Nokia 6303 classic review: Euro hatch territory
Gsmarena have posted a review of the Nokia 6303 classic. Here are the key features, main disadvantages and final impression.
Key features:
Tri-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
2.2" 16M-color QVGA display with excellent sunlight legibility
3 megapixel camera, autofocus and LED flash
VGA video recording at 15fps
S40 user interface, 6th edition
Stereo FM radio with RDS
Bluetooth (with A2DP) and microUSB port
microSD card slot (4 GB supported, 1GB included)
Standard 3.5mm audio jack
Rich preinstalled application package
Ovi Maps and Ovi Share
Solid metal casing, sweet oval shapes
Respectable BL-5CT battery (Li-Ion 1050 mAh)
Main disadvantages:
No 3G
Fingerprint magnet, hard to clean
Memory card slot under the back cover
No dedicated shutter key
Below par image quality
Display gets easily scratched
No smart dialing
No multi-tasking
No office document viewer
Well, here we are at the end. As you've read through this review you might have thought that instead of 6303 classic it could very well have been named the Nokia 6600 bar. And we mean that as a compliment.
Exploring the 6th edition of Nokia's S40 interface was a little underwhelming, we were secretly hoping for multitasking support, but the excellent web browser makes up for that.
The Nokia 6303 classic is a very well balanced phone. It will serve the needs of the regular user and do so with grace. Looks might not appeal to everyone but once you get it in your hand it starts to grow on you.
As good as it is, it's got quite a battle on its hands. The midrange is a very crowded market - there are new competitors coming out by the day, and worse still - the high-enders age and move down the ranks.
An old heavy weight - the Sony Ericsson K850 - has dropped into this price range. It has a camera that still holds its own today, and a xenon flash, which isn't very common. It also has tri-band HSDPA, but weighs a good 20 grams more and uses the not-so-popular Memory Stick Micro cards, not to mention the even-less-popular Fast Port.
The somewhat forgotten Sony Ericsson T-series is not out of the game either. The Sony Ericsson T700 offers serious, no-nonsense looks and while it's neither a Walkman nor Cybershot it brings features comparable to the Nokia 6303, with fast data on top. Time has taken its toll on the T700's asking price so it's worth a look.
If fashion is on your mind, the Samsung M7500 Emporio Armani is in the VIP lounge, sort of midrange but still. It may not have a 5 megapixel camera but HSDPA and a document viewer are part of its ammo. A 3.5 mm audio jack, dedicated music keys and support for 16GB microSD cards do give it some edge. And a pretty face too.
So, Nokia 6303 classic is pressured on both ends, as yesterday's top performers quietly age and capable smartphones gain more turf. The 6303 is neither, but still has plenty to offer the right kind of users. We're sure many people would consider the balance of features just fine.
Key features:
Tri-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
2.2" 16M-color QVGA display with excellent sunlight legibility
3 megapixel camera, autofocus and LED flash
VGA video recording at 15fps
S40 user interface, 6th edition
Stereo FM radio with RDS
Bluetooth (with A2DP) and microUSB port
microSD card slot (4 GB supported, 1GB included)
Standard 3.5mm audio jack
Rich preinstalled application package
Ovi Maps and Ovi Share
Solid metal casing, sweet oval shapes
Respectable BL-5CT battery (Li-Ion 1050 mAh)
Main disadvantages:
No 3G
Fingerprint magnet, hard to clean
Memory card slot under the back cover
No dedicated shutter key
Below par image quality
Display gets easily scratched
No smart dialing
No multi-tasking
No office document viewer
Well, here we are at the end. As you've read through this review you might have thought that instead of 6303 classic it could very well have been named the Nokia 6600 bar. And we mean that as a compliment.
Exploring the 6th edition of Nokia's S40 interface was a little underwhelming, we were secretly hoping for multitasking support, but the excellent web browser makes up for that.
The Nokia 6303 classic is a very well balanced phone. It will serve the needs of the regular user and do so with grace. Looks might not appeal to everyone but once you get it in your hand it starts to grow on you.
As good as it is, it's got quite a battle on its hands. The midrange is a very crowded market - there are new competitors coming out by the day, and worse still - the high-enders age and move down the ranks.
An old heavy weight - the Sony Ericsson K850 - has dropped into this price range. It has a camera that still holds its own today, and a xenon flash, which isn't very common. It also has tri-band HSDPA, but weighs a good 20 grams more and uses the not-so-popular Memory Stick Micro cards, not to mention the even-less-popular Fast Port.
The somewhat forgotten Sony Ericsson T-series is not out of the game either. The Sony Ericsson T700 offers serious, no-nonsense looks and while it's neither a Walkman nor Cybershot it brings features comparable to the Nokia 6303, with fast data on top. Time has taken its toll on the T700's asking price so it's worth a look.
If fashion is on your mind, the Samsung M7500 Emporio Armani is in the VIP lounge, sort of midrange but still. It may not have a 5 megapixel camera but HSDPA and a document viewer are part of its ammo. A 3.5 mm audio jack, dedicated music keys and support for 16GB microSD cards do give it some edge. And a pretty face too.
So, Nokia 6303 classic is pressured on both ends, as yesterday's top performers quietly age and capable smartphones gain more turf. The 6303 is neither, but still has plenty to offer the right kind of users. We're sure many people would consider the balance of features just fine.
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