Nokia 7370 review

This is the first Nokia phone with swivel design. Moreover, this is a phone that comes as a part of a special fashion line of Nokia models, called L'Amour. It is all covered with flowers and has plenty of innovations: impressive QVGA resolution, active stand-by display, "clouds" interface, appropriate synchronization order...There is no doubt that Nokia 7370 will whirl up the market, especially considering the fact that it stands on the basis of the luxury Nokia 8800!

Key Features:

• Extravagant design
• Active stand-by display
• QVGA display of very high quality
• Significantly improved S40 interface
• Synchronization by first and last name
• Comfortable keypad
• GPRS and EDGE Class 10
• Bluetooth
• 1.3 megapixel camera
• Built-in radio

Main disadvantages:

• No memory card slot
• Built-in camera of average quality
• Construction is not practical enough
• No infrared port

Flying on the top

Nokia first released its stylish collection L'Amour in October last year. It was such an important event that our team immediately set off in direction to Nokia's central offices to see live the flower children of the master artist. Three mobile phones were presented to us: the 7360 model with classic construction, the 7380 bar and the swivel 7370 model, which I am holding in my hand at the moment. However, my head is full of memories of the luxury 8800 model, made of matt steel.

No, no, it is not a quiz of the "which mobile does not fit" type. The reason I have placed no other mobile but the luxury Nokia 8800 right next to Nokia 7370 is going to become clear in the course of this review. When my colleague Marek Lutonský was showing the Nokia 7380 bar, that is also part of the L'Amour line, to his friends, he would always face astonishment provoked by the artistic aspect of a device that was originally meant to serve as a mobile phone. Even if the rotating 7370 model is not as expensive as the luxurious 8800 above, it attracts at least as many sights and as much attention as Nokia 7380.

A beginning actor, a draughtswoman, a painter, an infinite number of musicians and a dancer would one after another try to steal Nokia 7370 from my hands. Eventually I was convinced that this mobile is made to comfort artistic souls. But you can imagine what was my surprise when certain friends of mine who were far away from art also expressed high interest in the phone.

When closed, the phone is 88 mm long, with the other two dimensions being 43 and 23 mm, which puts it among small phones. Its weight of 104 gm ranks it as a medium heavy phone. Nokia 7370 is offered in two color versions: one with amber golden covers made for feminine customers and a coffee brown one, which is supposed to suit men's expectations for an extravagant phone.

First Nokia with swivel construction!

This is the first Nokia made mobile phone with swivel construction. Nevertheless, the manufacturer has mastered it brilliantly for a first try. Nokia 7370 is perfectly solid. The upper part moves smoothly. The device opens both ways without problems. Be sure to close it in the same direction, in which you opened it, though. A similar solution can be observed in several Sony Ericsson models, the W900 for example.

You will need practice, handle ability and perhaps even a little bit of sharp eye to rotate the upper part of Nokia 7370. Closing it is even a greater challenge, especially if you do not help with your other hand... There is an option inside the phone's menu for adjusting the behavior of the phone to the activity of the swivel. You can set the device to accept calls when its upper part is opened and terminate calls when it is closed; or neither of it.

The entire surface around the display is decorated with golden flowers. They draw more or less attention according to the type of light that falls on them. The uneven surface also makes them blend together. Similar ornaments cover the rear side of the display too, but there the decoration is silver, instead of golden.

... and silver flowers

The battery cover and the SIM card bed are supposed to imitate hard leather - an aim that has evidently succeeded, knowing the fact that the plates are in plastic. The camera lens looks old-fashioned. What's worse, Nokia's designers has repeated the mistake they made in the 6111 model , as they have placed the camera lens exactly where user's pointing finger lies, when they hold the phone with their right hand. Where has the cap disappeared?

On the sides of Nokia 7370 you will find the volume swing button and the camera release button. Here you will also run into the main switch on/off button, which is so small that it made me lose my nerves. The accessories connector is a standard Pop-Port. Next to it you will see the slot for the narrow charge connector. Up right a fabric label is to be found, but surprisingly, it does not say "Nokia". I myself appreciate this element of modern stylish phones a lot, because it somehow smoothes the overall technical strictness of the device.

There's got to be something more than the phone, right ?

Before I turn my attention to Nokia 7370's keypad and display, I would like to write a few words about the fashionable accessories, which are part of this phone's original package. In a nicely decorated box (which would have suited the phone more in its entire stylish concept if it had been made sheer metal) you will find a fabric case with well creased flowers. The inside of the case is made of orange suede; on its outside you will see a fabric label identical to the one we see on the phone. The case is closed by an eyelet and a kinkle. Nokia 7370 holds firmly in the case, whose twine lock did not get loose even once during the testing period. What's more, the inside suede material makes the phone look shinier.

The cherry on the top of kitsch however is the lively drop to be attached to the eyelet of the phone. It is a golden fringe with a tiny head, which strongly resembles the type of decoration our grandmothers used to hang on their wardrobes. I myself would rather leave this accessory at home, but I can imagine how a lady with sharp forepart shoes and fur around her neck will go crazy about it.

Nokia 6300 review

Nokia 6300 is the new Nokia star in the Series 40 3rd Edition line. It attacks with conservative design, miniUSB, and a slim body with steel plates.

Key features

• attractive yet conservative design
• 16M colors TFT display with QVGA resolution
• Series 40 3rd Edition user interface
• 2 megapixel camera
• microSD memory card slot
• FM radio
• standard miniUSB connector
• 2.5 mm audio jack
• Bluetooth with A2DP profile support

Main disadvantages

• prone to fingerprints
• no UMTS support
• unsatisfactory camera performance
• portrait orientation of images taken with the camera
• videos taken at QCIF (176 x 144 pixels) resolution only
• side keys are difficult to press
• no Infrared port

The famous Finnish mobile manufacturer has been long expected to launch a new high-end, classic-look phone with state-of-the-art functional menu to substitute the enormously successful couple Nokia 6230 and Nokia 6230i. The first try in this sense came a year and a few months ago with the presentation of Nokia 6233. However, its rounded body was accepted rather coldly by common users. Until today, when we meet Nokia 6300, the model many proclaim to be the real successor of Nokia 6230/6230i. Reasons are numerous. Nokia 6300 has a modern slim look, not spoilt by unnecessary decorative elements, a highly functional menu, and brilliant keypad and display.

Nokia has also gone on a diet

Slim phones are fashionable these days. Quite understandable, isn’t it? Who would prefer to carry a device that fills up their pocket with an unpleasant bulge? Obviously, Nokia has also had to go on a diet as this new model is 6 mm thinner than Nokia 6233. Here are all its parameters: 106 x 44 x 12 mm. Nokia 6300 weighs merely 91g, which, given its steel plates, is another admirable achievement.

Nokia 6300 comes in a decent black & silver combination. Everything that is silver is made of steel. Black areas are made of glossy plastic material. The display and the functional part of the keypad are located inside a black frame that stands out over the surrounding surface a little. As a result of this, Nokia 6300 notably resembles Nokia 3230.

The phone construction benefits a lot from the significant amount of metal material used on it as these make it extremely solid. Nokia 6300 did not give out a single creak, not even under strong pressure. The battery cover fit in perfectly too. Yet, glossy materials have also been applied, which brings along inevitable drawbacks: fingerprints remain visible on almost the entire phone surface. And then if your hands tend to sweat excessively, you may not even manage to ever clean your mobile. Fingerprints are clearly seen on the keypad, the display, and all plates.  

Illumination alerts of all important events

Due to Nokia 6300’s slimness, its sides lack many control elements. The left side, in particular, is absolutely bare. On the right you will find a dual volume control button, only functional if pressed strongly or moved by one’s nail. The camera control button is not situated here, because the rear plate of the phone covers the sides.

On both sides, where the rear plate finishes and the dark bottom surface begins, are located two oblong info LEDs covered by white plastic material. They alert you about missed calls or received messages by blinking in expressed blue. If necessary, the LEDs can be deactivated from the menu.

On the top of the body you will see a switch-off button, which can also be used for fast switch between ringing profiles. And here comes the main surprise hidden in the bottom: a standard miniUSB connector instead of Pop-port (used by Nokia in almost all previous models). The advantages are more than obvious: any cable, even a digital camera one will be enough to establish a connection between Nokia 6300 and a computer.

The miniUSB connector is protected by a solid cap that fits so perfectly and holds so firmly, that at the beginning of the tests it took us some time to find out how to open it. Opening the cap is a rather problematic process and it could really create difficulties during the first few weeks of usage of the phone.

Besides the miniUSB connector, in the bottom you will also find two round slots. The smaller one serves the charger, while the wider one is a 2.5mm audio jack used for connecting the headset. It is a pity that Nokia did not elaborate a connector by a millimeter wider so that any type of earphones could be plugged in. The other two oblong slots are made for a microphone and a wrist band (the latter gets hooked onto a projection beneath the rear cover).

Your name on the rear plate

The rear plate offers little interesting. Its top part is made of black plastics, in which the glass of a 2 megapixel camera is mounted. The camera lens is framed in white and slightly embedded for protection. We recommend that the lens is polished and fingerprints are cleaned before every use of the camera. A Nokia logo is located above the camera, while on its right there are 9 round holes that let the sound of the loudspeaker out. Unlike Nokia 6233, Nokia 6300 has no stereo speakers.

The rest of the rear plate consists of solid steel battery cover, on which anything – from a phrase to a graphic logo- can be engraved. For example, our tester phone is decorated with MobilMania’s website. For the moment, however, it is not clear what the cost of this service will be. We have been told that it would be offered free to the first 50 customers by key mobile retailers.

The rear plate is easy to remove even though it sets in pretty firmly. Hidden under it is a BL-4C type Li-Ion battery with a capacity of 860 mAh. According to Nokia official website it is able to provide power for 210 minutes of calling time or 348 hours of stand-by.

However, our guess is that no matter how little you use the phone, you will need to charge it every second or third day. The SIM card lies (not too firmly) in a bed under the battery.

Nokia 6300 has a memory card slot located under the rear plate, on the left – a happy solution allowing memory card changing without switching off the device. The slot is for microSD cards; one such of 128 MB capacity is directly available with the purchase of the phone, whose internal memory is otherwise rather limited (approximately 7.5 MB).

Nokia 6270 review

it's been some time now that the Nokia 6270 has been on the market. This stylish slider is anything but slim and yet it managed to find its fans. The 2 megapixel camera along with the wide connectivity options, the large display and the great 3D stereo sound make it a prefered choice for a lot of… our guess is, die-hard Nokia fans. Our opinion is that there are better rival phones at the same price and functionality price range.

Key features

• 2 megapixel camera with LED flash
• miniSD memory card slot (hot-swap)
• Aluminum body
• EDGE and GPRS support
• QVGA (240 x 320 pixels) display resolution
• Stereo speakers with 3D effects
• MP3 player and stereo FM radio
• Bluetooth & Infrared

Main disadvantages

• No 3G support
• Large dimensions and weight
• Video capturing in the outdated QCIF (176 x 144 pixels) resolution

For a long time Nokia made handsets with small CSTN color displays that were out of fashion. In a way, the manufacturer is a large gigantic dinosaur which needs a lot of time in order to turn to another direction. Now the giant has already turned its back on the old-fashioned displays and has started producing great bright TFT screens that easily catch anybody's eye.

The same thing is happening now with the large size of the phones - almost all manufacturers have a slim series in their product line while Nokia is again slow to react to the change in trends and keeps manufacturing large, chunky handsets.

Now we have in our hands another representative of the usual "massive" product line of Nokia which might not fit in everybody's pocket. The dimensions of the phone are 104 x 50 x 23 mm and it weighs 125 g without the memory card.

The Nokia 6270 is a large slider and easily reminds of Nokia 6280 which we already reviewed a while ago. Both sliders have a nice, masculine design. The 6280, however, has UMTS support with video calls, smaller dimensions and weight, and shoots VGA (640x480 pixels) resolution video clips.

Nokia 6270's interface is identical to the interface used in several other recent Nokia phones - the user interface is the last generation of the Series 40 platform. That is why we are going to use several paragraphs from other reviews.

As regards the retail package, the box should include a stereo headset HS-23, a USB cable CA-53, and a 128MB miniSD card, but as we have always said - the contents of the retail package are market and country dependant.

Conservative all over

The slider features a rather conservative design with straight lines and angles all over. The phone has anodized aluminum surface al over although it doesn't feel metallic at all. The sliding mechanism boasts a rather strong spring which opens the phone to full extent with minimal effort from the thumb. The shiny metallic insert (like the one on Nokia N80) between the front and the back panel and the similar one surrounding the display actually provide a lot for the general expensive looks of the phone. Although large and bulky, it still looks as a finely crafted piece of technology.

When closed, the front panel incorporates only the central navigation D-pad along with two soft keys and green and red receiver keys. When the slider is opened, the large numeric keypad is revealed. The keys are unusually large, well spaced and the central column of keys is separated from the rest by a thin metallic insert - much like the Nokia 6280 slider.

The keypad itself is great for typing - the keys have a very good response and even for a first-time user it allows great typing speed. A great thing is that you can do almost anything with the phone (even talk) without having to open it. If you still need to open it, closing it back down would make the phone prompt you shortly to lock the keypad. In that case the key lock is activated through the central OK key of the D-pad. But once the phone is fully opened, locking the keypad is done the usual way by pressing menu plus asterisk on the keypad or using the Switch Off/Profiles button and the famous context menu.

The left side of the phone features only the Push-to-Talk shortcut key and the memory card slot cover. Now Nokia should really do something about that fixed PTT key since the Push-To-Talk service is not available in all countries. The Nokia people should really make that user-configurable.

The right side incorporates the swing volume button and the camera shortcut keys. The Voice Dial and Voice Commands are entered after a longer press of the DOWN volume key. On both sides of the phone you can easily see the apertures for the stereo speakers - we must admit that they really make a difference to the sound quality. Once Stereo widening is turned on, the stereo effect of the sound of the phone is truly remarkable.

Turning the phone around we see the camera lens cover surrounded by classy, shiny silvery frame. When looking at the back panel horizontally, the lash LED is positioned above the lens cover - much like it's done on an ordinary digital camera. The wonderfully designed back side of the phone can be easily mistaken for a real digital camera.

The battery cover is removed with a slide. The battery used here is the Li-Ion Nokia BL-5C with a capacity of 970 mAh. According to the manufacturer, the battery should provide up to 2.5-5 hours of talk time and up to 160-240 hours of stand-by time.

Unfortunately, we couldn't test the phone's battery life since we used the phone heavily during our tests and thus the battery life we experienced has not indicated the real-life performance of the phone. The SIM card bed has a hinged cover which holds the card in place. We must admit that it's a very comfortable solution.

The keypad backlighting is white and subtle, but strong enough. The phone has a wonderful 2.2" 262K color TFT display with a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels. The vivid screen is perfectly legible even under direct sunlight and has a wide viewing angle from all sides - Nokia deserve compliments for the great job.

Nokia 6230i review

Usually small innovations are hidden behind the small "i", added to the old models' names. Those at Nokia 6230i are no big either. Nevertheless, they are sufficient to make Nokia 6230i one of the best mobile phones nowadays.

Key features

• Good quality display
• USB Mass Storage function (memory card as PC drive)
• Push to talk
• Four-way button function customization
• Email client works with attachments
• One hour voice memo
• Megapixel camera

Main disadvantages

• Bad implementation of T9 dictionary
• Phonebook sorting when synchronizing
• An average quality camera
• Memory card is hidden under the battery
• Sending a megapixel photo in an email attachment not possible

---

Nokia 6230, which hit the market exactly a year ago, comes under the type of phones the manufactures manage to create only once in few years. As for Nokia, it simply listened to the customers' reproaches. After a long series of flabby mobile phones it finally created a model without big trade-offs. Although we could have certain remarks regarding the small, low resolution display and some other features, altogether it was and still is a very well-balanced telephone. It comes under the category of the older 6110 or 6310 models - is there anybody surprised by its repeated success then?

Nokia saw the opportunity to cash in even more on the 6230 success and now is coming with a new improved mobile phone with a small letter added. It is a pity Nokia did not launch such a phone straight away, but the year that has passed since the 6230 model was introduced is reasonable, so the old model's present users should not be too angry.

Nokia 6230i was introduced on the market just days ago. For two to three months it will be possible to find both models next to each other, afterwards the old 6230 model will disappear from the shops' shelves. The phones are also going to differ in terms of price - around 30 Euros.

No difference at first glance

Nokia 6230i is a classical construction telephone of an unobtrusive design. It will be available in a light and a dark version, but more colors will also be possible to get, thanks to the removable covers. We should not expect vivid colors though, for design is rather conservative. The only part that stands out is the glossy camera lens legend on the back.

Telephone's dimensions - 103×44×20 mm - are just the same as at Nokia 6230. When compared to the rest of the mobile phones, it fits into the category of the small ones. It is two grams heavier (99 g) than the old model, but it could still be considered a medium-heavy phone.

Nokia 6230i is very solid. The back cover, which is almost impossible to remove, seems to me even much too solid; on the other hand, better this way than being loose, wobbling from side to side. The covers are plastic, but their surface design resembles metal - especially as far as the whole-silver model we have been testing is concerned. By the way, I like this one more than the 6230 dark version we obtained a year ago.

What a display

The display has undergone the most remarkable innovations. First, it is slightly bigger - it is 30×30 mm compared to old model 27×27 mm. The surface is by 1.7 sq. centimeters larger and even though it is perceptible, some of the competitors have much bigger displays:

• Sony Ericsson S700i: 16.10 cm²
• Siemens S65: 13.02 cm²
• Motorola V600: 11.30 cm²
• Sony Ericsson K700i: 10.44 cm²
• Nokia 6230i: 9.00 cm²

This time Nokia has not spared a pixel and has jumped from the uneven raster of 128×128 pixels straight to 208×208 pixels. Although this is not the finest display on the market, as we thought during the first look; being uninformed about its size, Nokia 6230i comes under the first five best. It is beaten by Sharp and Sagem myX-8 only.

• Nokia 6230i: 4807 pixels/cm²
• Sony Ericsson S700i: 4770 pixels/cm²
• Sony Ericsson K700i: 3709 pixels/cm²
• Motorola V600: 3396 pixels/cm²
• Nokia 6230: 2247 pixels/cm²
• Siemens S65: 1784 pixels/cm²

Finer, but less economical

My first impression of the display was: extremely fine, bright enough, with a good picture contrast. It is a TFT type, of course, and I appreciate the fact that when looked at from aside its colors do not change. Even though it toys a bit when seen in daylight, with some more effort and at suitable angle it is usable. The display glass cover is not protected enough, so you may welcome the possibility to remove and change phone's covers.

A display is also evaluated by the number of lines it is able to view - when writing or reading text messages, for example. In this aspect Nokia shows weaker results. Even though one can choose out of three different font sizes instead of the previous two, using the smallest one will allow you to view six lines only, whereas in Nokia 6230 it was enough for eight.

Nokia 6131 review

Nokia has prepared an excellent new phone, which is not only attractive, but also well equipped with modern capabilities. At a pretty competitive price you get a black-silver clamshell with two top-class color displays, automatic opening system, a megapixel camera, radio, a MP3 player, a memory card slot, Bluetooth, EDGE, and a detailed menu.

Key features

• brilliant external and main displays
• attractive design
• memory card (hot swap)
• nicely elaborated functions, intuitive control
• plenty of user-configurable options

Main disadvantages

• weak battery
• bad font in active stand-by mode
• camera key is too sensitive
• MP3 player is too simple
• lower-quality camera

It was with Nokia 6101 when Nokia stopped to experiment with clamshell phones, having stuck to the path of the proven success ever since, that is, less extravagance, good equipment, and reasonable price. The new Nokia 6131 is another step within the trend described above. Its features, however, are a class higher than usual. The phone features a brilliant display, original and purely elegant design, detailed functions, and intuitive control. Nokia 6131's qualities are so extensive that they can easily make any Nokia 6230 owner consider a possible replacement.

The black Nokia 6131 will probably become popular among men, while ladies are expected to be fond of the white version of the phone. Design is universal and non-obtrusive. Many users will surely like it, no matter how boring it may seem to "cool" teenagers, for example. Nokia 6131 features great capabilities at a very reasonable price, which is a combination guaranteeing sure market success.

Design: it only seems flat

We have been delivered a black version of the new Nokia 6131. It is made of matt and soft plastics. It is pleasant to touch. Fingerprints remain invisible. Phone's only decoration is the glossy area surrounded by an expressed silver frame on the front, encompassing the external display, the camera and the manufacturer logo.

The top half of the phone gets thinner from the joint towards the edge, which is an interesting design solution as it makes the whole device look thinner too. Hardly anyone would ever say that the joint level of Nokia 6131 is 20 mm thick. At first sight the phone looks like yet another razor thin phone, no pun intended. Its length and width are average, 92 and 48 mm. Weight is a bit higher than usual (112 g), but in no case can it be considered a downside.

The top part of Nokia 6131 is shorter than bottom one, creating an interesting optical effect when the phone is closed. The visible part of the bottom part is chromium-plated and thus goes well with the front cover decorative frame.

The rear side of the phone is purely black. The removable back cover is elaborated of rough plastic material and resembles leather. It is softer than usual, does not catch fingerprints, and provides for a great grip. What's more, it does not creak.

Somewhat unusually, the Pop-port connector is located on the top edge of the device. It is protected by a plastic cap caught to the phone. Next to the Pop-port connector you will see the connector slot for the new charger, which is smaller than the one used in previous Nokia models. The strip eye-let is mounted in the left top corner of the phone.

Construction: push the button

On the left side of the phone there is a pair of volume control buttons, while on the right side you will find the On/Off button and the camera activation key. Lateral elements are quite small and thus somewhat difficult to recognize by touch, which is particularly inconvenient when earphones volume levels need to be adjusted. Getting used to it takes some time.

The camera activation key is rather sensitive. It reacts to every slight press instead of a long press. I often run into it when I open or close the phone starting at the same time the camera application by mistake. If I get mistaken when the device is closed I have no other choice but to open it and close the camera application. The On/Off button, which also modifies profiles, is useless in such cases as it doesn;t have any function when the camera is on. The external display can be used for taking self-portraits. If you prefer to avoid the difficulties mentioned above, you could optionally lock the keypad, which however leads to the loss of one of the advantages of clamshell construction.

Nokia 6131 opens in a standard way, that is, by inserting a thumb between both halves. However, on the right side of the phone joint you will see a tiny special opening key, which stands out above the surrounding surface. When you press it on (which requires a certain amount of force), you will hear a click sound and the top part flies out open until it reaches its stop position. To close the phone, simply clap together both halves.

Nokia has managed to design and manufacture a solid phone with good technical qualities. The joint shows an insignificant gap, but is generally solid enough.

Nokia 6111 review

We have tested the stylish Nokia 6111 slider. It's delicate; it has megapixel camera, MP3 player and built-in radio. Why the memory card is missing though? Nokia says that it is a phone for the ladies. Can it turn men's heads, too?

Key features

• sliding construction with compact size
• megapixel camera
• GPRS and EDGE Class 10
• Bluetooth and infrared port
• active standby mode
• MP3 player
• stereo FM radio

Main disadvantages

• no memory card slot
• average display
• surface gets dirty very fast
• bad camera lens location
• poor loud speaker sound quality

---

Although we'll find a lot of phones with sliding construction in the Nokia proposals, Nokia 6111 model is the first stylish phone of this type. The brand itself presents it like a smart little phone, intended for the ladies' hands and handbags. Of course, it is not only a female thing, 6111 is very appealing for men as well; the equipment is solid, there is EDGE support, Bluetooth and active standby display, which is something rare in a classic phone so far.

Other on-coming production, like Siemens CF110 or Siemens SL75 for example, immediately are coming into my mind when looking at Nokia 6111. The legend, named Samsung D500 and its successor Samsung D600 are inseparably passing trough the whole "pack of sliders", too.

Nokia has slightly moved back from its daring creativity. The design maniacs could speak favorable for the Nokia experiments, but it would be pointless, having in mind the fact that the company doesn't manage to sell these models according to the plans. Nokia had put its fingers in the fire with its clamshells, that's why the "Asian" 6101 has appeared. Nothing however has to be left to the chance with the sliders; the right way is just the conservative way.

Two color variants

Nokia 6111 is ok in hands. You'll have to rummage in your briefcase for a while however, until you find this device with its proportions of 84 × 47 × 23 millimeters and a 92 grams weight. There are two color variants - the silver base remains the same, while the internal lining is black or white. This implementation anticipates the probable men's hesitations, such as "the functions of this phone answer my requirements, but this white color..."

I have in hand exactly the version for men. Right here I am complaining about the black plastic surfaces, which maybe looked good at the promotional photographs, but get on nerves in practice. A day usage is enough for the phone to get greasy. The hand leaves its marks on the 6111 cover more than it is acceptable.

The phone size is almost like a credit card, that's why all operating elements are easily accessible. The main button switch is at the top; initially I thought it was a cover safety catch, Nokia 6111 doesn't have exchangeable covers, though. The button could have been less sunk; moreover its response is not clear, I have locked the phone three times.

The compact plastic capping strip of the Pop-Port connector and the new narrower charger slot are mounted right above. I have found also here a red sliding plate; after pressing it the back cover loosens. After its removal you'll se a 700 mAh battery, promising 192 hours stand-by and more than 3 hours of talk time.

SIM card on the backside

A place behind the display is prepared for the SIM card. On the back of the upper sliding part we'll find a wicket door, behind which is the slot for the SIM card.

Behind, right next to the shiny "Nokia Megapixel" sign, the border ornament of the camera lens protrudes outwards unpleasantly. It looks good, but you'll forgot about all its beauty when see your phone constantly shaking on the table, taking funny unstable poses. I would appreciate also a cover for the lens glass - when you hold Nokia 6111 with your left hand the forefinger tip reaches exactly the optics, the right hand contacts the glass, too. There is a tiny self-portrait mirror and a flash LED.

There is a thick cover for the infrared port and the loud speaker on the left side. On the right, there are two small, but convenient buttons for volume control and a very unsuccessful camera shutter, which I would criticize in the part, devoted to the megapixel pictures.

Nokia 6101 review

After having launched several angular clamshell models made of various materials Nokia comes to surprise us with a pretty average-level phone with rounded edges and plastic cover plates. Yet, the functional equipment of the 6101 model is so rich (i.e. two color displays, MP3 ringing tones, and a radio) it is hard to believe that such a phone will disappear in the crowd of mobile devices.

Nokia's clamshells have always been somewhat special due to their original design concepts, whose main strength is the application of non-traditional materials and generally sharp edges. The launching campaign of every Nokia clamshell model was welcomed as an infusion of fresh air on the background of the torrent of silver, rounded clamshell phones offered by Asian manufacturers. On the other hand, exactly that type of mobile phones is being currently fancied by a great amount of mass users - a lesson Nokia and its share holders seem to have learned well. As a result, the Finnish giant has created the new 6101 clamshell, which is neatly rounded, has a tiny antenna, jutting out of the phone's surface, but lacks any metal or leather-covered surfaces.

Key features

• Elegant, decent outlook
• Brilliant keypad
• Built-in radio
• Two color displays, the inside of which is of exceptional quality
• Effortless communication with PC, fast data transfers

Main disadvantages

• External antenna
• Low quality of the MP3 sound
• Small memory capacity
• Small memory capacity
• No Bluetooth

Nokia is known for its brave experiments in the area of clamshell phones. Let us mention, for example, the 7200 model with its covers made of cloth, the 6170 metal cuboid or the flexible 2650 model, which did not even have the traditional joint structure. At present, the top one among the phones with a clamshell construction is Nokia's 6260 model equipped with Symbian operational system, a swivel joint and metal cover plates. Slightly more expensive is, however, the stylish 7270 model with removable leather-covered plates and remarkable functional equipment.

You can imagine how big our surprise was when in February this year we first saw Nokia's new rounded clamshell phone with plastic covers; it looked like any other common mobile phone on the market. No matter if we like it or not, however, this phone is surely going to have even bigger market success than its stylish competitors.

The unicorn devil

The phone's surface is made of three types of materials - matt silver plastics, glossy black plastics and chromium-plated extra details. Most of the front cover is black and is therefore extremely susceptible to dirt left by finger prints. On the other hand, the phone's design is jazzed up by elements like the square slot of the camera and the outer display surrounded by a chromium-plated frame. As usual, the manufacturer's logo is situated above the display. The black area of the front cover is surrounded by a chromium-plated frame. It passes the front cover's top edge and continues up to the phone's top side. Another color version of the phone with a white instead of a black touch will also be available.

The margins of the front cover are silver. They continue to the top part of the device, fence the joint and melt into the back cover, which is entirely carried out in silver tone. The only ginger element here is the manufacturer's logo engraved on black background. A black strip stretches along the middle line of the side parts. This effect is a result of the dominating black color, which not only creates the inside atmosphere of the device, but also reaches as far as its side parts.

The left side is gingered by a narrow chromium-plated double button, which regulates the volume; on the phone's right side you will find an identical button, which controls the Push to talk function, complementing at the same time the dark slot of the infrared port. There is no switch-off button - just like in the 6170 and 7270 models- which means that there is practically no possibility to easily switch profiles when the phone is closed. The Pop-Port system connector, which complements the charger connector, is mounted on the bottom side of the device. The charger connector is smaller than the connectors of the present-day Nokia models. Utterly new is also the charger of Nokia 6101.

On the top side you will find the unobtrusive plate grid of the loud speaker and - of course - the jotting out antenna, which is really hard to miss. I wonder what made Nokia leave the antenna pop out of the phone's contours, since in its 2650 model it proved that eliminating such a detail is a child-play. The external antenna is not cool anymore these days.

A single shake closes the phone

Those users, who like carrying their phone hung on a strip, could have got scared they would not be able to connect one to Nokia 6101. No fears, the phone is equipped with a strip that is hidden behind its back cover. To take the strip out, first interlace it through the slot next to the connector. The back cover also hides a lithium-ion accumulator of a 760 mAh capacity, which is supposed to guarantee the device 240 minutes of call duration and 350 hours of a stand-by time.

Not only does the design make this phone look very solid. The construction of the device is of high quality, as well, so do not lose your time waiting for creaky sounds. Yet, I have certain reservations concerning the catch of the swivel portion of the device. Even though it is solid enough when the phone is closed and needs no help to bottom its final location from an angle as big as 60°, its locking hook in a closed position is quite weak, which makes the construction of the phone act somewhat unstable. In the process of every day use, however, this detail does not hamper at all. On the contrary, it gives you the advantage of closing the phone by a single shake of your hand.

As for its size, Nokia 6101 ranges somewhere in the mean: it is not easy to loose, but will not hamper your movements either. Here are the numeric details: 85 × 45 × 24 mm. The weight of 97 g is a little bit bigger compared to the competition of Asian origin. You may need some training before you master the one-hand opening move, but the accentuated groove set along the dividing line of both portions of the phone facilitates this action considerably.

Nokia 6060 review

Nokia has prepared a new clamshell for the fans of the stylish phones. The phone features a TFT display and an exceptionally comfortable keypad. It plays MP3 files as well. Yet, the number of minuses is somewhat high: Nokia 6060 does not have an external display, its antenna sticks out and the polyphonic sound is low-quality. There is however one thing that this phone does not lack for sure - it literally exudes charisma.

Key characteristics

• Elegant design
• Large functional keys
• Comfortable keypad
• TFT display
• MP3 ringtones

Main disadvantages

• No outer display
• External antenna
• GPRS Class 6 only
• Limited communication options
• Low-quality polyphonic ringing

---

Small, but with external antenna

Nokia 6060 has a body of 85 × 44 × 24 mm. The quoted height does not include the antenna, which is 1.5 cm long. On one hand, mobiles with antennas seem to be loosing popularity nowadays. On the other hand, there is a certain group of customers, who are looking for exactly this type of phones.

Whatsoever, we decided to classify the presence of an external antenna as a minus for Nokia 6060, mainly because in today's mobile world it is no more a problem for a built-in antenna to achieve a high-quality signal reception. The one of Nokia 6060 seems quite easy to break and what's more, it creates mysterious bulges. The phone weighs 93 grams. Although we can effortlessly find even lighter clamshells on the market, this Nokia model still belongs to the group of the small and light ones.

The phone has been presented in two color versions. Both are marked by a solid chromium-covered frame, but differ in the design of the covers. The latter can be either black or silver. I admit that the silver version corresponds better with my gusto, most of all because the black plastic material used in the other is glossy and reflects every finger print. Not to mention the fact that the surrounding chromium frame does not look that cheap when placed next to the silver cover.

Red alert

Let's pay a little bit more attention to outlook of the phone. The most attractive element on its front upper part is the narrow red strip of the status LED. The diode emits white light. What adds the magenta shade is the tiny red plate placed under the small glass cover. The LED is very strong. It can be seen even at daylight. Good news is that there is no need to turn Nokia 6060 face down at night, as it happens with some mobiles with the so called "disco lights".

The pity here is that the LED is not equipped with different color for incoming message or missed call alerts. It just keeps on blinking in silence in one and the same way, no matter what comes in. When the phone rings, it blinks twice and then takes a long break before it repeats the alert. Well pals, there is no doubt that you will get used to Nokia's functional system. We have seen smarter phones though, haven't we?

The sides of the phone are perfectly unoccupied. There is no wavy element, no control key, no volume button...The bottom part is the only exception, being equipped with two connectors - the charger and the handsfree set ones. Between the connectors is the Plug-and-play slot, which Nokia first promoted as a new alternative interface to co-exist with Pop-Port. At the same time, by this very moment Nokia has not manufactured a cable to serve Plug-and-Play. Or this connector has been elaborated for service aim only? Why has it been given such a "multimedia" name then?

The loud speaker is embedded somewhat deeper on the opposite side of the body, right next to the antenna. The speaker is secured by a fine grid. When you switch to the built-in handsfree while in the middle of a phone call, the sound performance is not only quiet, but is also accompanied by an unpleasant hissing noise, if set a bit louder.

Breathing silently behind the back cover is the Li-Ion accumulator, with a capacity of 760 mAh and a maximum stand-by of 400 hours or 210 minutes of talk time. Unfortunately, I have not had the time to test the phone thoroughly in order to confirm if those numbers are true or false. I guess, however, that the realistic times are approximately half the ones officially published.

Nokia 6030 review

Nokia 6030 is a cheap phone, which looks good and offers a radio. Having designed such a phone, the manufacture is trying to repeat the commercial success of its older low-middle class phones, which have recently been petering out. Is the new 6030 model prepared to follow the path outlined by Nokia's legendary models?

Key features

• Good design
• Built-in radio
• Big functional keys

Main disadvantages

• Main control button is not comfortable
• No infrared port
• Passive display
• Monophonic built-in radio

Nokia presented its 6030 model as an entry into the low middle class category in March, just before the CeBIT fair. The main advantage of this phone is its design and price. What it will not bewilder customers with is its functions, for which an explanation is also at hand - Nokia 6030 is directed at the group of less-pretentious users, who are expected to get satisfaction of a common basic functional menu.

The low middle class phones are very important for manufacturers, even though it does not seem so at first sight. Parents have already become used to equipping their children with mobiles at a relatively young age, so any simple control together with a reasonable price is equal to a boom. Common mobile phone users form the other group that will surely appreciate these same features. There is no need of megapixels here and memory cards appear to be unnecessary.

Glossy strips

The phone gives a solid impression. The famous standard mobile construction has round edges, a size of 104 × 44 × 18 mm and weighs 90 grams. Glossy strips are dragged along all side parts of the phone. Although plastic, they successfully imitate metal. What's more, they visually divide the side parts of the mobile, astringing this way the strip of different color among them. Thanks to this effect, the phone looks far thinner than it really is. At the bottom edges of the device are situated the eyelets for interlacing a strap.

As for the front cover of the new phone, it does not resemble any other Nokia model's front side. It looks as if it has been transversely laminated with 5 different big strips, 2 of which constitute of the really bulky context keys. The very first element that catches the eye of the new owner is surely the main control button. It is glossy - just like the strips on the sideways. However, as its surface is visually quite big, a single look is enough to reveal the cheap image of the plastic control button.

The manufacturer's logo glasses just below the silver strip of the speaker as well as on the back cover of the phone. There is no sense looking for a camera lens here, for Nokia 6030 does not take pictures. This, however, may be a very smart idea in terms of the target user category, because simplicity keeps the price low.

Two camps of plastics

Remarkable is the elaboration of the upper part of the cover, which consists of one piece only. It does not break in two at the cap, in result of which the construction of the phone seems solid enough. Unfortunately, it just seems this way. At the very beginning of the tests I felt like praising 6030 for its high quality construction, but after some time the back cover (which otherwise has a safe opening mechanism) started to show a play. The latter is far from strong, but becomes notable when the keypad is in use.

The surface elaboration is not worthy praising. Well, at least it is not in the case of the black color version of the phone, which we are processing the tests on. The front cover is made of glossy material, so fingerprints are visible everywhere. As a result, the cover gets almost immediately sticky and dirty. Far much better is the situation with the matt plastic plates, of which the back cover of the phone is made. What a pity they were not applied along the whole body of the device.

It is at most probable that when you pick your Nokia 6030, people around you will hardly notice that the phone in your hand is a low middle class one. Nokia 6030 could be easily mistaken for Nokia's manager model, which does not have a camera, especially when being looked at from behind. That is why this phone allows for a quite a pleasant show off at a relatively low price.

Nokia 6030 will be available in three official color versions: the tested black one, a golden "champagne" one, which we did not happen to like that much, and a silver one, which looks great and thus might be the best option among all three. A strong asset of the silver version is also the absence of finger "pitter-patters" on its surface. Nokia has also designed removable covers for the 6030 mode

Nokia 5500 Sport review

If Nokia 5500 Sport doesn’t manage to win you with its combination of a modern Symbian and a resistant body, you will surely give in to its touchpad control, its numerous functions that help you enhance your physical condition, or to its incoming SMS reader.

Key Features:

• Outstanding construction for improved resistance
• Symbian OS
• Special functions for sportsmen
• Automatic reading of incoming messages
• Built-in radio
• Touchpad control of music and sport applications, and messages
• Application for work with Bluetooth GPS Module

Main Disadvantages:

• Stiff keys
• Connector cap is loose
• Battery cover is difficult to remove
• Voice record duration limited to one minute
• Basic alarm clock

When Nokia presented its resistant sports smartphone 5500 in May, I could not believe my eyes. A Symbian built in an “off-road” mobile? Why? Today I seem to have found the answer: thanks to the possibilities hidden behind the Symbian OS Nokia managed to preinstall in this phone plenty of applications to meet the requirements of sports fans that are at the same time the main customer group Nokia 5500 Sport has been targeted at.

Nokia 5500’s design resembles the design of Nokia 3220. The phone has a resistant body covered with rubber elements (in the style of Nokia 5140i), an operational system of a modern smartphone, a number of unique functions, and a bit of sport spirit – all this wrapped up in a single handset – Nokia 5500 Sport. The phone looks rather common at first sight, but its software equipment beats a great part of the competition.

The smallest S60

A lot of people express a high degree of dissatisfaction with the narrower middle part of Nokia 5500. I myself like it quite a lot though. What’s more, it is exactly the curves of the phone body that facilitate the press of all side buttons on the rubber surface. With its 107 x 45 x 18 mm Nokia 5500 is one of the smallest and lightest smartphones ever together with Nokia E50 and Sony Ericsson W950.

In the following table pay attention to the fact that Nokia 5500 Sport smartphone is smaller and lighter than the current best heavy duty mobile phone Siemens M75.

Model

Size

Weight

Nokia 5500’s surface is a true mosaic of materials of various kinds. Its keypad as well as the area around the display is almost entirely rubber, which creates an interesting contrast as the edges are made of glossy steel. Beneath the silver frame there is another, grayish rubber layer, which is clearly visible from aside. The bottom part is made of black plastics, which fully cover the rear side of the phone. The battery cover represents a combination of all the above mentioned materials – silver steel, black plastics, and rubber layer (the latter is used on connector caps).

All parts of the phone stick together perfectly; not a single wrong move. Well, nearly not a single: the cap of the connectors has not been elaborated well and as a result it gets loose quite frequently. On the other hand Nokia designers deserve an excellent mark for their work on the protection cover of the battery, which is often one of the weakest constructional spots of most mobile devices. Do not follow my example of trying to manage the tiny screw holding the battery cover with nails as you will break them. You will do fine with a screwdriver or a coin.

The capacity of Nokia 5500 Sport’s lithium-ion battery is 860 mAh, which is said (according to official announcements) to provide up to 4 hours of talk time and 270 hours of stand-by time. Naturally, real-life numbers are somewhat smaller. If you use the phone extensively, that is, you make frequent calls, write plenty of SMS, use the radio, the MP3 player or use Bluetooth, you will have to charge Nokia 5500 every second day. Beneath the battery there is a slot for a SIM card and a microSD memory card. The location of this slot itself comes to show that memory cards will not be possible to change while the phone is running. On the other hand, however, this decision is quite logic given the fact that Nokia 5500 Sport is designed to resist heavy duty outdoor usage.

Bigger thighs, slimmer waist

The narrower central area of Nokia 5500 Sport seems to be the most discussed design element among readers. Leave this aside and Nokia 5500 looks like any common mobile device. Its neutral look will neither fascinate you, nor disappoint you.

Among various color versions presented in the official images of the phone I liked the black & white one the most, that is the one I tested before I sat down to write this review. The gray-yellow model does not look obtrusive either, while the black & yellow one is quite freaky and I believe it will catch the attention of customers who tend to follow current fashion trends.

Keys on Nokia 5500 Sport are not on the keypad only. Various control elements are located all over the lateral parts of the phone. On the left side you will find the volume-control and the Push-to-talk buttons. A dominant on the top of the device is the LED together with the loud speaker grill (the latter serving both music and calls). Right next to the LED you will see a standard icon, which shows you where to press when you need to switch on the phone or change the currently active profile.

In the upper area of the right side of the device there is a mode button. Use it to switch between stand-by mode, sports mode, and the music player. In the bottom of the phone are the Infrared port and the Edit key with a pencil icon (located somewhat untraditionally). The cap in the bottom protects both the Pop-port connector and the charger slot. Make sure you remove the cap before you plug in the connector. The cap is pretty solid and holds well even if rubber.

Nokia 3250 review

Nokia's portfolio features another new music phone and that's the Nokia 3250. The device features a 2 megapixel camera, a built-in radio, the latest Symbian OS 9.1; on the top of it, it uses the tiniest memory cards in the world and comes with a wide range of accessories. If you wonder whether you should buy Nokia 3250 or Sony Ericsson W800, read our detailed review, which we hope will help you to make the right decision.

Key Features:

• Unusual rotary construction
• solid body and well elaborated construction
• Symbian 9.1 OS
• Active stand-by mode
• Good keypad
• 2 megapixel camera
• Built-in radio
• USB Mass Storage
• Exceptionally fast Java
• Powerful loud speaker

Main disadvantages:

• Incompatibility with older applications
• Lower speed compared with common mobile phones
• Not highest resolution display
• Red receiver key closes running applications
• Music player works weirdly
• Bad camera macro mode
• No infrared port

Turn it around...

Nokia launched a real temptation for music and techno fans, as well as for all those, who buy objects that provoke others' admiration. It has succeeded the notoriously famous 3230 model modifying its keypad and construction. However, pay attention to one very important detail: Nokia 3250 is not just another example of the groove play of "pick up a successful device, add some colors and a pair of new functions, and start selling it as a brand new model...".Being the first phone on the market to feature Symbian OS in 9.1 version it's worth much more.

Before I saw the dimensions of Nokia's newly prepared music phone in September last year, I had thought that the device would be much tinier. Besides, it is exactly how it looks in all official photos even nowadays. Held in hand, however, it feels quite big (104 x 50 x 20 mm) and heavy (115 grams). I myself tend to like heavier and bigger devices though, because they look more solid.

In any case, Nokia 3250 is not a phone you can easily stick into your pocket. Our team was provided with the pink version of Nokia 3250, which made me feel somewhat embarrassed in public. Nevertheless, the pink nuance used on Nokia 3250 is pretty nice. It resembles the old-fashioned rose pink. The glossy frame around the display is elaborated in a similar color. I guess in this case women will hardly have problems to decide which version to buy. As to men, they will probably go for one of the other three options - green, black or silver.

That's huge

The covers of the phone are irremovable, which promises that its construction should be of the pretty solid ones. And it really is. All parts of the phone stick together very well, giving a strong impression of firmness. In other words, Nokia 3250's body is one of the best on the entire mobile phones market. The lateral sides of the device, including those constituting part of the bottom rotary segment, are all made of metal. They close all parts of the body so firmly that it does not give a single creak or crunch. Both top and bottom areas of the metal lateral sides are decorated with plastic capsule.

The only elements that "disturb" the metal lateral parts of the phone are the Pop-Port cap, the charge connector, and the locks of the rear cover. The Pop-Port cap is made of hard rubber and holds firm. It seems like it is going to last for some time. Nevertheless it could have been hooked to the body of the phone by a tiny narrow pillar in order to be constantly connected to the device. As this is not the case, I managed to lose it about 5 times within two days. Nokia 3250 is a music phone, which requires frequent use of plug-in earphones, so why does the user have to constantly think about a miniature cap hidden in one of the corners of their pocket or wallet?

The rear cover of the device gets open through a press on the above mentioned locks, which are situated in its bottom area and look like rectangle pads. The rear cover is marked by a huge glossy logo "NOKIA". Once the cover has been removed, you will see a lithium-polymer battery BP-6M of 1100 mAh capacity, which is bigger than the one we have seen in other phones of Series 60. In this aspect, the officially announced 245 hours of stand-by and 180 minutes of calls is probably quite realistic.

I am not able to provide you with exact and true details on Nokia 3250's battery life as I have been testing it pretty intensively. Besides, I have had it for a few days only. Of course, you should keep in mind that playing music is a highly energy-consuming activity. According to the manual, a single charge of the battery should provide the phone with enough energy for 10 hour of music. In the upper right corner of the phone, right above the battery you will see an eyelet for a neck stripe.

Careful with your ears

Do you remember the capsule plastic area I mentioned above? Right there, on the top of the phone is mounted the main switch-off button. It is perfectly positioned as it does not get pressed incidentally, nor does it require too much effort to get working. On the bottom side of the device you will find the grid of the loud speaker, which I am going to pay a closer attention to...

... It is really loud. I cannot even believe that such a tiny bar can bawl so much. I was especially impressed by the fact that I could use it as a common music player at a friend's party. The sound is pretty good, even if bass elements are somewhat rejected; instruments do not blend, performance is clear. The same positive evaluation holds true for ringtones, while all standard Nokia sounds we have known for years, seem to have reborn.