Traditionally, HP has included excellent screens into their mobile devices. Years ago, their ipaq’s set the standard for color screens that were well-readable both indoors and outdoors, and the rx4240’s screen returned TFT technology in a truly magnificent fashion. So far so good…how’s the 514’s screen?
From a technical standpoint, there is little new to say about the 514’s screen. 176px wide, 220 high, 16bit color - a classic mobile device screen, especially for Series 60.
In a side-to-side comparison with its excellent-screened sibling, the hp ipaq rx4240, the 514’s colors are a bit less ‘punchy’ than the rx4240’s(both at highest brightness, which is approximately the same).
Also, the ipaq’s screen can be dimmed way lower than the 514’s:
The Treo 680, Palm’s pinnacle in terms of screen quality, also manages slightly better colors - however, its black is less dark:
Dimming the screen of the 514 is not particularly satisfying - the minimum brightness that can be reached still is very high. The rx4240’sa screen can be turned down really low, and the Treo’s transflective screen can even be switched to reflective mode:
In everyday use, the screen did a good job though - no problems whatsoever except for its tendency to pick up fingerprints…
Overall, the ipaq 514 Voice Messenger isn’t intended as a ‘handheld workstation’ type device - and the screen reflects it’s target usage scenario. Nowadays, mobile devices can have screens with much higher resolutions…but the 514 doesn’t need this. Its screen does its job well with strong colors and a nice maximum brightness - not more, not less.