanced models. However, it remains a classic and nostalgic piece for many tech enthusiasts and collectors.

In conclusion, the NEC N500i was a pioneer in the mobile market in 2006. It boasted a sleek design, impressive features, and a dual display, making it stand out from other phones of its time. Its impact may have been short-lived, but it remains a classic example of early mobile technology.

Latest NEC N500i Specs and Prices

LAUNCH

• Announced:  2006, February
• Status:  Discontinued

MEMORY

• Card slot:  No
• Phonebook:  500 entries
• Call records:  20 dialed, 20 received, 20 missed calls
• Internal:  54MB

DISPLAY

• Type:  TFT, 65K colors
• Size:  1.9 inches, 30 x 37 mm, 11.4 cm2 (~26.6% screen-to-body ratio)
• Resolution:  176 x 220 pixels (~148 ppi density) - Second external 4096 colors OLED display

BODY

• Dimensions:  93 x 46 x 25 mm, 80 cc (3.66 x 1.81 x 0.98 in)
• Weight:  99 g (3.49 oz)
• SIM:  Mini-SIM

MAIN CAMERA

• Single:  1.3 MP
• Features:  LED flash
• Video:  Yes

SELFIE CAMERA

• -:  No

BATTERY

• Type:  Removable Li-Ion 850 mAh battery
• Stand by:  Up to 200 h
• Talk time:  Up to 2 h 50 min

CELLPHONE NETWORK

• Technology:  GSM
• 2G bands:  GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900
• Gprs:  Class 10
• Edge:  Class 10

SOUND

• Loudspeaker :  No
• Alert types:  Vibration; Downloadable polyphonic ringtones
• 3.5mm jack :  No

COMMUNICATIONS

• WLAN:  No
• Bluetooth:  Yes
• Positioning:  No
• Radio:  No
• USB:  Proprietary

FEATURES

• Sensors:  -
• Messaging:  SMS, EMS, MMS, Email
• Browser:  i-mode
• Games:  Yes + downloadable
• Java:  Yes, MIDP 2.0 - MP3/AAC/MP4 player Predictive text input Organizer Voice memo SyncML

MISCELLANEOUS

• Colors:  Black

Disclaimer: Specifications shown may be different from the actual product. We cannot guarantee that the information provided on this page is 100% correct. This content is provided for information purposes only. All information included herein is subject to change without notice.