X-TIGI S18 thumbnail 1
On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

This object consists of 6 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

X-TIGI S18

Mobile Telephone
2015
Artist/Maker
X-TIGI (manufacturer)
Place of origin
China

More power in my pocket

In 2015, this phone became a bestseller in Accra, Ghana. It has a long battery life and functions as a power bank for smartphones and other devices, crucial in a city and digital innovation hub where blackouts are frequent and longlasting. The phone comes with an LED lamp attachment and three sim card slots to enable the user to access three phone numbers at the same time.

The object sits in the 'Housing and Living' section of the Design 1900-Now gallery opened in June 2021.

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read A history of digital design: Part 1 – Connectivity Vast in scope – referring to both design processes and products for which digital technology is an essential element – broad in geography and highly complex, digital design has proved hard to define since its first beginnings in the 1960s. How the V&A has come to study and collect this gro...

Object details

Categories
Rapid Response Collecting
Digital Design
Object type
Mobile telephone
Parts
This object consists of 6 parts.

  • Mobile Telephones
  • Mobile Telephones
  • Mobile Telephones
  • Mobile Telephones
  • Mobile Telephones
  • Mobile Telephones
TitleX-TIGI S18 (manufacturer's title)
Brief description
X-TIGI S18 Power Bank Phone, black phone with removable, rechargeable battery, mains power charger and USB charger. Sold with LED light with USB connection.
Physical description
Mobile telephone, X-TIGI S18 Power Bank Phone, black phone with removable, rechargeable battery, mains power charger and USB charger. Sold with LED light with USB connection. The phone features 3 SIM card slots and a hook possible for lighting.
Dimensions
  • Width: 10.4cm (Note: Box)
  • Length: 17.7cm (Note: Box)
  • Depth: 5.7cm (Note: box)
  • Length: 40.2cm (Note: LED Light)
  • Width: 4.6cm (Note: Head of LED light)
Gallery label
(May 2018)
From The Future Starts Here

Power Bank Phone
X-TIGI (manufacturer)
2015
A BACK-UP PHONE
While this phone may look clunky, its battery life and connectivity are superior to today’s sleek smartphones. Developed in Ghana where power shortages are common, the battery lasts for up to a week, and can be used to charge other smartphones and small electronic devices. The phone also has three separate SIM card slots, enabling users to easily switch between different networks in areas of poor coverage.
Commercially available product.
Plastic enclosure, electronic components
V&A: NCOL.1056:1-2015
Object history
The X Tigi S18 first came to the V&A through Rapid Response Collecting in 2016, and was then displayed during The Future Starts Here from 12 May 2018 to 4 November 2018.
Summary
More power in my pocket

In 2015, this phone became a bestseller in Accra, Ghana. It has a long battery life and functions as a power bank for smartphones and other devices, crucial in a city and digital innovation hub where blackouts are frequent and longlasting. The phone comes with an LED lamp attachment and three sim card slots to enable the user to access three phone numbers at the same time.

The object sits in the 'Housing and Living' section of the Design 1900-Now gallery opened in June 2021.
Collection
Design, Architecture and Digital Department
Accession number
CD.19:1-6-2015

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Record createdJune 25, 2015
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1316572/x-tigi-s18-mobile-telephone-x-tigi/
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