Nokia launched a couple high-level Symbian^3 smartphones at Nokia World, but the Nokia C6 (C6-01) shows that the Finns haven’t forgotten their entry-level customer base. While the Nokia E7, C7, and N8 rule the upper end of the smartphone spectrum, the Nokia C6 brings Symbian^3 to the lower range. We had a chance to go hands-on with the baby Symbian^3 smartphone, and it’s fairly decent. It’s not fair to compare the C6 to the N8 or E7, but it certainly holds its own.
So, what’s the deal with the Nokia C6? Well, if you’re looking to take a ride on the Symbian^3 train, but you don’t want to spend your entire week’s paycheck to check out the new S^3 platform, the C6 is your best bet. Cheaper than the Nokia C7, but sporting many of the same features, the C6 offers budget-minded folks a decently-priced entry into Nokia’s new smartphone lineup. The C6 is small, it’s solid, and it’s got the ClearBlack Display that Nokia has been touting as the next big thing in AMOLED display technology. So, is it worth the money?
First off, you should know that Nokia already has a C6 on market. This latest device is technically the Nokia C6-01, to differentiate it from its QWERTY keyboard-toting brethren, but the Finns have decided to basically start anew by marketing the C6-01 as simply the C6. As Nokia’s Marko Ahtisaari, Senior VP and head of the Design team, puts it “[we are] transitioning to something simpler and more easily marketable.” That’s a good way to sum up the new C6.
Holding the C6 in your hand, you’ll first notice that it’s small and compact. The 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen display is big enough to handle most of your smartphone needs, but is small enough to allow for a compact form-factor. That might just be enough to win over those of you with tight pockets and small handbags.
Because it’s so small, and because there are really no moving parts, the Nokia C6 is a solid piece of kit. It’s not made entirely out of aluminum, like the Nokia N8 or E7, but the C6 feels like it very well could be made of metal. The battery cover certainly is made of metal, but that’s the extent of it.
But, don’t let the small size fool you. The C6 is packed with features that you’ll find in Nokia’s higher-end devices. It has an 8-megapixel camera with dual-LED flash. It has GPS, WiFi (B/G/N) and it’ll hop on just about any 3G wireless network in the world with its penta-band (850/900/1700/1900/2100Mhz) frequency support – yes, even T-Mobile USA and their wacky 1700Mhz AWS 3G network. You also get the ClearBlack display that polarizes light to increase contrast and make colors pop. And, add to that the fact that Symbian^3 works smoothly on the small C6, and you’ve got a winning recipe. Seriously, Symbian^3 feels more at home on the C6 than it does on the E7’s massive, 4-inch display.
Symbian^3 feels best suited for small-screen applications, and that’s where the C6 shines. It’s small, affordable, but still packs a punch. Stay tuned for more Nokia C6 coverage from IntoMobile!
