Nokia C3 review: SNS love

Introduction

Nokia C3 is young and social, simple and reliable. Messaging and social networking are the very heart of this handset. But are they enough of a head-turner to become a phone's key selling points? Sure thing! Just add a pinch of charisma and hang a price tag fit for the masses and you've got yourself a recipe for a true love story.

At its Indonesia launch, the phone drew massive crowds and it seems success in Europe is only a matter of time – with a price tag of about 100 euro. Compromises are always implied in this price bracket but the Nokia C3 does well to focus all attention on its strengths. It’s a budget package – no doubt about that – but so wonderfully balanced. It has all the relevant features and the target audience isn’t likely to miss what’s not there.

Nokia C3 official photos

A QWERTY messenger focused on the basics, the Nokia C3 is an excellent upgrade option for the budget-minded. And social networking isn’t just a thing for marketing to work with. The full QWERTY keyboard, dedicated Messaging and Contacts keys, along with Wi-Fi connectivity round off a solid package that will give the right user all the performance they need.

Key features

QWERTY messenger bar
Quad-band GSM/EDGE
802.11b/g Wi-Fi support
Solid SNS integration on the homescreen and with dedicated buttons
2.4" 256K-color QVGA display with excellent sunlight legibility
2 megapixel fixed-focus camera
QVGA video recording at 15fps
Series 40 UI, 6th edition
Stereo FM radio with RDS, Visual radio
Bluetooth (with A2DP)
Standard microUSB port
microSD card slot (8GB supported, 2GB included)
3.5mm audio jack
Great audio quality
Reasonable price

Main disadvantages

No 3G
Low-grade camera, no autofocus, no flash
Poor video recording
S40 is outdated, never mind the visual updates
No multi-tasking
Doesn't charge off the microUSB port
No USB cable in the retail box
No office document viewer
No smart dialing

The Nokia C3 is a social gadget for the young. What’s not to like if Facebook is your second home and you want to always stay in touch. Attractive design and the right feature set come at a price that many can afford. The Nokia C3 is so full of potential because it’s suited for both emerging and mature markets.

In the low end, you will sometimes come across rare gems of phones that will surprise you with their styling and features. The Nokia C3 isn’t one of them. The key word here is enough. The build, the connectivity, the interface – even the imaging – is good enough.

Nokia C3 live shots

A 2MP fixed-focus camera isn’t the kind to send your digicam into retirement – it’s good enough for photography you need to quickly share. The screen isn’t perfect for media or browsing, there’s no fast network data, you have a QWERTY keyboard but no document editing – you catch our drift.

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 mini pro review: Mini Me... ssenger

Introduction

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 mini pro will have to stand on its toes to be seen but it doesn’t have to yell to be heard. Small and boxy, this certainly is not just another mobile phone. The X10 mini pro will impress many with the degree of miniaturization.

And it’s not just a likeable chubby – the X10 has the element of surprise on its side. It hides a capable keyboard behind its back and you wouldn't guess it's a full-featured smartphone from a first glance.

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 mini pro official photos

Even though there are so many Minis around – and no less Pros – the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 mini pro doesn’t risk getting lost in the crowd. Ironically, it’s the diminutive size that makes it prominent enough. A fact’s a fact: full-QWERTY smartphones just don’t get any smaller than that. By the way, did you notice that boxy and squarish messengers are on the rise lately? You can’t help it – market trends call the shots.

Four of a kind is not bad at all for Sony Ericsson and their Android operation. They have a funny thing going on though. They just keep zooming out on the XPERIA X10. So is the next thing we’re likely to expect from them an X10 wristwatch?