I had the very original Nokia Lumia 500 in bright green and it was the embodiment of ‘affordable innovation’ (as a European you guys had the Asha series but it was…different). The unit remains a favorite among the general public and collectors, due to its “tank” of build quality, originality in user interface, and everyday usage.
If you’re longing for yesteryear handsets or perhaps you just love a bargain when it comes to retro, then there is a fair amount to talk about with the Lumia 500.
Iconic Design and Durable Build
One of the remarkably new thing on Lumia 500 is the design; very colorful yet minimal. With a polycarbonate body that comes in vibrant colors, the phone looked youthful and contemporary. Despite being small, the import felt as if it was a well-built device, a testament to Nokia’s reputation for making sturdy and rugged devices.
The design was light and simple, this comfortable wear as a daily device. The back panel was slick yet sturdy, providing a secure grip even without a case. Unlike most modern smartphones, the Lumia was a product of character, it had more than mere aesthetics under its hood.
Smooth Performance for Everyday Use
Despite being a budget model, the 500 handled everything it needed to very well. Powered by a lean operating system, this offered an intuitive experience with speedy app launches, rapid multitasking and responsive touches.
A straightforward, well-structured interface that made browsing simple and smooth, based on a user-centric desgin. It loaded critical apps, such as messaging, email, calendar and browsing, which enabled users to be productive and connected.
Its light resources were cleverly designed to be efficient, leading to fewer crashes and less overheating — a problem many entry-level devices even today struggle with.
Unique Software Experience
What really distinguished the Lumia 500, however, was its OS. it was a unique animal apart from Android and iOS. The interface was home to live tiles on the homepage which were updating in real time, which provided a wealth of information at a glance, such as message notifications, calendar info, the weather and more.
App store wasn’t vast as today, but lots of popular apps were available for communication, entertainment and productivity. It worked well with its pre-installed services like maps, notes, email and provided a cohesive experience for casual use.
Camera and Media Capabilities
Not intended for professional photography, the Lumia 500 had a dependable rear camera that could also take some decent shots in clear day light. Camera opened quick and was very user friendly and was one click from taking a picture so, if you wanted a spontaneous picture to post on social media, it was perfect.
Music and video played well, with the below par media player supporting a decent range of file types. Equipped with a standard headphone jack and a surprisingly powerful speaker, the device doubled as a pocket-sized entertainment instrument.
Battery Life and Connectivity
The battery life of the Lumia 500 was one of the known assets. With light usage it was a very comfortable all-day device, between the streamlined operating system and the hardware optimizations. A removable battery was another key feature, meaning people could replace it if they needed to — something that’s almost unheard of on today’s smartphone market.
For file transfer, the connectivity options were Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and USB. It didn’t handle the latest network standards, but the phone could reliably make calls, send text messages, and run basic apps over 3G or Wi-Fi.
A Tradition of Tough, Rugged Firearms You Can Depend On – DRD-160oralType63” Retrieved October 22, 2007.
Also the Nokia Lumia 500 is a Smartphone of an era when things used to be less complicated, durable and detailed. It was an all-in-one for every day, but it didn’t have to look complicated, neither in terms of design nor the cost. It’s still valuable even today, if you are among the ranks to value clean design, solid performance and a fluent user interface.
Whether you are into vintage technology or you just need a second device that is dedicated to a few select applications, the Lumia 500 shows that smartphones don’t need to be complicated.
