Launched in 2010, the Microsoft Kin One and Kin ONEm represented a unique attempt to capture the social networking generation with a smartphone experience tailored to sharing and connecting. Despite sharing core components, the Kin ONEm offered a slightly different form factor and feature set. This comparison dissects the similarities and differences between these two devices, revealing why they ultimately failed to gain traction.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the collector or enthusiast, the Kin ONEm is the slightly more desirable device due to its slide-out QWERTY keyboard, offering a more complete messaging experience. However, given their identical core performance and limited app ecosystem, neither phone is a practical daily driver in 2024.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | CDMA 800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO |
| Speed | HSPA 7.2/2 Mbps | EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | CDMA / EVDO |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2010, April | 2010, November. Released 2010, November |
| Status | Cancelled | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 82.6 x 63.5 x 19.1 mm (3.25 x 2.5 x 0.75 in) | 84.1 x 67.6 x 18.5 mm (3.31 x 2.66 x 0.73 in) |
| Keyboard | QWERTY | QWERTY |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | Mini-SIM |
| Weight | 110.6 (3.88 oz) | 110.6 (3.88 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 320 x 240 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~154 ppi density) | 320 x 240 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~154 ppi density) |
| Size | 2.6 inches, 20.9 cm2 (~39.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 2.6 inches, 20.9 cm2 (~36.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT | TFT |
| |
| - |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | 600MHz ARM 11 | 600MHz ARM 11 |
| Chipset | Nvidia Tegra | Nvidia Tegra |
| Memory |
|---|
| Call records | Practically unlimited | Practically unlimited |
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 4GB 256MB RAM | 4GB 256MB RAM |
| Phonebook | Practically unlimited entries and fields, Photocal | Practically unlimited entries and fields, Photocal |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash | Dual-LED flash |
| Single | 5 MP, AF | 5 MP, AF |
| Video | 480p@30fps | 480p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 2.1, A2DP | 2.1, A2DP |
| Positioning | GPS, A-GPS | GPS, A-GPS |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio, RDS | Stereo FM radio, RDS |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g |
| Features |
|---|
| Browser | WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML | WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML |
| Games | Yes + downloadable | Yes + downloadable |
| Java | Yes, MIDP 2.1 | Yes, MIDP 2.1 |
| Messaging | SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Email | SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Email |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity | Accelerometer, proximity |
| | MP3/WAV/WMA/eAAC+ player
MP4/WMV/H.264 player
Facebook and Twitter integration
YouTube client
MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, PDF viewer)
Voice memo
Predictive text input | MP3/WAV/WMA/eAAC+ player
MP4/WMV/H.264 player
Facebook and Twitter integration
YouTube client
MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, PDF viewer)
Voice memo
Predictive text input |
| Battery |
|---|
| Stand-by | Up to 200 h | Up to 210 h |
| Talk time | - | Up to 5 h 40 min |
| Type | Removable Li-Ion 1240 mAh battery | Removable Li-Ion 1240 mAh battery |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black | Black |
| Price | About 290 EUR | About 90 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.38 W/kg (head) 0.49 W/kg (body) |
Microsoft Kin One
- More compact and pocketable design.
- Simpler, more minimalist user interface.
- Unique social-focused software experience.
- Lack of a physical keyboard limits messaging efficiency.
- Underpowered processor struggles with multitasking.
- Limited app ecosystem.
Microsoft Kin ONEm
- Slide-out QWERTY keyboard enhances messaging.
- More traditional smartphone form factor.
- Unique social-focused software experience.
- Bulkier and less pocketable than the Kin One.
- Underpowered processor struggles with multitasking.
- Limited app ecosystem.
Display Comparison
Both the Kin One and Kin ONEm feature displays designed for content consumption rather than high-fidelity visuals. While exact screen sizes and resolutions aren't specified in the provided data, the Kin One's smaller footprint suggests a correspondingly smaller display. The shared Nvidia Tegra chipset implies similar graphics capabilities, meaning neither device will excel at demanding graphical tasks. The focus was clearly on social feeds and simple media viewing, not immersive gaming or video playback.
Camera Comparison
Details regarding the camera systems of the Kin One and Kin ONEm are scarce. Given the target audience and the era, it's likely both devices featured cameras suitable for casual snapshots and sharing on social networks. The emphasis was on quick and easy photo capture, rather than image quality. The absence of details suggests neither device boasted particularly advanced camera features like optical image stabilization or high-resolution sensors. Image processing would have been basic, prioritizing speed over detail.
Performance
The core of both devices is the Nvidia Tegra chipset with a 600MHz ARM 11 CPU. This configuration, while adequate for the tasks Microsoft envisioned – social networking, basic messaging, and light media consumption – is significantly underpowered by modern standards. The ARM 11 architecture is a single-core design, limiting multitasking capabilities. The Tegra chipset's integrated GPU would have provided a basic level of graphics performance, but it wouldn't have been capable of handling complex 3D games. The lack of RAM specifications suggests a limited amount, further hindering performance when running multiple applications.
Battery Life
Battery capacity details are unavailable. However, given the relatively low-power CPU and focus on social networking, battery life was likely sufficient for a day of moderate use. The Tegra chipset's power efficiency would have contributed to reasonable battery performance. Charging times would have been relatively slow compared to modern smartphones, as the devices likely supported standard USB charging rather than fast charging technologies.
Buying Guide
Buy the Microsoft Kin One if you prioritize a smaller, more pocketable form factor and are interested in experiencing a minimalist smartphone interface. Buy the Microsoft Kin ONEm if you value a physical keyboard for composing longer messages and appreciate a more traditional smartphone shape, even if it means a slightly bulkier device. Both are best suited for collectors interested in mobile history.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Can the Kin One or Kin ONEm run modern Android apps?
No. The Kin phones run a proprietary operating system based on Windows Phone, and it is not compatible with Android applications. Attempts to port Android to these devices have been limited due to the ARM 11 architecture and lack of developer support.
❓ What was the primary purpose of the Kin Loop feature?
Kin Loop was Microsoft's attempt at a streamlined social feed, automatically pulling updates from various social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace. It aimed to present a unified view of a user's social life, but it was ultimately considered too restrictive and lacked the flexibility of dedicated social media apps.
❓ Is it possible to replace the battery in a Kin One or Kin ONEm?
Replacing the battery is difficult and requires specialized tools and knowledge. The devices were not designed for easy user maintenance, and finding replacement batteries can be challenging due to their age and limited production.
