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20 July 2025 Vol 19

Fascinating Look Back at the Fujitsu LOOX F-07C, a Smartphone from 2011 That Can Run Windows 7

Fujitsu LOOX F-07C Smartphone Windows 7
In 2011, Fujitsu unleashed a curious experiment onto the mobile world: the LOOX F-07C. This wasn’t just another smartphone trying to muscle its way into a market dominated by Android and iOS. It was a bold, almost defiant attempt to fuse a full-fledged desktop operating system—Windows 7 Home Premium, no less—with the compact form of a Symbian-based phone.


Its slider design, at 125 x 61 x 19.8 mm and a chunky 218 grams, feels more like a mini-brick than the sleek phones we know today. The 4-inch (1024 x 600) TFT LCD screen was decent for its time but nothing truly special. Slide it open, and you get a physical QWERTY keyboard.

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Fujitsu LOOX F-07C Smartphone Windows 7
What makes the F-07C an oddity is its dual-OS capabilities. On one hand, you’ve got Symbian, the trusty mobile OS that ran Nokia’s empire, handling calls, texts, and basic browsing with no fuss. Flick an app, and the phone reboots into Windows 7 Home Premium—yep, the full desktop deal, complete with a Start menu and the ability to run .exe files. It’s all powered by a 1.2 GHz Intel Atom Z600 processor and 1 GB of RAM, stuffed into a pocket-sized device.

Fujitsu LOOX F-07C Smartphone Windows 7
In Symbian mode, it’s zippy enough for the basics. Calls come through crisp, texts fly out, and the 5-megapixel camera with autofocus and LED flash snaps okay pics for quick shots. Symbian’s menus feel like a time capsule, clunky and limited by its fading app ecosystem. Switch to Windows 7, and it’s a whole new game. The OS boots in about 20 seconds, turning the F-07C into a tiny PC. You can launch Microsoft Word, surf with Internet Explorer, or even load lightweight Windows programs from a microSD card. But it’s no speed demon—the Atom chip chugs under Windows 7’s weight, multitasking feels like wading through mud, and the 32 GB eMMC storage fills up fast with anything more than simple apps.

Fujitsu LOOX F-07C Smartphone Windows 7
The battery is where the F-07C’s big dreams hit a wall. Its 1530 mAh battery, small even for 2011, wilts under Windows 7’s demands. In Symbian mode, you might scrape by a day with light use—some calls, texts, and browsing. But fire up Windows, and you’re counting hours before it’s gasping for a charger. Fujitsu tossed in a dock for desktop-style use, with USB and HDMI-out ports to hook up monitors or peripherals.

Fujitsu LOOX F-07C Smartphone Windows 7
Connectivity screams early 2010s, as you get 3G as well as Wi-Fi for data, Bluetooth 2.1 for headsets or keyboards, and even infrared for niche devices like remote control functions in Japan. The microSD slot lets you expand storage by up to 32GB, a must for anyone loading Windows apps. There’s even a TV tuner for Japan’s 1seg mobile broadcasts.

Fujitsu LOOX F-07C Smartphone Windows 7
Using the F-07C is a mix of retro charm and lots of patience. Symbian mode’s solid for basic phone stuff, and the physical keyboard’s tactile clicks beat the era’s touchscreens. But Windows 7 mode is a wild ride—both awesome and awkward. Navigating a desktop OS on a 4-inch screen, even with the included stylus, is an experience you wouldn’t wish upon your worst enemy. The QWERTY helps, but the tiny display and sluggish performance make tasks like spreadsheet edits or heavy web browsing into, a true pain.

Fujitsu pitched the F-07C through Japan’s NTT Docomo, aiming at business folks who wanted a phone that could moonlight as a mini PC. At ¥70,000 (about $900 USD back then), it wasn’t cheap, and its hybrid gimmick didn’t exactly light up the market. The battery struggles, slow performance, and steep learning curve kept it a niche curiosity.

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