So '80s, so cool
One thing most smartphone manufacturers have all got in common is the limited standby and talk time that's available on our devices, with most lasting just a working day with general usage. Enter Binatone, a British phone manufacturer that has unveiled a phone that offers up to six months of standby (for the XXL edition) and a whopping 28 hours of talk time.
The phone - which is aptly named the "Brick" - can also connect to an iOS or Android smartphone via Bluetooth to serve as a "comfy" handset, or you can add in your SIM card to use it as a mobile phone to access contacts and calling lists. They also have a landline version that has a reach of around 1 KM from the base station.
The specs are truly retro, operating on the 2G spectrum the phone has a tiny 1.8-inch TFT screen with a resolution of just 128x160p. However, the killer feature is the battery; the Brick can last up to three months on standby on a single full charge, with 28 hours of talk time. This is, admittedly, the "Power" edition of the phone, which runs on a 2000mAh battery and can also be used to charge a second mobile device via a micro-USB port. The standard edition has a 1000mAh battery, which provides "only" one month of standby and 14 hours of talk time; however, you can pick up the XXL battery for either edition which gives you up to six months of standby time.
Another less retro feature is the microSD slot that allows playback of MP3, AAC, AMR and WAV audio files.
Finally, it isn't expensive either, the Brick - which becomes available in the UK from 10 October - costs £50 (€60) ($79 USD) with the Power edition costing £80 (€95) ($126 USD). They will also become available globally from November via the web, coming to physical stores later.
This phone is sure to turn heads when it becomes available as pointed out on the official website: "The Brick is SIMPLE, it’s BULKY, it’s COMFY. It turns heads at every party. Inspired from the early days of mobile phones The Brick was created as the first retro mobile phone ever."
If you have a few quid to spare, we think at the very least it's a cool backup charger for your smartphone with extra features. Would you want one?
Source: c|net | Image: Binatone
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