Somewhat similar to the 5630 except for the slide out QWERTY keypad, the handset took the followers by surprise as it is the first music edition phone with a QWERTY keypad. It is a fully music optimized and bequeathed with dedicated gaming keys. The phone is just apt for the music frenzies and text savvies.

Design and Dimension

This new end phone is a look alike of the normal music edition Nokia phones. The length has been extended with a provision for QWERTY keypad. However the plastic built is not much of a catch. It weighs some 135 g and features a 2.4 inches display. The general dimension is 112 x 51 x 15.4 mm.

Camera

The 5730 Xpress Music is laden with a 3.15 mega pixel camera. The camera is not over the top, but gives decent quality pictures. The 2048 x 1536 pixels automatically boosts the performance. The optics has been put in from Carl Zeiss. The camera comes with basic features such as autofocus. A LED flash helps in lighting up the image.

Basic Features

Nokia 5730 is a complete package Smartphone on the line. Aimed for the younger throng, the phone justifies its features. Beginning with the general features available in every phone, the handset is loaded with integrated facets and works well too. The software has also been upgraded from previous 5630 model.

Interface: 5730 Xpress Music runs on a Symbian operating system. The 9.3 version comes with the 3rd edition user interface of S60. It has the Feature Pack 2. However, few changes have been incorporated to facilitate ease of usage. One of the changes is a new contact bar for the standby screen. This new feature makes the screen more interactive because of contact pictures and RSS feeds. Certain graphics such as animated phone browsing also accompanies the Feature Pack 2.

Phonebook: Like all Symbian handsets, the Nokia 5730 also features unlimited contacts storage capacity virtually. The contacts can also be easily edited as per requirements and even new fields can be added. Saving a contact name is done by the first or the last name and can be searched by the same. Groups can be created, and synchronization is also easier.

Screen

The Nokia 5730 Xpressmusic has the display tilting in its favor. The phone has a decent 2.4 inches QVGA screen. With a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels, the display is quite appropriate. The 16M colors are highly vibrant. Brightness of the screen is adjustable and doesn't hurt the eyes. The contrast is also quite good. The sunlight legibility makes sure the display is not washed away by the sunshine and remains immensely readable. Though a 2.4 inches screen is enough, a little larger would have done no harm.

Keypad and Controls

The handset is utterly well balanced, and takes care of the messaging folks extra especially. The numpad serves its purpose dedicatedly. Marked by digital style digits, it shows off a great deal. The keys are easy and good and don't have problems like the previous models. The show stealer is the QWERTY keypad. It is spread out in four rows and makes proper use of the space. The keys are well spread and writing tools are easier to access. Typing on this phone is really top notch.

Audio

It goes without saying that an Xpress music handset will deliver nothing but quality sound features. So the audio quality is just as expected. The dedicated music keys add on to the music experience. It supports many audio formats such as MP3, AAC, WMA and eAAC+. Obviously music can also be played in the background. Though the equalizer is preset with five elements, new ones can be edited or created. The Say and Play feature is also quite welcoming.

Messaging

Symbian is a great software that supports messaging like nothing else. Teamed with a user friendly keypad, texting couldn't be easier. It supports SMS, email and MMS as they are the climbing rungs.

There is a separate editor for SMS and audio messages. Basic features like delivery report are there and converting a SMS to a MMS is also quite neat. You can even listen to your emails using the message reader.

Media

The available multimedia options are meant to improve the phone's features. The homescreen is commendable. Through it, direct access can be gained to the applications like N Gage, Facebook, Maps, Ovi contacts, messaging, photos etc. dedicated gaming and music keys are also praiseworthy.

Internet

Nokia Smartphones are always good when it comes to web browsing. Pages open up with great ease and scrolling through them is easier. The RAM boosts the performance of the browser and multi tasking capability makes this phone even better. The browser supports Java and Flash, and zooming options are also made available.

Storage

The internal storage memory is f 100 MB with a 128 MB RAM. It comes with a micro SD slot and the external memory is expandable up to 16 GB. Call records are also stored for maximum 30 days.

Connectivity and Data

The Smartphone has numerous connectivity and data transfer options. Basic ones like USB 2.0 and A2DP Bluetooth 2.0 are supported along with HSDPA that supports 3.6 Mbps RAM. As the icing on the cake, Wi-Fi is also supported.

Usability and Performance

The handset meets all the primary requirements. The organizer and applications are quite functional and have good managerial skills. The mobile office is also supportive and editing features are common. It is not expected to be top notch, but stays true to its promise.

Related Phones: Nokia 5250 , Nokia 6790 Surge

Nokia 5730 Xpressmusic Phone Specifications

• Weight: 135 g
• Width: 112 mm
• Height: 51 mm
• Thickness: 15.4 mm
• Display size: 2.4"
• Announced: 2009, March
• Colors: Red, Monochrome, Blue, Pink
• Network: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 2100 for 3G
• Screen Resolution: 240 x 320 pixels TFT, 16M colors
• Data: GPRS Class 32, EDGE Class 32, Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP, USB v2.0 microUSB, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g, HSDPA, 3.6 Mbps
• Memory: microSD, up to 16GB and internal 100 MB storage
• Connectivity: USB v2.0 microUSB, Bluetooth 2.0
• Web Browser: WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML
• Media and Music: WMV/RV/MP4/3GP video player - MP3/WMA/WAV/RA/AAC/M4A music player Supported (MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA, WAV - MPEG4, H.263, H.264, WMV, RealVideo 10)
• Camera: 3.15 MP, 2048x1536 pixels, Carl Zeiss optics, auto/manual focus
• Messaging: SMS, MMS, Email, IM - IMAP, POP3, SMTP, Microsoft Exchange
• Expansion Slot: microSD
• Tones: Vibration, Downloadable polyphonic, MP3 ringtones
• Software Features: Java MIDP 2.1
• Other Features: Voice memo, Games, Alarm, Calendar, Stereo FM radio with RDS
• US Sar Values: Head: 1,39, Body: 1,18
• Battery: Li-Ion 1000 mAh (BL-4U)
• Talk Time: up to 300 mins
• Standby: up to 300 hours

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Excellent QWERTY keypad
• Smart dialing
• Integrated homescreen
• Multi tasking ability

Cons

• Camera performance average
• Poor battery life
• Monotonous design
• Screen size not adequate

Conclusion

The Nokia 5730 Xpressmusic is elaborate in details. However, the big talks about the audio quality are rather hollow and the Symbian OS needs to take a break. Otherwise it is loaded with the available technologies and though out of the league, the price is highly competitive.

It includes the Ovi music store that allows users to download free music and manage them better. The hardware features of the phone are also more or less similar to 5230.

Design, Dimensions

The Nokia 5235 looks similar to 5230 but has a shiny matallic ring around the front frame. Its dimensions are 111 x 51.7 x 14.5/15.5 mm. It weighs about 115g and is sure to please its users.

It comes with a 3.2 inches touchscreen- TFT resistive and can recoognize handwriting. There can be only two colours namely black with ice-blue tinted chrome rim and white with ice-blue tinted chrome rim.

Nokia 5235 Camera

The phone comes with a 2 MP camera. The maximum resolution offered by the camera is 1600x1200. Although the resolution is decent in the video mode it can support only VGA format. The speed of shooting the video is about 30 frames per second- good enough in any consideration. Moreover for ease of use a dedicated camera key is also available. Different white balace and color tones modes are also available. An on-device photo editor lets you have some fun with the images you click.

Basic Features

The Nokia 5235 is a great phone to have hit the market in recent times. This is the phone that music lovers would love to possess. The Ovi player lets users to download free music. About 3400 songs can be stored in the phone with memory expandable up to 16GB. The Media bar on the phone can guide you to the music store with a single tap.

Dedicated music keys surely help. The phone also offers Ovi services and connnecting to the social networks is easy. The 3.2 inches touchscreen is also bright and offers crisp images. For those who love to skin their phones they will love the fact the Nokia 5235 supports customisable themes.

Interface: Nokia 5235 uses the symbian 9.4 operating system and S60 version 5 interface. The phone's easy-to-use interface makes it easier for users to understand and operate it.

Phone Book: The phone book capacity of Nokia 5235 is pratically unlimited and it can have any number of entries. The phone also features the photo call feature.

Screen

The Nokia 5235 has a 3.2 inches resistive touchscreen with a pixel resolution of 360 x 640 pixel . Considering the price range of the handset the display screen's size is the best you can get. The screen is pretty sensitive to touch and responds well. However, the screen is not legible under direct sunlight. The screen can recognize handwriting.

Keypad and Controls

Underneath the screen of the Nokia 5235 lies the call and the menu hardware keys. Other buttons include the touch sensitive Media key and the screen lock key. The volume rocker key is a little difficult to operate as it is hard to press and generally uncomfortable.

Audio

One of the primary features of the phone is its music. It features an MP3 player with great sound quality. The presence of dedicated music keys makes listening to music an enjoyable and convenient experience. The Media Bar on screen offers quick access to ones music collection. One can listen up to 33 hours of continuous music after charging the device just once. Up to 3400 songs can be stored with memory enhancement.

The Nokia 5235 also comes with an FM radio

Messaging

Nokia 5235 lets you stay in touch with your friends and family members through the Ovi Mail service. With support for Mail Excange one can also get other emails in real time on the phone. Messages can also be excanged through the social metworks or instant messengers. MMSs can also be sent through the device.

Media

The Nokia 5235 comes with the Nokia Ovi music player. One can access Nokia Music store for free music downloads. The Media Bar facilitates quick access to ones music collection. This phone is ideal for music lovers. The fact that the device lets one listen to 33 hours of continuous music is something music lovers will appreciate for sure.

Internet

The Nokia 5235 offers fast browsing of the web. The 3G network conectivity allows users to enjoy quick downloads. Webpages can be seen the way they are meant to be on the 3.2 inches display. The built-in browser lets one access the Ovi services and social networks quickly.

Storage

Nokia 5235 has 70MB of internal memory. The memory can be expended up to 16 GB.

Connectivity and Data

The Nokia 5235 an adequate connectivity. Amongst the connectivity options there is the GPS and 3G. It also features Bluetooth 2.1, A2DP support and a high speed microUSB connectivity. It is fully compatible with GPRS and EDGE and HSDPA technologies.

Usability & Performance

Nokia 5235 has a decent call quality. Also the audio qauality is appreciable. It has a 1300mAh Li-Ion battery that offers a talktime of 7.00hours and standby time up to 430hours.

Nokia 5235 Phone Specifications

• Weight: 115 g
• Width: 111 mm
• Height: 51.7 mm
• Thickness: 15.5 mm
• Display size: 2.4"
• Announced: 2010, March
• Colors: Black, White
• Network: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - HSDPA 850 / 1900 or HSDPA 850 / 2100 UMTS for 3G
• Screen Resolution: 360 x 640 pixels 16.777.216 colors, TFT resistive touchscreen
• Data: GPRS Class 32, EDGE Class 32, Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP, USB v2.0 microUSB, HSDPA, 3.6 Mbps
• Memory: microSD, up to 16GB and internal 70 MB storage
• Connectivity: USB v2.0 microUSB, Bluetooth 2.0
• Web Browser: WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML, RSS feeds
• Media and Music: WMV/RV/MP4/3GP player - MP3/WMA/WAV/RA/AAC/M4A player Supported (MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA, WAV - MPEG4, H.263, H.264, WMV, RealVideo 10)
• Camera: 2 megapixels Resolution , 1600x1200 pixels
• Messaging: SMS, MMS, Email, IM - IMAP, POP3, SMTP, Microsoft Exchange
• Expansion Slot: microSD
• Tones: Vibration, Downloadable polyphonic, MP3 ringtones
• Software Features: Symbian OS v9.4, Series 60 rel. 5 - Java, MIDP 2.1
• Other Features: Voice memo, Games, Alarm, Calendar, To-Do / Tasks, Calculator, World Clock, Converter, T9, Handsfree, Stereo FM radio with RDS, A-GPS support; Nokia Maps 2.0 Touch
• US Sar Values: Head: ---, Body: ---
• Battery: Li-Ion 1320 mAh(BL-5J)
• Talk Time: up to 420 mins
• Standby: up to 458 hours

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• A great phone for music lovers
• Available at affordable price
• GPS and Bluetooth support available

Cons:

• Email support is present for exchange only
• RSS reader absent

Related Phones: Nokia 6790 Surge - Nokia 6350 - Nokia 2690 - Nokia 5250

Conclusion

The Nokia 5235 is an outstanding phone with great features and it also comes at a reasonable price. The phone features an excellent music player.The phone is thus ideal for music lovers. With its stylish looks and superb specifications this Nokia product is sure to attract many.

Design, Dimensions

The Nokia Surge is quite a small phone. Its dimensions are 97.5 x 57.9 x 15.5 mm. The phone is compact in size and weighs about 4.3 ounces. The phone has a glossy appearance and a plasticky kind of feel that attracts finger prints leaving one feeling that the material is of an inferior quality. The phone is wider than most sliding phones in the market. It comes with a 2.4 inches QVGA display screen -clear and bright.

Camera

The Surge has a 2MP camera that produces good detailing. It has 4x digital zoom and there is no muddy experience when it is zoomed. However the color quality is not as good. Photos can be captured in either 640 x 480 or 1600 x 1200 resolution. Options like white balance are also available. The picture quality is decent.

Basic Features

The Nokia Surge comes with a 2.4 inches QVGA display screen , a slide out QWERTY keypad with an embedded numeric keypad, a 2MP camera, music player, stereo Bluetooth and 3G connectivity.

Interface: The Surge is powered by Nokia’s S60 3rd Edition which comes with attractive menu transitions and a handful of updates. The S60 Feature Pack 2 users have the option of using any one out of the three standby screen layouts. The surge can be customised in several ways. Icons and background can abe played with by changing themes. Also the main menu can be displayed in a horseshoe or V-shaped carousel mode or a list of icons.

Phone Book: The phone book can store up to 1000 contacts. Any number of information can be stored for a given contact which includes birthdays, physical mailing address, email, jod profile and many more things.

Nokia 6790 Surge Screen

The 2.4 inches display screen dominates the front part of the Surge. The QVGA display supports 16million colors and has a pixel resolution of 240x320 pixels. However, it does not look as sharp as expected. Moreover if the brightness is increased it makes viewing the screen in sunlight difficult.

Keypad and Controls

On sliding the QWERTY keyboad the display screen automatically rotates to the landscape mode. There are 4 rows of buttons on the keypad. The shape of each button is a slightly elongated rectangle with tapered edges. The buttons have a tactile click and this is one of the best keypads ever used. As there are no directional buttons on the keypad which means one must reach up to use the d-pad. A standard numeric keypad is also embedded in the centre of the QWERTY keyboard.

Audio

The MP3 music player in the Surge offers options like equalizer settings and visualizations. It displays the artist, album, track name and the time left. The sound quality from the speaker phone is dismal and when it was placed in the loudest volume crackling noises are heard. Even after altering the equalizer settings to ‘bass booster’ the performance does not improve.

Messaging

The Nokia 6790 offers support for both SMS and MMS. However it does not display messages in threaded format which makes it difficult to track conversations. Instant messaging application is also included in the phone which enables users to log into their Yahoo Messenger account, AIM, Windows Live Messenger easy.

Media

The music player in the Nokia Surge allows users to browse their library by artist, album, genre. It even allows creation and management of playlists on the device directly. One can also choose to shuffle or repeat the music and also adjust the audio with a graphic equalizer.

The reverse, pause/play and forward icons correspond to the navigational pad. Video playback powered by ReadPlayer produces some great results with the videos viewed. Videos can be played either in MPEG4 orientation or H.264 320x136 and it takes two seconds to switch views. The Surge performs decently in this field.

It also includes demo versions of popular games like Guitar Hero, Asphalt 4 and Monopoly Here and Now.

Internet

The Surge offers a fairly decent web browsing experience. It is somewhat sluggish and complex pages take a little bit of time to load. Users are advised to allow a site to download completely before venturing off else that may lead to further slowdown of the device. A page view option displays the entire site and allows quick scroll down. Though Flash is supported it is not properly implemented and when viewing YouTube videos a considerable slowdown occurs.

Storage

The internal memory of the phone is 128 MB but it can be expanded to 8GB via the microSD card slot.

Connectivity and Data

The Nokia Surge is a quad-band GSM phone that supports GSM 850/900/1800/1900. It also features Bluetooth, A2DP support and a microUSB connectivity. It is fully compatible with GPRS and EDGE technologies.

Usability & Performance

The call quality of the Nokia Surge was average. The voice of callers sometimes sounded muffled and at times dead silence was experienced during converstions. The speaker also makes a crackling noise. Something that is really annoying is having to open up the QWERTY keypad while dialing numbers.

The battery is rated for 5 hours of talktime and 400 standby hours.

Nokia 6790 Surge Phone Specifications

• Weight: 123.9 g
• Width: 97.5 mm
• Height: 57.9 mm
• Thickness: 15.5 mm
• Display size: 2.4"
• Announced: 2009, July
• Colors: Black
• Network: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - HSDPA 850 / 1900 UMTS for 3G
• Screen Resolution: 240 x 320 pixels 16.777.216 colors, TFT Display
• Data: GPRS Class 10, EDGE Class 10, Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP, USB v2.0 microUSB, HSDPA, 3.6 Mbps
• Memory: microSD, up to 8GB and internal 128 MB storage
• Connectivity: USB v2.0 microUSB, Bluetooth 2.0
• Web Browser: S60 OSS Browser, HTML, XHTML, WAP 2.0, CSS, JavaScript
• Media and Music: MP4/3GP player - MP3/WAV/AAC player Supported (MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA, WAV - MPEG4, H.263, H.264, WMV, RealVideo 10)
• Camera: 2 megapixels Resolution , 1600x1200 pixels
• Messaging: SMS, MMS, Email, IM - IMAP, POP3, SMTP, Microsoft Exchange
• Expansion Slot: microSD
• Tones: Vibration, Downloadable polyphonic, MP3 ringtones
• Software Features: Symbian OS, S60 rel. 3.2 - Java, MIDP 2.1
• Other Features: Voice memo, Games, Alarm, Calendar, To-Do / Tasks, Calculator, World Clock, Converter, T9, Handsfree, Stereo FM radio with RDS, GPS
• US Sar Values: Head: ---, Body: ---
• Battery: Li-Ion 1500 mAh (BP-4L)
• Talk Time: up to 290 mins
• Standby: up to 400 hours

Related Phones: Samsung Intrepid SPH-i350 - BlackBerry Bold 9650

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• The phone is feature rich
• It provides easy access to social networking sites

Cons:

• The phone has some quirks in its design
• It is difficult to dial numbers without opening the keypad

Conclusion

Although the Nokia Surge is equipped with one of the best keypads its confused design and lackluster interface leave a sour taste in the mouth. However this phone is ideal for social networking freaks. Although the build material feels a little flimsy the handset is actually well built with a slide mechanism. The phone is also equipped with plenty of onboard memory and internal storage facility. Overall, the Nokia Surge is a great phone.

Design and Dimensions

The Nokia 6350 measures 3.7 x 1.9 x 0.7 inches and weighs only about 3.6 ounces. It is available in two colors – deep red and graphite. The handset is slim with supple lines and has a soft material covering the front and back part of it. A prominent chrome band accentuates the sides of the handset and a black plastic and chrome lines the  internal alphanumeric keypad.

Nokia 6350 Camera

The Nokia 6350 comes with a 2 megapixel camera that can take snaps in 3 quality settings and in 4 resolutions. It also has a multi-shot mode, a self timer and 4 x digital zoom. The standard settings offered are color effects, white balance and brightness control. The camera can also be used as a camcorder to shoot videos in the standard mode.

Basic Features

The Nokia 6350 features 3G connectivity, a 2MP camera, web browser, email and also some multimedia features. It is available in red and gray. It also has a good internal display with QVGA resolution capable of displaying 16 million colors. It also comes with Bluetooth, microUSB connector.

Interface: The Nokia 6350 has an easy to use interface for the menu and other than that a number of customizable options are available too. The font type and size in the home screen can be changed and some short icons can also be added.

Phone Book: The phone book of Nokia 6350 can hold up to 1000 contacts. For each entry there is space for 5 phone numbers, address, birthday, 2email ids, a nickname, a formal name, notes, job title and company name.

Screen

The Nokia 6350 comes with an external display that measures 1.3 inches and has a resolution of 128 x 160 pixels. The external display shows the battery life, date, signal strength, photo caller, time and works as a View finder. It is slightly dim and lacks in contrast. The LCD inside measures about 2 inches and has a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels. It is crisp and reasonably bright.

Keypad and Controls

The OK button in the center has a four-way navigation key. Apart from that there are two soft keys, talk and power/end keys, browser shortcut key and a key dedicated each to the GPS feature and camera. The alphanumeric keypad is flat and spacious and this makes dialing and texting easier. The backlighting of the keys is also quite bright and the numbers are also large enough, thus making it easier to enter the numbers. The lack of a QWERTY keypad hardly makes this one a messaging phone.

Audio

The Nokia 6350 comes with a music player where one can enjoy ones favourite music. The music controls present just beneath the external display can be used to activate the music player without opening the phone. The audio quality is impressive. Support for MIDI, MP3, MP4, WAV, WMA etc is provided. Other features include equalizer, shuffle, album art, repeat modes, playlists and airplay mode.

Messaging

The Nokia 6350 allows users to create and send SMSs, MMSs and emails. IMAP4 and POP3 can be accessed via headset and hence emails can be sent through a Web based interface. The only thing that comes as a drawback is the typing has to be done on the alphanumeric keypad. Support for AOL, Windows live and Yahoo messenger is also provided.

Media

The Nokia 6350 comes with great multimedia features. It allows one to upload videos, photos, songs and other items from ones PC through the built-in microUSB port. One can go on streaming AT&T Cellular Video , listen to XM Satellite Radio, purchase music tracks from Napster and eMusic, look-up entries in Yellow Pages Mobile and Where( location based). Other titles offered by the mobile are WikiMobile, Weather Channel, currency and unit converter.

Internet

With the Nokia 6350 the user can browse the Web in an HTML and XHTML Web browsing via the WAP 2.0 browser.

Storage

It has an internal memory of 52MB which is expandable up to 16GB as 6350 and additionally comes with a microSD card.

Connectivity and Data

The Nokia 6350 supports many connectivity tools like GPRS, EDGE and Bluetooth. One can also gain access to several of AT&T’s exclusive data services like AT&T Navigator, a basic GPS program that can provide reliable maps and directions. Also, video share feature of AT&T allows live or recorded videos to be shared with other AT&T subscribers. With HSDPA and 3G connectivity one can experience a faster data transfer.

Usability and Performance

The call quality of Nokia 6350 is decent with great signal reception. Callers can be heard quite loud and clear and the phone does not pick up any background sounds. The call quality for the Bluetooth set and the speakerphone is also good. However, the audio and video streaming quality is not up to the mark.

Nokia 6350 Phone Specifications

• Weight: 3.62 oz - 103 g
• Width: 3.67" - 93 mm
• Height: 1.86" - 47 mm
• Thickness: 0.68" - 17 mm
• Display size: 2"
• Announced: 2009, October
• Colors: Red, Graphite
• Network: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 UMTS
• Screen Resolution: 240 x 320 pixels 16.777.216 colors, TFT Display
• Data: GPRS Class 10, EDGE Class 10, Bluetooth v2.1 with A2DP, USB v2.0 microUSB, HSDPA
• Memory: microSD, up to 16GB and internal 52 MB storage
• Connectivity: USB v2.0 microUSB, Bluetooth 2.1
• Web Browser: WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML
• Media and Music: MP3/WAV/eAAC+ player, MP4/H.263/H.264 player
• Camera: 2 MP, 1600x1200 pixels
• Messaging: SMS, MMS, Email, IM - IMAP/POP3/SMTP
• Expansion Slot: microSD
• Tones: Vibration, MP3 ringtones, polyphonic
• Software Features: Java, MIDP 2.1
• Other Features: Voice Dialing, Voice Commands, Games, Clock, Alarm, T9, Handsfree, A-GPS only; AT&T Navigator, Stereo FM radio with RDS
• US Sar Values: Head: 1.03, Body: 0.85
• Battery: Li-Ion 1050 mAh (BL-6MT)
• Talk Time: up to 260 mins
• Standby: up to 350 hours

Related Nokia Phones: Nokia 2690 - Nokia 5250

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Sleek and easy-to-use design.
• Good call quality.
• It includes 3G, GPS and push-to-talk features.
• The phone book can store a lot of details about each contact.

Cons:

• Average image and video quality.
• Headset jack only 2.5mm.

Conclusion

The Nokia 6350 serves as a good communication device. In that sense, it has managed to achieve whatever the manufactures intended it to achieve. It offers a host of interesting features like 3G connectivity, a 2 megapixel camera, web browser, email and some multimedia features. And the best part is all of these is available at a low price.

It is available in 4 attractive colors including Graphite, silver, hot pink and blue. It features a 1.8 inch TFT screen with audio, video players and Internet access. Other device features include FM radio, GPRS support and MMS support.

Design and Dimensions

Nokia 2690 is a medium-sized sleek handset that fits snugly in all standard size pockets. The front and back of this great looking phone is made of glossy plastic. The keypad is made of a glossy black plastic. The back part of the phone has a grid like pattern to improve the grip.  Although the entire front part seems to be dominated by the display, this is only an illusion as the display is only 1.8 inches. Measuring 107.5 x 45.5 x 13.8 mm and weighing about 80.7g, the Nokia 2690 manages to outnumber most of its competitors.

Camera

The Nokia 2690 has a VGA camera that can capture pictures with a maximum resolution of 640 x 480 pixels. Pictures can also be transferred using the Bluetooth and USB port. Standard settings like White balance and Color Effects are also present. Since there is no dedicated camera key the navigation key has to be used as shutter. It can also record videos.

Basic Features

Nokia 2690 is a low-cost phone that comes with great features like Stereo FM, Bluetooth 2.0, microSd memory card slot, VGA camera. It has an internal memory of 32Mb. Also, its phonebook can store up to 2000 contacts. As a music phone also it rates quite high. It has a fitted battery that is fully rechargeable via the power adapter and comes with the handset. When fully charged one can enjoy an uninterrupted talktime of 4.5 hours.

Interface: The phone has an easy to use and simple interface. Three special strokes divides the front part of the structure into three parts namely the Screen, the D-pad and the keypad. The handset looks quite stylish and luxurious.

Phone Book: The phone book can store up to 2000 contacts. Each entry can store up to two numbers. The font that is displayed when opening the Contacts section can be customized.

Screen

The Nokia 2690 includes a 1.8 inches TFT screen. It supports up to 262K colors and has a pixel resolution of 128 x 160 pixels. This is one of the smallest displays in the market and the reason for including a small-sized may be attributed to low budget of the phone. Although the contrast and color is good, the image quality is a little less than satisfactory. Sunlight legibility is moderate; however dialing does not cause trouble.

Nokia 2690 Keypad and Controls

Beneath the screen there are four keys that are used to handle the phone's menu-The call accept and call reject keys plus two contextual keys. The Navi-Key in the middle is surrounded by a metallic stripe which makes it easier to click on. Although the keypad might appear small it does not pose problems when in use. The backlighting on all keys is good and this facilitates ease of use in dark places.

Audio

Users can play their own music on the music player. As the phone's memory is expandable up to 8 GB it can serve as an MP3 player. It provides quite a good experience if the stereo headset that comes with the original pack is replaced with a standard 3.5mm headphone. Aprt from this one can also listen to the built-in FM radio.

Messaging: The Nokia 2690 provides users with the facility to create, send and share emails, text messages and picture messages. Messages help people to stay in touch on the move without the necessity of making a call. The native email client in Nokia 2690 works with POP3, SMTP and IMAP4 protocols.

Media

The Nokia 2690 allows the users to use the phone as an MP3 player- thanks to the microSD slot. Even though 2690 may not provide you with the best multimedia experience it certainly does a pretty good job. One can also keep oneself informed and entertained with the built-in FM radio, which works when a headphone is inserted into the 3.5mm jack port. It also comes with pre loaded games that one can play in leisure hours.

Internet

With the Nokia 2690 the user can browse the Web and experience an HTML and XHTML Web browsing via the WAP 2.0 browser.

Storage

The Nokia 2690 has an internal memoy of 32MB, out of which only 25MB is user free. It is expnadable up to 8 GB as the phone has a microSD card slot.

Nokia 2690 Connectivity and Data

Nokia 2690 is a quad-band GSM phone that supports GSM 850/900/1800/1900. The candybar phone is fully compatible with GPRS and EDGE technologies. Data transfer speed with EDGE is average,but it may greatly vary depending on the location and carrier. It also features Bluetooth 2.0 plus A2DP support and microUSB connectivity. With the help of a microUSB cable one can synchronize the phone with even PC.

Usability & Performance

The Nokia 2690 performs quite well. In fact it is better than its competitors in the same price range. With great looks and great features it is a reasonably good handset. It has a good battery life, good call quality and signal reception, high quality audio and a clear loudspeaker and that makes it a good choice.

Nokia 2690 Phone Specifications

• Weight: 80.7 g
• Width: 107.5 mm
• Height: 45.5mm
• Thickness: 13.8 mm
• Display size: 1.8"
• Announced: 2009, November
• Colors: Graphite, White silver, Hot pink, Blue
• Network: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
• Screen Resolution: 128 x 160 pixels 262.144 Colors TFT Display
• Data: GPRS Class 10, EDGE Class 10, Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP, microUSB
• Memory: microSD, up to 8GB
• Connectivity: USB microUSB, Bluetooth 2.0
• Web Browser: WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML
• Media and Music: MP3/eAAC+/WAV/WMA player
• Camera: VGA camera (640 x 480 pixels)
• Messaging: SMS, MMS, Email
• Expansion Slot: microSD
• Tones: Vibration; MP3 ringtones
• Software Features: Yes, MIDP 2.1
• Other Features: Voice Dialing, Voice Commands, Games, Clock, Alarm, T9, Handsfree, Flash Lite 3.0, Stereo FM radio (87.5-108 MHz/76-90 MHz), RDS
• US Sar Values: Head: 0.78, Body: 0.81
• Battery: Li-Ion 860 mAh (BL-4C)
• Talk Time: up to 300 mins
• Standby: up to 336 hours

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Great features at an affordable price.
• Great sound quality of the music player and FM.
• Bluetooth 2.0, with A2DP support, microUSB port.
• Has a microSD memory slot.

Cons:

• The display is one of the smallest in the market.
• The embedded VGA camera is also a drawback although that is not one of the main features of the phone.

Conclusion

As a low-cost handset the Nokia 2690 cell phone manages to impress with its great features and its stylish and luxurious looks. Starting with online services to entertainment Nokia 2690 offers it all. It is also compatible with Nokia Life tools application that provides information about education, agriculture and entertainment. It is a great option for those who are on the lookout for a feature-rich but affordable phone.

Nokia phones are usually quite cheap but lately Nokia has been coming up with phones that are arguably the best- although they tend to burn a hole in ones pocket! However, the new Nokia 5250 not only combines some of the best features but is also moderately priced. This is one such model that makes you want to give it a second look. Whether it is the looks, the design,  the features everything about Nokia 5250 is very appealing and has the capacity to hold your attention. Once you check it out you would never have second thoughts about buying it!

Design and Dimensions

The new Nokia 5250 is a basic looking device where the display dominates the front potion of the phone. Underneath the display lie three keys- a menu key with call send/end keys on either side of it. Some quick access keys such as the volume control, the camera activation key are located on the bottom right hand side of the phone. The dimensions of the handset are a mere 104 x 49 x 14mm and it is found to weigh about 107 grams.

The Nokia 5250 is available in a wide range of colours and they can be if needed. It comes in grey, red, white, black, turquoise and even purple making it perfectly suited for the youngsters. Although its square body lends it a sophisticated and professional look but the multitude of body color options makes it a trendy phone.

Nokia 5250 Camera

The Nokia 5250 has a standard point ‘n' shoot 2 Megapixel camera. Video recording is also available at 30fps per second in QVGA resolution. Although the phone could have been equipped with a higher Megapixel camera given its price range but the results of the camera are not as bad. The camera supports good pictures. Still pictures are in JPEG format.

A portrait camera mode is also available. A dedicated camera key is provided for convenience. Besides, there is a photo editor too that allows you to have fun with the photos taken.

Basic Features

The Nokia 5250 compiles together some great features which include music player, easy access to social media, multiple email account access, 2 megapixel camera and many more. It can play music for up to 24 hours at a stretch after being charged. This indicates the battery life which is above average. Also, using this handset one can talk for 7.7 hours and 460 hours of standby is also provided.

Interface

The Nokia 5250 comes with a touchscreen interface that supports 16 million colors facilitating the displaying of vivid images. The resistive TFT touchscreen is a whopping 3.2 inches. The stylus can be used to operate the touchscreen. In terms of screen resolution too the Nokia 5250 stands out. The phone is user friendly and has an easy to use interface.

Phone book

Although the internal memory capacity of the Nokia 5250 is quite low- about 51 MB, it can be easily expanded with the usage of the MicroSD memory card. It can support up to 16GB memory. However, the phone book memory is very large - almost unlimited. It also comes with photo call options. Boasting of the very characteristic of Nokia phones, the Nokia 5250 also offers a very detailed call summary. It can hold records up to 30 days.

Nokia 5250 Screen

The Nokia 5250 offers a 3.2 inches resistive TFT touchscreen that allows great viewing of videos. Besides, there's a lot of space for widgets to be added too. As the touchscreen is resistive it operates with a stylus. It also supports a handwriting recognition mechanism which can be chosen as an alternative to the QWERTY keyboard found onscreen.

The screen supports up to 16 million colors. This allows vivid images to be displayed on the screen which invariably enhances the joy of taking pictures as every picture turns out to be just amazing! With a pixel resolution of 640 x 360, the 16 million colors can be enjoyed to the hilt.

Keypad and controls

The front part of the Nokia 5250 is dominated by the toushscreen. Beneath the touchscreen lie three keys. There is a central key for displaying the main menu and it is flanked on either side by a call send / end key. The callend key is the power key which when pressed down for some time switches the phone off. On the right hand side of the phone, at the bottom corner lies some keys for quick access control. These include the volume control, camera activation and so on.

Audio

Primarily the Nokia 5250 is a music phone and most of its features point towards this fact. The phone is equipped with a stereo FM radio that allows tuning into ones favorite radio station as and when desired. It also includes a 3.5mm radio jack for listening to music. Both MP3 and ACC+ audio formats are supported by the media player and this can be used to play songs with an amazing sound quality.

Video formats like MP4 and H265 are also supported and this allows you to both view videos and listen to songs on your handset. Although the onboard memory capacity is quite low (about 51 MB), it can be expanded as 5250 officially supports cards up to 16GB in size. Micro SD memory cards can be used for this purpose. Also, the Nokia Ovi store has a wide range of music that one can download through the Internet and enjoy anytime.

Messaging

The Nokia 5250 allows you to send emails with attachments. Besides, one can also send native mail with Ovi Mail. It comes with a unified MMS/SMS editor. Instant messaging service is also made available through Ovi Chat. Audio messaging features can also be found here.

The Nokia 5250 offers several Email and messaging services which may be available only after downloading or upgrading. Only those devices that offer support for multimedia messages or Email features can receive and display them. The appearance of the content may also differ. Certain images and ringtones cannot be forwarded.

Media

The Nokia 5250 is being promoted as a music phone with a touchscreen and is available at a reasonable price. It provides an opportunity for music lovers to download numerous songs from Ovi store or even from private collections. Support for video playback in MPEG4, H.263, H.264, WMV, 3GPP, RealVideo 7, RealVideo 8, Flash Video formats is also provided.

There is an in-built stereo FM and MP3, AAC, eAAC, AAC+, WMA, WAV, RealAudio 7, RealAudio 8, M4A (Apple lossless), MP4, AMR, MIDI formats are supported by the Music player.

Internet

Nokia 5250 facilitates complete web browsing of real web pages. Besides, it also provides support for video streaming, Adobe FlashLite 2.0 and Java TM MIDP 2.0. Email formats like MAP/POP3/SMTP are also supported. The Nokia 5250 also includes easy shortcuts to various social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and MySpace. This Nokia phone runs on Symbian Operating system and various other applications can also be installed easily. Several gaming titles are already available in the Ovi store and on purchase Nokia supplies a complimentary copy of Guitar hero 5.

Storage

The internal memory of Nokia 5250 is quite small-only about 51 MB. However the memory capacity can be expanded by using the MicroSD memory card. It can support up to 16 GB which is sufficient to hold about 4000 songs.

Connectivity and Data

Data connectivity is not too fancy in Nokia 5250. It offers no 3G access, no HSPA technology and even no WiFi. Most of the data is transferred either through EDGE or GPRS. The Nokia 5250 is a quad band GSM service. Dual Transfer mode (DTM) support is provided for simultaneous voice and packet data connection in GSM/EDGE. So, it includes the Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP.

High speed data transfer can occur through the Bluetooth feature which is available for both wireless and wired. It offers support for TCP/IP. A Micro USB port is also available for the data cable. A 2mm charger connector and a 3.5 mm AV connector is also provided. It also provides support for local and remote SyncML synchronization.

Nokia 5250 needs data services which may not be available in all networks. Data transmission rates can be as high as 296kbps but may vary depending upon the network capabilities. The establishment of data connection and its continuance depends on network capabilities, provider support and signal strength.

Usability and Performance

The Nokia 5250 with a resistive touchscreen and tactile feedback was mainly intended to capture the fancy of the younger generation. The display comes with a customizable home screen. The input methods include an onscreen alphanumeric keypad and handwriting recognition features. The Nokia 5250 XpressMusic is intended to be an entry level touchscreen music phone. But it is more stylishly designed than its predecessors. The interface of the phone is quite simple, user friendly and easy to understand.

Operating the device is also quite simple. Although a detailed user manual is provided, a simple look at the handset is enough to understand its operation. Thus the Nokia 5250 offers most of the basic features required by an average user and it performs its task well. It is also adequately priced and is available in several attractive colors.

Nokia 5250 Phone Specifications

• Weight: 106 g
• Width: 50 mm
• Height: 105 mm
• Thickness: 14 mm
• Display size: 2.8"
• Announced: 2010, August
• Colors: Dark Grey, Blue, Red, Purple, White
• Network: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
• Screen Resolution: 640 x 360 pixels (up to 16 million colours), TFT resistive touchscreen
• Data: GPRS Class 32 - EDGE - Bluetooth, v2.0 with A2DP - USB v2.0 microUSB
• Memory: MicroSD memory card slot, hot swappable, up to 16 GB, 51MB internal
• Connectivity: USB v2.0, Bluetooth, v2.0
• Web Browser: WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML, Adobe FlashLite 2.0
• Media and Music: MP4/H.263 player, MP3/AAC+ player
• Camera: 2 MP, 1600x1200 pixels, QVGA@30fps
• Messaging: SMS, MMS, Push Email
• Expansion Slot: microSD
• Tones: Vibration, MP3 ringtones
• Software Features: Symbian OS, S60 rel. 5
• Other Features: Voice Dialing, Voice Commands, Stereo FM radio, Java Games, Voice memo, T9
• Battery: BL-4U 1000 mAh Li-lon
• Talk Time: up to 462 mins
• Standby: up to 450 hours

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• The Nokia 5250 is a great phone for music lovers and it offers excellent sound quality.
• Provides support for up to 16 GB memory which means that one can store up to 4000 songs.
• Support for video formats provides an easy platform for viewing videos and listening to songs at the same time.
• Large display that gives more information in one panel.
• Widgets on the home screen help the user remain connected with the social networking sites.
• Long lasting and durable battery.

Cons:

• The Nokia 5250 lacks in data connectivity. It has no GPS, WiFi or 3G.
• Low internal memory.
• Camera is only 2 Megapixels

Conclusion
Nokia phones are usually available at relatively cheaper rates. However there are times when Nokia releases high end phones in the market. The Nokia 5250is moderately priced. It also combines the core functionalities which an average user requires and also performs its task well. Besides, the multitude of body color options available makes it an ideal device for the trendy younger generation. At the same time its square shape lends it a sophisticated look well suited for professionals.

The Nokia 6630, released last 2004 is, along with the Motorola A1000, a Symbian based 3G capable phone. The Symbian operating system is a great solution for those in search of quick menu navigation, messaging and all around general operations in a handset.

The 6630 is of course Nokia's step towards taking on the future of cell phone mobility, namely the 3G network. 3G of course is the network of choice for many for high-speed data access, video streaming, and the feature that is creating quite a stir in the mobile phone community: video calling. A quick test of the video streaming capabilities would convert detractors of the 3G technology as one would find it almost seamless with minimal buffering required.

Using the 6630's video calling capabilities though is a different story and is not without its hassles. Although video quality is sufficient, setting up for a video call is quite tedious and beats the purpose of the phones supposed mobility. This is because the 6630 would require the user to hook up the PT-8 video call stand which in itself would need to be plugged into a power supply. Plus the PT-8 camera is not very portable as well. The 6630 also comes with the EDGE support, which is a feature aimed primarily to the constant travelers who need network support all across the globe.

Being a phone for the traveling business type though, the handset is a bit heavy, weighing in at 127 g, especially compared with other phones in its class. That is of course excluding the PT-8 video call stand which one would expectedly have to bring to be able to advantage of the 6630's video calling feature. The 6630 is a bit on the bulky side as well, which contradicts its main purpose of being a mobile phone that you can carry around without hassles. In fact it would make a hefty bulge in anyone's pocket. But to be fair, it is still by no means the heaviest among the mobile phones in its class.

The 6630 also comes with the Quickoffice software which is used primarily for editing documents and which can also be used for viewing email attachments.

One novel feature of the 6630 is the capability to be utilized as a modem when connected to a computer via its Bluetooth connectivity. Although not as fast as standard “home” modems, clocking in at an average speed of 40 kbps – about the same speed as a dial up network, it is more than sufficient for browsing through your mail and even downloading email attachments. And for data transfers from a computer to the 6630 and vice versa, a USB cable is supplied. These connectivity options are also very useful for when transferring mp3 encoded tracks and video files onto the 6630. Aside from mp3, the 6630 can also manage the popular audio codec among Apple users, the AAC audio file.

Nokia 6630 Camera and Display

The Nokia 6630 is equipped with a 1.3 mega pixel camera, which at the time of its release was quite the subject of envy for the competitors. The camera is quite good and can be likened to the VGA gadgets available nowadays. The 6630's camera in fact is an improvement over the ones integrated with the Nokia 7610 and the Nokia 6670 which at the time of their respective releases was considered to be one of the best in the market. Not only do images captured with the 6630 look good, but taking photos with it is also a breeze as the camera on the 6630 responds well and very quick, with none of the expected lag associated with camera phones. In fact the user can take a succession of photos with an approximate of just one second gap between shots. And if that is not enough, the 6630 also boasts of the sequential shooting function which offers shorter time intervals in between pictures.

Another function of the 6630 is of course the capability to capture video. But at only 176 x 144 pixels as the highest resolution, the videos do leave a lot to be desired. It is with this resolution though that the 6630 is able to record up to sixty minutes worth of video which is ok, except for the times when one must choose quality over quantity. In this case, Nokia could have given the user the option of recording video at a very high resolution (around 640 x 480 pixels perhaps) albeit on a much shorter duration. That would have rendered the 6630 more flexible.

Nokia 6630 Design and Accessories

With all the wonderful technology inside the 6630, what is outside is quite a disappointment. The overall dimensions and weight is forgivable, but the circular bottom part of the phone looks more like a design flaw and offers nothing in terms of portability and ergonomics. In fact the shape renders the 6630 hard to operate with just one hand - a must for added mobility, and would especially not be suited for users with smaller hands.

Summary of Nokia 6630 Features

• Weight: 127 g
• Width: 60 mm
• Height: 110 mm
• Thickness: 21 mm
• Network: Tri band + 3G, EDGE
• Screen Resolution: Active Matrix TFT display with 65,536 colors, 176 x 208 pixel resolution
• Data: 3G (WDCMA) and EDGE broadband internet (WDCMA) with maximum download speeds of 384 kbps, upload at 128 kbps for 3G and maximum download speeds of 263.8 kbps, upload at 118.4 kbps fir EDGE
• Connectivity: Bluetooth, USB 2.0, IrDa
• Web Browser: EGPRS, WAP, improved HTML support (supports background images, frames and JavaScript)
• Music: MP3, MP4, AAC
• Camera: 1.3 mega pixel up to 1280 x 960 pixel resolution with 6xsmooth digital zoom, video recording of up to one hour of video at 174 x 144 pixels each
• Messaging: SMS, EMS, Email, Instant messaging
• Expansion Slot: microSD (TransFlash)
• Tones: True tones, Polyphonic ringtones
• Software Features: Java MIDP 2.0, CLDC 1.1, 3D API (JSR-184)
• Other Features: voice command, voice recorder, voice dialing, integrated hands free
• Battery: Standard Battery, Li-Ion 850 mAh (BT50), Up to 4 hours talk time, Up to 200 hours stand by time

PROS: The Nokia 6630 offers great 3G functionality and supports both WCDMA and EDGE. MP3 and AAC playback is also a nice addition to the package.

CONS: A big gripe about the 6630 is the need to attach the PT-8 video calling stand every time you need to take advantage of its video calling capabilities. Also the design of the handset is not very ergonomic and attractive and looks more like it was a design from a Hollywood B movie.

Overall: If you are looking for a 3G phone with a lot more functionalities, then you can not go wrong with the 6630. Being a Nokia, one may be rest assured of its user friendliness and good quality.

The Nokia N96 is a new release following the successful distribution of the Nokia N95 in the market last year. It is considered as an amazing multimedia computer being optimized for TV and video capabilities. Aside from this, the Nokia N96 is represented as a modernized chapter in mobile media. Many people are now waiting for the release of this wonderful multimedia computer from Nokia. It is indicated that shipping may begin on the 3rd quarter of 2008. The mentioned estimated price would be around 550 euros but this is still excluding taxes or subsidies.

Nokia N96 Camera and Display

The Nokia N96 takes pride in its 2.8 inch screen that guarantees a 240 by 320 pixel resolution. This is with an active TFT of about 16M colors. Many even mention that this new 3G mobile from Nokia is a personal window to actual entertainment.

This notion is characterized by the various features of the Nokia N96. It has a built-in camera that has about 5 megapixels. This would account to 2,592 x 1,944 pixels. Aside from this, it has Carl Zeiss optics with auto focus, video light and flash functions. It also has a 2nd internal camera which is built for its video calling capabilities. Moreover, it has video capture functions that have a VGA of about 30fps. This is like taking videos with a DVD-like quality.

The Nokia N96 also has an integrated A-GPS that will enable you to actually geo-tag your pictures with precise location data and have it shared with the online community. This would go with the fact that the Nokia N96 supports the so-called Ovi family for Nokia Internet Services. This would include media sharing, maps and music among others.

With about 16 GB of actual internal memory, as well as support for direct high quality videos on a wide format range, the Nokia N96 uses the internet for its TV and video capabilities. Since it has a bright, large screen, along with high speed connectivity and the Nokia Video Center, access for internet videos are now made simpler and faster.

MPEG4, Flash Video and Windows Media Video are the video formats that the Nokia N96 is compatible with and actually supports. Moreover, with its HSDPA and WLAN support, along with USB v 2.0 high-speed connections, access and transfer of videos is now faster than usual.

Furthermore, there are selected markets where in the so-called integrated DVB-H receiver can offer live TV broadcast through an automatically updated program guide. The Nokia N96's massive memory can amazingly store about 40 long hours of actual video content. You can prolong the storage capacity of the N96 with the use of an optional memory card. This would be the microSD card that has the newer version of the 8GB Nokia microSDHC card MU-43. This would increase the Nokia N96's available memory to about 24 GB.

With regards to the Nokia Video Center, they provide a place for easy access to a number of mobile content which ranges from news to comedy and movie trailers from the world's leading content brands. This would be via Sony Pictures, Reuters and YouTube. Thus, the internet's video feed catalogue is continuously expanding with better and more country and regional specific content.

The Nokia N96 also has the popular Nokia Maps. This application conveniently offers richer and wider maps with general urban details, as well as satellite views. It even has the upgraded version which showcases city guides, voice-guided car navigation and turn-by-turn pedestrian manner.

Nokia N96 Design and Accessories

The Nokia N96 has a dual slide attribute, a black casing and a 2.8 inch screen. It also has a kickstand on its back cover for a convenient hands-free viewing. It weighs around 125 grams and has vitals of 103 mm x 55 mm x 18 mm. This would be for its height, width and thickness respectively.

The Nokia N96's phone book practically has unlimited fields and entries. It also has photocall and video call capabilities. Call records are detailed and kept at a maximum of 30 days. Aside from this, it has a built-in handsfree, push to talk, voice dial and voice memo functions. Games are also downloadable, as well as for its ring tones, which can be monophonic, polyphonic, true tones and MP3 based. It also has media keys, a built-in stereo speaker (3D) and a headphone connector that is about 3.5 mm.

Browsing the internet will not pose a problem because of its WLAN and HSDPA capabilities. The N96 also uses the Symbian OS 9.3, S60 rel. 3.2. Aside from the internet or e-mail and Instant Messaging privileges, other ways to connect to the outside world would be via MMS and SMS. Thus, with its Li-Ion battery, you can use the Nokia N96 for about 3 hours and 40 minutes of actual talk time and about 220 hours of actual stand by time.

Summary of Nokia N96 Features

• Weight: 125 grams
• Width: 55 mm
• Height: 103 mm
• Thickness: 18 mm
• Network: GSM850, GSM900, GSM1800, GSM1900
• Screen Resolution: 240 x 320 pixels, Active TFT 16M colors supported
• Data: GPRS + HSCSD + EDGE
• Connectivity: Bluetooth, Infrared, USB
• Web Browser: WAP v 2.0, HTML, xHTML, RSS Reader
• Music: AAC, MP3, eAAC, AAC, WMA Player, Stereo FM Radio w/ RDS
• Camera: 5 megapixels with auto focus and flash
• Messaging: SMS, MMS, E-mail, Instant Messaging
• Expansion Slot: compatible with microSD format (TransFlash)
• Tones: 64 channels of polyphonic tones, MP3, monophonic and true tones
• Software Features: Calculator, Java Games, Sync, Themes
• Other Features: Organizer, Built-in hands free, Voice memo, Voice command, Vibration, Push to talk, Video Calling, T9, Office document viewer
• Battery: 950 mAh Li-Ion (BL-5F), 3 hours 40 minutes of talk time, 220 hours of standby time

Pros: The best feature of the Nokia N96 would be its optimized TV and video capabilities. This allows you to access live broadcasts and even download videos. Imagine being able to download up to 40 hours of wonderful videos. It is simply amazing. This new technology is very practical and can save you lots of time, effort and money. It can save you time because everything you need is already at the palm of your hands. You get easy and quick access to your needs. It saves you effort because you don't need to bring several gadgets with while you travel. It saves you money because you don't need to buy separate gadgets for each specific function. Everything you need is already there.

Cons: The Nokia N96 is still due for release by the 3rd quarter of 2008. As of now, there haven't been any negative remarks about the N96.

Overall: The Nokia N96 is considered as a high technology multimedia computer which has a lot amazing features. Its optimized TV and video capabilities alone will surely make it go big time in sales after its release. It's 3G and video calling features is also very convenient and useful for those in the business sector. Its internet and other communication functions make it a must-have mobile for the younger generation. Its 5 megapixel camera and 30fps video capture capability is also something to look forward to.

The 6275 is a sleek mid-range candy bar type handset from Finnish mobile phone company Nokia. It is one of several Nokia units in its class released during the last quarter of 2006. But with its incredible looking screen, the 6275 definitely stood out from its pack. While being light and relatively small it certainly packs a lot in terms or features.

For one the 6275 is a tri-mode CDMA handset and has an integrated 2.0 mega pixel camera, far better than the 6630's 1.3 mega pixel shutter which was housed in a much bigger phone. The screen display emits a very clear and bright 262 thousand color, VGA display. With this resolution and the powerful camera inside this candy bar, the tendency to shoot pictures at the highest possible resolution is most likely hence the inclusion of a memory card slot for when 21 MB of on board memory proves to be insufficient.

Battery life at up to 10 hours stand by time is more than enough for most uses. Also along with the USB connectivity, the 6275 also has the Bluetooth connectivity option for greater flexibility and wireless and quick data transfers between phones, computers, or other Bluetooth devices.

The 6275 can manage a lot of the popular audio file formats such as the ever reliable MP3 and the coded of choice for many Apple computer users: the AAC format. And even without MP3 or AAC tracks available, the user may still enjoy listening to some music with the Nokia 6275's bundled stereo FM radio and support for streaming audio.

As the 6275 is not a smart phone, it is not capable of multitasking and can not handle third party applications aside from the Java MIDP 2.0. It does however come with some extras such as a waypoint manager and a trip planner which takes full advantage of the 6275's Java capabilities. One can also use Openstreetmap, Yahoo maps and MSN maps, which should work without hitches. The 6275's screen display is quite small though for such features and also very hard on the battery. So if you must use these functions, be sure to always have the car charger ready as these applications can dry your battery in about an hour.

Nokia 6275 Camera and Display

The Nokia 6275 has an integrated 2.0-mega pixel camera with a flash and 4x digital zoom capability. It can capture not only still images, but is able to record video as well. Videos stored with the 6275's camera can be played back on the phone's 262, 244 color QVGA screen at 240 x 320 pixel resolution. Although not very much, the video function may come in handy once in a while and is therefore a welcome addition to the 6275's list of features.

In addition, when the phone is in camera mode the volume keys on the left side of the 6275 doubles as the zoom in / out key. Also on the left side of the phone is the click button which also serves as the One Touch Camera key. And aside from the common photo and camera settings one can find in other camera phones, the 6275 also has the PictBridge photo printing capability.

Nokia 6275 Design and Accessories

As mentioned earlier, the 6275 is a candy bar phone with a sleek and stylish design. It is quite compact even for a mid-range handset and can fit perfectly into anyone's hand or pocket. The black and silver color combination looks especially chic while the all silver variant emits a very sleek and clean design. There is also a blue variant, which is neither strikingly beautiful nor dull and would probably be the least popular among the three. Although one may never predict the future trends in consumers. It is also very light so mobility and portability would not pose any issues with the 6275.

But the Nokia 6275 is not just about pretty looks, it also packs a lot of punches inside and it may do the consumer a lot of good to examine its functions very well. But quite honestly, the design of this handset alone would warrant a second and third glance from onlookers looking for a new purchase.

Summary of Nokia 6275 Features

• Weight: 105 g
• Width: 42.8 mm
• Height: 109 mm
• Thickness: 17.2 mm
• Network: CDMA 800 / 900 MHz, AMPS 800 MHz
• Screen Resolution: 262 thousand color TFT LCD, QVGA (320 x 240 pixel resolution)
• Data: 1x RTT
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 1.2, USB, Infrared
• Web Browser: EGPRS, WAP, improved HTML support (supports background images, frames and JavaScript)
• Music: MP3, MP4, AAC, AAC+, eAAC, eAAC+, AMR (NB-AMR), MIDI, FM Radio
• Camera: 2.0 mega pixel resolution, Video capture, 4x digital zoom
• Messaging: SMS, EMS, MMS, Email
• Expansion Slot: microSD (TransFlash)
• Tones: Polyphonic ringtones
• Software Features: Nokia Operating System, Java MIDP 2.0, BREW 3.4.1
• Other Features: voice command, voice recorder, voice dialing, integrated hands free
• Battery: Standard Battery, Li-Ion, Up to 4 hours talk time, Up to 10 days stand by time

PROS: The Nokia 6275 obviously benefits from its striking and sleek design and may be reason enough for a lot of consumers to make a purchase. The 2.0 mega pixel camera is more than what one would normally expect from a mid-range phone. In fact it is more than what other high end smart phones have to offer. Also the user friendliness of the Nokia operating system does wonders even to the uninitiated Nokia user. The small dimensions may also give phone mobility a new meaning.

CONS: With all the functions of the 6275, Nokia should have installed a longer lasting battery. Although sufficient for general usage of calling and messaging, the battery would not last long when the other functions are used extensively.

Overall: When all is said and done, the 6275 is a great addition to Nokia's long line of very affordable mid-range units. So if you are the type of consumer who tends to scrimp on prices while looking for a load of mobile functionalities, then this is by all means a worthy purchase.

One look at the Nokia 6300 and right away it exudes both fun and stylishness. The candy bar type 6300 comes loaded with features that most people look for in mobile phones. All that power is wrapped by a gorgeous and sophisticated stainless steel casing, which gives it its robust look and sturdy feel.

It is also slimmer than most mobile phones in its class, so you can easily lug all that power with you - whether you're the athletic or the business type. Casual phone users will also delight in its ease of use. If you are an experienced Nokia user, you will find it easy to navigate through the menus. In fact it would feel like home for you. But even first time users will be amused by the user-friendliness of the 6300 - that's what it boils down to for a lot of people looking to purchase a new handset. Add to that a 2 mega pixel camera and mp3, mp4, wma, AAC/AAC+ playback capabilities and you'll surely enjoy this little unit for a long time to come. Just as long as you bring your charger with you though, because considering the size of the battery, it wouldn't last much when used at length.

Of course with picture, video and mp3 capabilities, one would need a lot more than the supplied 7.8 Mb of memory space. That's where the expandable memory comes in. Just slip in a 2 gigabyte SD card in its expansion slot and you're good to go. Be prepared to shell out some more money since SD cards do not come cheap. Still, it is so much more sensible to expand your phone's memory than acquiring a separate unit for playing back your music.

Nokia 6300 Camera and Display

The 6300 boasts of an outstanding 240 x 320 pixel resolution display. With the ability to display 16 million colors, the images on the screen are delivered to you crisp and clear. This is just fitting as the 6300 is equipped with a 2 mega pixel camera with up to 8x digital zoom. Let's face it - what good would a powerful camera with video capturing function do if the screen can not give justice to your shots? But don't expect too much from the 6300 when it comes to this area though. Because even if the pictures come out decent, this is still a camera phone and not a digital camera built for professional photographers.

The lackluster performance of the 6300's camera extends to video capturing as well, with video resolution of just 176 x 144 pixels. Just right for those impromptu shoot-worthy moments. Perhaps it would be unfair to expect the brilliance of a standalone camera in a mobile phone. All in all, the 6300's camera is good for casual picture and video capturing, but not necessarily for professional photography. This is easily forgivable for most users.

Nokia 6300 Design and Accessories

The Nokia 6300's design is one of the best looking ones that most people have seen from the Nokia camp. It's easily one of the finest compared to other brands even. It is a very slim piece of technology that is stout in functionalities. With its perfect-for-texting large screen and design accents in all the right places, it's truly a sight for bulky-design weary eyes. Be careful when caressing your 6300 because as beautiful as the stainless steel casing is, it does have a tendency for finger smudges, especially the glossy black accents and the seamless screen. A quick wipe with the supplied cloth should do the trick nonetheless.

The beauty of the 6300 does not end there. The keypad is a joy to use, and non-Nokia users can easily become Nokia fanatics once they get their hands on one of these. Unlike other mobile phones of its class, the navigation does not demand much from the user - thanks to the four way rocker switch with an enter key which is situated perfectly in between the keypad and the screen. Speaking of the keypad, the size and ergonomics are just right, most especially for those who heavily utilize the texting functionalities of their handsets.

The Nokia 6300 supports mp3 playback and has a stereo FM tuner. The unit ships with its own set of earphones. Although the sound form the supplied ear buds is sufficient, there is not much to be said about them either. But fear not because there are 2.5 mm headset adaptors available as an after-purchase so you can use better sounding headphones in case you feel the need for them.

Summary of Nokia 6300 Features

• Weight: 91 g
• Width: 43.6 mm
• Height: 106.4 mm
• Thickness: 11.7 mm
• Network: GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900, (GSM 850 / 1800 / 1900 - US version)
• Screen Resolution: TFT, 16M colors, 240 x 320 pixels, 31 x 41 mm
• Data: GPRS Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots), 32 - 48 kbps, HSCSD, EDGE Class 10, 236.8 kbps
• Connectivity: Bluetooth v2.0, miniUSB
• Web Browser: WAP 2.0/xHTML
• Music: FM stereo radio, MP3/MP4/AAC/AAC+/eAAC+ player
• Camera: 2 MP, 1600x1200 pixels, video(QCIF)
• Messaging: SMS, MMS, Email, Instant Messaging
• Expansion Slot: microSD (TransFlash)
• Tones: Polyphonic (64 channels), MP3, Vibration
• Software Features: Java MIDP 2.0, Voice memo, Voice command, Calendar, Calculator
• Other Features: Built-in handsfree
• Battery: Standard battery, Li-Ion 860 mAh (BL-4C), 3.5 hours talk time, 348 hours stand-by time

PROS: Elegant design. User friendly navigation. Large screen. Ample camera. Bluetooth and USB connectivity.

CONS: Lack of infrared. Short battery life. Insufficient supplied memory.

Overall: The greatest thing about the Nokia 6300 is that the people at Nokia designed it to be a mobile phone first and foremost, with the other functions serving as just extra. Not the other way around as is the case with most handsets these days. It is easy to use and navigate your way around. Call reception is clear, even in not so ideal environments. Overall, the 6300 has a good package to enjoy for a long while.

As if to solidify their mark in the mobile phone market, Nokia offers us another gem with the Nokia 6233. It's a candy bar type phone with all the right perks for the modern user, including 3G capabilities. A definite budget solution for those looking for 3G functionality but do not want to splurge too much cash on a smart phone.

Being labeled with the 6233 means it may be the worthy successor to the line of Nokia 62 series such as the 6230 and its follow up, the 6230i. Design wise though, the 6233 is more in line with the Nokia models 6020, 6030, 6070 and 6080. This also means that the 6233 is an improvement over those Nokia models we have come to love, and in many aspects it does outperform all those models with its features more or less skin to that of the Nokia 6280.

Nokia 6233 Camera and Display

Of course, what present day Nokia would be complete without a camera? Let's face it, it's certainly one of the features mobile phone buyers have come to look for - whether their budget be small or astronomical. The Nokia 6233 does not fail to deliver. The handset features a 2 mega pixel camera capable of shooting both still pictures with a maximum resolution of 1600 x 1200 pixels, and recording video in VGA resolution. Furthermore, the 6233's camera can zoom in on your subject digitally for up to 8 x. The shutter is expectedly situated at the unit's right side, or if that proves uncomfortable, you may opt to use D-pad's center “OK” button as the shutter. This is very helpful as the phone's right side keys are hard to press. The shooting speed is quite fast nevertheless, with the whole process of taking a picture at maximum resolution from pressing the shutter key to saving the image on the memory clocking in at only 3-4 seconds, depending on the lighting environment.

Touching upon the subject of poor lighting, the camera of the 6233 does offer night mode. Images can be edited later on with the phone's photo editing tools offering several effects such as Grayscale, Negative and Sepia.

All those captured moments are displayed in QVGA resolution via its 30 mm x 40 mm TFT screen at 240 x 320 pixels boasting off 256K glorious colors. Navigating through those images and videos can be done using the ergonomically designed keypad and the D-pad navigation, which provides great precision.

The 6233 also has video capturing capabilities. And it does that at 640 x 480 VGA resolution. Expected of the unit's compact size though, the clips are recorded using the 3G format at just 15 frames per second. Of good use nevertheless is that the camera effects mentioned earlier can be applied to the video automatically or manually. But of great disappointment is the suspicious absence of a front panel camera. It is hard to comprehend how the researchers at Nokia pulled off designing a 3G capable phone without it.

Nokia 6233 Design and Accessories

As earlier stated, the Nokia 6233 borrows its look from the 6020 to 6080 line of Nokia models. This is a good thing since looking at the 6233, it definitely exudes both form and function. It looks elegant in its matt black and shiny metallic frame casing, making the colorful screen stand out even more. If the black façade is not your thing, the 6233 comes also in a silver version. With its dimension of 108 mm x 46 mm x 18 mm, it would fit perfectly into almost anyone's hand without demanding too much effort. At 110 grams, it does weigh a bit more than some similar phones, but the design and features more than makes up for the extra weight.

Another fast-becoming standard among mobile phones right now is the music playback capabilities. Of course Nokia hasn't left that one out with the 6233. The phone is able to play MP3 and AAC files, and it does so effortlessly, since the integrated player has a rather straightforward interface. Playback may be done using the earbuds included in the 6233 package, or through its stereo speakers that, although sounds small as expected, sound surprisingly free from cracks and clicks considering the speaker's tiny size. Transferring music from your PC to the 6233 is achieved using the Nokia Audio Manager through a USB cable.

Summary of Nokia 6233 Features

• Weight: 110 g
• Width: 46 mm
• Height: 108 mm
• Thickness: 81 cc
• Network: GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 (2G), UMTS 2100 (3G)
• Screen Resolution: TFT, 256K colors, 240 x 320 pixels, 30 x 40 mm
• Data: GPRS Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots), 32 - 48 kbps, HSCD 43.2 kbps, EDGE Class 10, 236.8 kbps
• Connectivity: Bluetooth Yes, v2.0 with A2DP, Infrared, USB Pop-port
• Web Browser: WAP 2.0/xHTML
• Music: MP3/AAC/M4A stereo player, FM stereo radio
• Camera: 2 MP, 1600x1200 pixels, video(VGA)
• Messaging: SMS, MMS, EMail, Instant Messaging
• Expansion Slot: microSD (TransFlash), up to 2GB
• Tones: Polyphonic (64 channels), MP3, AAC, Vibration
• Software Features: Java MIDP 2.0, Calendar, Calculator
• Other Features: 3GPP/MPEG4 video player, Built-in handsfree, Games (Nokia World Cup, 3D Street Racer, 3D Snake)
• Battery: Standard battery, Li-Po 1100 mAh (BP-6M), 4 hours talk time, 340 hours stand-by time

PROS: User-friendly interface that provides ease of use to both the novice and advanced Nokia user. Elegant and solid design. Compact size considering its 3G capabilities. MP3 and AAC playback.

CONS: Web browsing can be frustrating sometimes due to pages not resizing properly. Average battery life. No front panel camera for video calls. Could benefit with longer battery life.

Overall: In conclusion, if 3G is your kind of thing but your budget is a little tight, then this phone is perfect for you. It has the features that most buyers look for and Nokia definitely delivers with regards to design and function.

For cell phone and non-cell phone aficionados (if there ever was such a thing in this day and age) alike, the Finnish brand Nokia is a name that needs no further introduction. It is one, if not the forerunner in the cellular phone industry for many years now, and it's safe to assume for the next few decades to come.

Nokia has been churning out model after model of gorgeous handsets since its first inception. This is why one can easily get lost in the model number confusion that arises. But among the cell phone bed of roses from Nokia, an elegant thorn arises pricking every one's interest, and the Nokia N70 is one of them.

At first glance, the N70 bears a striking resemblance to the Nokia 6680. This is not a bad thing since the N70 more or less inherited the likable traits of its predecessor and greatly improved on it. Of course, being instantly recognizable and of great importance with its more compact size which gives it a more elegant look, especially with the classy looking stainless steel bezel casing, give it an edge over its predecessor. It's a good and effective design that can either be considered "macho-industrial" or feminine chic, depending on who is holding it. This means it fits both sexes and therefore greatly increases its marketability.

Nokia N70 Camera and Display

On the display front of the Nokia N70, although good on all accounts, it left a lot to be desired. Nokia has proven themselves better at this many times over in the past and it was quite a disappointment that considering the advances in cell phone technology these days, the N70's TFT active display of 176 x 208 pixels is quite average. This is just a small gripe, but when viewed side by side with competing smart phones, and even with the Nokia N90 which was released earlier, the difference will be quite apparent. But it is quite remarkable to say the least that average resolution aside - the display can be viewed perfectly at different angles. This means no squinting through glare when using the N70 under bright, outdoor conditions.

The N70 is equipped with a 2 mega pixel (MP) camera which is decent but falls short when compared to the earlier N90 model, which boasted a lens with the Carl Zeiss label. Now, this is not significant to the average clicker, but most professional photographers will be quite disappointed. It does however take good photos, with the flash helpful in a lot of cases. But the reaction is slow and the macro mode falls short of expectations.

It is also an unpleasant surprise to find that the camera does not offer auto focus, which is very important for shooting pictures on the fly. The N70 also comes with a new photo viewing application and picture editor, as is already becoming a standard among camera equipped phones nowadays. Music playback can accompany your picture viewing, which is not necessarily useful, but it is there if you need it.

This mobile phone's video capturing capabilities have been improved, with the duration of video recording limited to the free memory space, of which the N70 has not a lot of even with the included 64Mb card. It lets you shoot video at 352 x 288 pixels and in various formats including MP4. It also supports video calls which work with both 3G and GSM, with the ability to use either the front or rear camera. You can even opt to use or send a still picture to the other party instead of video. I'm guessing this feature is included in case the video call does not work like a charm (ie: slow video response) under certain conditions.

Nokia N70 Design and Accessories

As stated earlier, the overall design of the N70 is quite elegant, to say the least. The stainless steel bezel casing is guaranteed to inspire more than a second look from onlookers. It's a very pleasing experience just staring at it if I may say so myself. And that alone will have people lining up for one of these units at their respective local distributors. The 262K color screen's brightness can be adjusted according to your needs and produces crisp, clear images. Backlighting of the keypad is excellent, thanks to a sensor which regulates the backlighting as well as the display, providing the user with ease of use when navigating at dark conditions instead of blaring at the eyes as is the pitfall of other phones' backlighting.

The five way navigation pad, though a joy to use, is uncomfortably situated too near above the number "2" key though. Hence it is easy to unintentionally press the number "2" key instead of the "down" directional key and vice versa. But this will far from hinder those wanting to own the Nokia N70 as the nice features far outweigh the negative aspects. And the situation of the five way navigation pad will only need some getting used to anyway as for sure new owners of this smart phone will have a hard time stopping tinkering away with the keys.

Summary of Nokia N70 Features - Technical Specifications

• Weight: 126 g
• Width - Height: 53 mm - 108.8mm
• Thickness: 21.8 mm
• Network: GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 (2G), UMTS 2100 (3G)
• Screen Resolution: TFT, 256K colors, 176 x 208 pixels, 35 x 41 mm
• Data: GPRS Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots), 32 - 48 kbps, EDGE Class 10, 236.8 kbps, EDGE 384 kbp
• Connectivity: Bluetooth v2.0, USB Pop-Port
• Web Browser: WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML
• Music: MP3/AAC/MPEG4 player, FM Radio
• Camera: 2 MP, 1600x1200 pixels, video, flash; secondary video call VGA camera
• Messaging: SMS, MMS, Email, Instant Messaging
• Expansion Slot: RS-DV-MMC, 64 MB card included, hotswap
• Tones: Polyphonic (64 channels), Monophonic, MP3, True Tones
• Software Features: Symbian OS 8.1a, Series 60 UI
• Other Features: Java downloadable games, Java MIDP 2.0, Video calling and download, Voice command/memo, calendar, to-do list and printing, integrated hands free
• Battery: Standard battery, Li-Ion (BL-5C) 970 mAh, 3.5 hours talk time, 265 hours stand-by time

PROS: Overall elegant and unisex design, good picture quality, long battery life, various multimedia support, Bluetooth capabilities, integrated hands free, downloadable games
CONS: Average display, navigation pad's situation from the keypad is too close for comfort, small memory space, absence of the Carl Zeiss lens
Overall: All in all, the Nokia N70 packs more features that the average user will ever need and will be a great acquisition for those who want a future proof phone they can hold on to for the next couple of years.

Can you say functional elegance? That is exactly the personification of Virginia. Virginia is the codename for the stylish brown colored Nokia 8800 Sapphire Arte, the latest addition to the 8xxx series from Nokia. So what makes this mobile phone a step above the rest? Imagine a mobile phone with panels covered with manually embossed goat hides of Eastern India and a body made of metal and glass. The goat hide is covered with a protective layer to guard against regular usage while the body is coated with an anti-fingerprinting material to protect against smudges. And the crown jewel for this masterpiece is actually a real jewel.

The Nokia 8800 Sapphire Arte is enhanced with a genuine sapphire gemstone navigation key that accents the polished steel casing and soft leather giving the user that rich and sensual feeling. Adding to the elegance and sophistication of the Nokia 8800 Sapphire Arte is the inclusion of the exclusive sound and video track from Kruder & Dorfmeister with visualizations provided by Fritz Fitzke. The use of sapphire gemstone and goat hide provides a nature inspired theme of sophistication and elegance. If there ever was a luxury mobile phone; then the Nokia 8800 Sapphire Arte is it.

The Nokia 8800 Sapphire Arte which comes furnished with a sliding mechanism, consisting of high quality ball bearings and spring mechanism, ensures the user of smooth and easy access to the front panel. The functionality of the Nokia 8800 Sapphire Arte is matched with functionality that is present underneath its lavish exterior. Some of its innovative functionalities include tapping on the steel casing just below the OLED display, and it will immediately bring out a stylish analogue clock. Placing the mobile phone face down on the table allows the user to discreetly activate the phone's silent mode which is made possible by the integrated accelerometer. Another welcome addition which was first introduced in the Nokia 7900 Prism and incorporated in the 8800 Sapphire Arte, is the Living Wallpapers. It is especially designed to match the phone's design and provides a refreshing decoration. The handset comes packaged with assorted accessories that spices up its functional elegance like the Nokia BH-803 Bluetooth headset that features Active Noise Cancellation and volume modification that is touch sensitive. The standard package for the Nokia 8800 Sapphire Arte comes with a linen lined leather pouch and a matching desk stand which adds a touch of security and sophistication to the handset.

The two-inch OLED QVGA screen, with a 240 x 320 pixel resolution, supports up to 16 million colors is also equipped with an Ambient Light Sensor to automatically adjust screen brightness based on the surrounding to provide for a more lively display. The 8800 Sapphire Arte is running on the Series 40 operating system with right and left soft keys and the menu key open to user configuration. The user also has the option of placing five icons on the display for fast and easy access of the applications. The menu which is icon based allows for quick navigation by the user to open any application. The handset also parades an auto focus equipped 3.2 megapixel camera with an 8x digital zoom that can capture still images and record videos with 177 x 144 pixels resolution. The user can also enjoy his/her favorite sounds with the integrated multimedia player and save all his/her pictures, videos and music in the phone's 1GB internal memory.

The Nokia 8800 Sapphire Arte supports network frequencies using GSM900, GSM1800, GSM1900 and WDCMA 2100. The handset is already 3G technology capable and supports data transfer via Bluetooth or wired connection to personal computers or other similar devices that support its all-in-one microUSB connector.

Summary of Nokia 8800 Sapphire Arte Features

• Network Support: GSM 900/1800/1900/WCDMA 2100
• Dimensions: 109mm x 46mm x 15mm
• Weight: 150g
• Navigation: 5-Way Keypad
• Battery Type: 1000mAh (3.33 hours talk time, 300 hours standby)
• Memory: 1GB (internal only no expansion slots)
• Display: 240 x 320 px (16 million colors, TFT with Ambient Light Sensor)
• Camera: 3.2MP (8x zoom, auto focus, landscape view) – still and video capture
• Audio Support: Speakerphone, MP3 player (MP3, AAC, eAAC+, MIDI, AMR, WMA)
• Multimedia: Streaming (3GPP, H.263, H.264), Ring Tones (64 chord, MP3)
• Messaging: SMS, MMS, EMS, E-mail (POP3, IMAP4, SMTP), Chat, T9

PROS: The most undeniable feature that makes the Nokia 8800 Sapphire Arte one of the most desirable mobile phone in the industry is the fusion of functionality and elegance it brings to the market place. The Sapphire gemstone navigational key coupled with functional innovations not found in most mobile phones like the tap for time, unique silencing feature, living wall paper, anti-fingerprinting coating and the aura of style and exclusivity that it brings to the user makes it a very desirable mobile phone.

CONS: Despite the elegant and functional design that the Nokia 8800 Sapphire Arte exudes, there are some features that could have been included to make the mobile phone more cost effective. For a 3G phone it does not offer very much in terms of connectivity for the lack of Wi-Fi and GPS capabilities. The lack of expandable memory despite the 1GB internal memory is a major setback especially in a multimedia driven world. The video resolution is just too low considering that it has a 3.2MP camera (a flash would have been nice). And finally, for such an elegant and stylish mobile phone, it would have been nice to see Nokia use a smartphone operating system in the Nokia 8800 Sapphire Arte.

Overall: At first glance it cannot be denied that the Nokia 8800 Sapphire Arte is for the fashionable, non-traditional and more elegant than techie mobile phone user. It has a larger size than the earlier 8800s and even weighs more but it also boasts of the slimmest contour with more innovative features in the 8800 series to date. The strict awareness of details and quality of manufacturing combined with choice of materials gives the Nokia 8800 Sapphire Arte the feeling of exclusivity, sophistication and quality. Functional elegance is what it is all about.

The last quarter of 2007 will feature the unveiling in the mobile phone market one of the most exceptional phones to come out from the industry leader Nokia. Available in markets worldwide by the last quarter of 2007, the Nokia N82 which is the latest member of the N-series is guaranteed to bring satisfaction to its user. The N82 which is powered by the Symbian 9.2, S60 release 3.1 operating system is definitely one of the most advanced and feature packed computer mobile phones to come out in the market. This multimedia icon pushes photography, mobile Internet and navigation to new and greater heights. Although on paper it looks as powerful as the Nokia N95, in reality it exceeds the features of the N95 with the inclusion of automatic screen orientation and xenon flash technology.

The N82 proves once again that looks can be deceiving because despite of its less attractive superficial features, compared to the previous N-series releases, its feature loaded interior will make the Nokia N82 one of the most sought after mobile phones in the market. Admiring the shinny silver face of the N82, you can see on the front panel the camera for video calls, light sensor, the 240 x 320 pixels, 2.4 inch TFT screen that can display 16 million colors, the earpiece and the keypad. On the left side you can locate the memory card slot, audio jack near the power key, while the right side features the camera and gallery keys along with the volume and stereo speakers. The back panel has a mechanical lens cover to protect the camera lens, the xenon flash and the battery compartment. This is the first Nokia mobile phone to feature the xenon flash. Can you imagine navigation, connectivity and photography power features supported by a BP-6MT-1050mAh battery all enclosed in a 112mm x 50.2mm x 17.3mm candy bar form factor that weighs only 114 grams?

Video and photography enthusiasts will surely admire the great leap the Nokia N82 has done compared to previous N-series phones because of its built-in xenon flash and 5 megapixel camera, with maximum resolution of 2592 x 1944, which utilizes Carl Zeiss optics in addition to all common features of the N-series family. With these innovations the N82 has reached a level of superiority in digital imaging quality, ease of use and speed that makes it a viable alternative to digital still cameras in the market.

The N82 delivers amazing photos with vivid clarity even if shot in low light conditions. The N82 can also take photographs in almost totally dark conditions with the help of the powerfully ultra bright xenon flash. Video recording also gets a boost with 30fps video capture capability using a 5MP camera with Carl Zeiss lens and auto-focusing feature. The N82 also features a secondary CIF camera for video calls. With quick camera activation, dedicated assist lamp for auto focus, quick shooting mechanism and DVD quality video make the N82 a very remarkable photo and video tool.

Another amazing feature of the N82 that is truly heat stopping is its routing and navigation feature. This feature is a GPS-assisted navigational system with high speed interface to the Internet which makes it easier to discover and navigate locations using the global positioning system which covers maps and searches. The N82 features an Installed Maps software which covers more than 100 countries. Additional maps are available for download on the Nokia web site.

With the proliferation of Wi-Fi hotspots, the N82 provides the user with ability to access the Internet, entertainment contents, play online games, chat or simply roam the Web 20.0 global community. This mobile phone makes it possible whenever and wherever there is access to connection. The Ovi Family of Internet services from Nokia like N-Gage games, Nokia Maps and Nokia Music Store are also supported by the N82 which features a 3D multimedia content driven menu. An interesting feature of the N82 is the auto orientation sensor which reflexively switches the display between portrait and landscape mode. Documenting your trips and other occasions with its superior imaging features and uploading them to the Internet with one click has never been easier with the broadband-like Wi-Fi capability that makes access to online social networks a breeze. The N82 supports e-mail, mobile gallery sharing, instant messages and blogs using WAP2.0, HTML and xHTML with GPRS, EDGE, 3G, HSCSD, WLAN network access and additional connectivity features that provides support for USB and Bluetooth data transfers.

Photography and video, Internet and connectivity features is just the tip of the iceberg for this powerful device which supports network signal frequencies of GSM850, GSM900, GSM1800, GSM1900 AND 2100 HSDPA. The N82 also comes equipped with a built-in FM Radio tuner, TV-out, high quality music and video player, organizer, T9, Voice dial and memo, built-in hands free, Push to talk and Office document viewer. The N82 supports monophonic, polyphonic, MP3 and True Tones. The N82 matches its powerful features with ample storage options with 100Mb internal phone memory, 128Mb SDRAM memory, 256Mb NAND memory and 90Mb Executable RAM powered by an ARM 11 332Mhz processor. The memory card expansion slot can accommodate microSD format memory card with a maximum capacity of 2 GB with hot swap feature.

Summary of Nokia N82 Features

• 112mm x 50.2mm x 17.3mm, 90cc and weighs 114g
• Quad Band GSM network support (850/900/1800/1900) + HSDPA
• Customizable and downloadable ring tones + vibrate mode
• Almost unlimited phonebook entries with Photocall
• Data Support (GPRS – Class 32/107kbps, HSCSD, EDGE – Class 32, 296kbps; DTM Class 11/117kbps, 3G – HSDPA)
• Up to 5.0-megapixel (2592 x 1944 px) CMOS camera, Carl Zeiss Optics: Tessar lens, MPEG-4 VGA video capture of up to 30 fps
• Direct connection to compatible TV via TV-out or wireless LAN/UPnP
• Integrated Assisted Global Positioning System (A-GPS) with pre-installed Nokia Maps application and free downloadable maps
• Integrated wireless LAN or Local Area Network(802.11 b/g) and UPnP or Universal Plug and Play
• Bluetooth wireless technology which features A2DP stereo audio
• USB 2.0 through a Micro USB interface and mass storage class support for supporting the drag and drop function
• Expandable memory (2Gb microSD format, hot swap)
• Entertainment features (stereo FM radio, video player, music player, Java games and applications)
• Battery (standard Li-Ion 1050mAh (BP-6MT), 225 hours standby, 4 hours and 20 minutes talk time)

PROS: Probably one of the best mobile phones to come out from Nokia, its features is comparable with the leader of the N-series, the N95, and in some cases surpasses some of its features. The biggest advantage of the N82 is its 5 megapixel digital camera with a Carl Zeiss lens and optics supported with an ultra powerful xenon flash. User appreciation is accented by the 16 million color 320 x 240 pixel display and a packaged 2 GB microSD format card that can store 900 high resolution photographs or 84 minutes of DVD-like quality videos.

CONS: Nokia could have done a little bit better with the external features of the N82 especially with the color shinny silver which is not really a Nokia trademark. Another option that could have been a great addition to the features is an 8 GB storage like the N95. The keypad although handy and functional needs some time of use to get comfortable with. It would have been wonderful to incorporate the powerful xenon flash with the video recording capabilities and not just with still photography.

Overall: On the whole, there really is not much to be said on the downside of the N82 because all its features simply overwhelm whatever shortcomings it has. The use of S60v3 FP1 operating system extends the life of this stable platform. To characterize the N82, it is simple, quick and very powerful! This is surely going to be on top of the must-have list of techies and mobile phone aficionados who pursue mobile phone excellence in entertainment, navigation, photography and connectivity.