Philips Xenium X520 review
Network and connections
Philips presents a renewed and improved version of the successor to the Xenium 9@9j, which in the past made headlines for its ability to also work with standard AAA batteries. The new X520 is equipped with a GSM Quadband receiver, on frequencies of 850, 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz, which ensures optimal coverage in any situation. UMTS support is missing, however it is possible to browse the Web comfortably thanks to the modem with GPRS and EDGE data traffic management. This way you can use the HTML browser to open web pages. Also present are the handy Bluetooth and the USB data cable.
Design and features
The exterior look is truly eye-catching and distinctive. What stands out most is the bulge at the bottom of the back, the compartment where the AAA battery is inserted. The contrasting colors (black-white or black-red) give the Xenium X520 a young and dynamic feel. The front houses the screen, a TFT 176x220 pixel display, capable of showing up to 256,000 colors. Just below are the standard alphanumeric keypad buttons, along with the multifunction directional pad. The dimensions remain compact, with a thickness of 16.6 mm.
Main features
The proprietary platform offers complete and easy-to-use functions, for managing contacts and appointments at their best. There are also an alarm clock, calculator and currency converter. Java support also allows the installation of additional software, so you can customize your device to the fullest. Support for predictive text input is handy for quickly composing SMS, MMS and E-mails. You can also manage attachments in the most common formats. On the voice side there is speakerphone, voice recorder and support for multiconferencing. The special dual-battery feature allows you to stay calm in case of emergency, with operation via AAA battery for up to 2 and a half hours of talk time or one week in Stand-by.
Entertainment and multimedia
Multimedia features have been improved compared to the predecessor. The digital camera has in fact been brought up to a resolution of 2 megapixels. It allows you to capture good quality images and also record short video clips. The internal memory is expandable up to 2 GB via microSD cards. For audio entertainment there is a multimedia player, supporting various music and video formats. You can also listen to your favorite radio broadcasts, thanks to the built-in AM/FM antenna. The standard battery life is good, up to 740 hours in Stand-by.