Huawei U626 & U636: Pioneering 3G Clamshell Phones

Huawei U626 & U636 (2005)

Product Overview: The Huawei U626 (June 2005) and U636 (August 2005) were pioneering 3G WCDMA/GSM dual – mode clamshell phones, with the U626 being Huawei’s first mature commercial 3G device and the U636 a multimedia – enhanced upgrade. The U626 won the “Best 3G Mobile Phone” award at the 2005 Asian Mobile News Awards, while the U636 featured a rotating 1.3MP camera and dual TFT displays, targeting early 3G users valuing video calls and multimedia in 2005.

Core Specifications Comparison

Component	Huawei U626 (2005)	Huawei U636 (2005)
Model Name	U626 (UMTS/GSM Dual – Mode Clamshell)	U636 (UMTS/GSM Dual – Mode Clamshell)
Network Support	WCDMA 2100 MHz, GSM 900/1800 MHz, GPRS Class 10	WCDMA 2100 MHz, GSM 900/1800 MHz, GPRS Class 10
Display	– Primary: 2.4″ 256K – color TFT QVGA (320×240, ~167 ppi)- Secondary: Small STN external display	– Primary: 2.2″ 256K – color TFT QVGA (320×240, ~182 ppi)- Secondary: 1.2″ 256K – color TFT external display
Camera	– Main: 0.3MP (VGA, 640×480) CMOS- No front – facing camera for video calls	– Main: 1.3MP CMOS, 180° rotatable, 4× digital zoom, video recording/streaming- Supports video calls via rotating lens
Processor & OS	Unknown chipset; BREW 2.1 OS	Unknown chipset; BREW 2.1 OS (Java – enabled)
Memory	Internal: N/A; MMC/SD card slot (max. 1GB)- 1100 mAh Li – Po battery	Internal: 22MB; SD/MMC card slot (max. 1GB)- 830 mAh Li – Po battery
Battery Life	– Talk time: ~3 h (GSM), ~2.5 h (WCDMA)- Standby: ~250 h (GSM), ~200 h (WCDMA)	– Talk time: ~2.5 h (GSM), ~2 h (WCDMA)- Standby: ~220 h (GSM), ~200 h (WCDMA)
Design & Build	96.8×49.9×25.9 mm, 135 g; Clamshell form factor	96.5×50×24.5 mm, 125 g; Clamshell, 180° rotating camera module
Multimedia	72 – chord ringtones, basic MP3 playback	72 – chord ringtones, MP3/MPEG4 player, video streaming (256 kbps)
Connectivity	Bluetooth 1.1, USB 1.1, WAP 2.0, SMS/MMS/Email	Bluetooth 1.1, USB 1.1, WAP 2.0, SMS/MMS/Email, PC sync via USB/Bluetooth
Key Features	First commercial 3G phone by Huawei, award – winning design	Rotating camera for video calls, dual TFT displays, enhanced multimedia, Java games
Release Date	June 2005	August 2005

Key Feature Breakdown

Huawei U626

3G Pioneer: As Huawei’s first mass – market 3G phone, it supported WCDMA/GSM dual – mode, enabling seamless network switching for early 3G adopters.
Display & Build: The 2.4″ QVGA TFT main display provided clear visuals for 2005, while the clamshell design protected the screen and keypad.
Battery Life: The 1100 mAh battery offered longer standby time than the U636, suitable for users prioritizing daily usage over multimedia.

Huawei U636

Rotating Camera: The 1.3MP rotating lens was a standout feature, supporting video calls, selfies, and flexible photography, which was innovative in 2005.
Dual TFT Displays: The 1.2″ external TFT display showed caller ID, time, and notifications without opening the phone, enhancing usability.
Multimedia Capabilities: It had a 72 – chord ringtone system, MP3/MPEG4 playback, and Java support for games, positioning it as a 3G multimedia phone.

Market Position & Legacy

Market Position (2005)

Early 3G Enthusiasts: Both phones targeted users in regions with emerging 3G networks, especially in Asia, where video calls and mobile internet were nascent trends.
Business & Lifestyle: The U626 focused on reliable 3G connectivity, while the U636 appealed to users wanting multimedia and video calling features.

Legacy

2005 Tech Milestone: The U636’s rotating camera and dual displays were ahead of many 2005 phones, influencing later multimedia – focused clamshell designs.

Huawei’s 3G Foundation: These models laid the groundwork for Huawei’s future 3G/4G/5G smartphone development, showcasing its ability to compete in the global mobile market.