Nokia 7230 - Review

“A well-designed and stylish phone suitable for anyone who only needs a basic mobile phone. The phone’s extra technical treats, including its camera and sat-nav feature – help add to the phone’s charm”

Nokia 7230 - Review

Nokia's 7230 is study and well constructed

The Nokia 7230 is a very basic mobile phone. It makes calls, handles text messages, snaps pictures, plays music and…er…very little else.

But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. If you don’t want a smartphone – such as HTC’s Desire – then Nokia’s 7230 could be right up your alley.

The 7230 felt well-constructed and sturdy in my palm, with a well-proportioned keypad that slides out from underneath a moderately sized screen. I couldn’t fault the phone’s display – both bright and sharp, though the addition of touch capabilities would have been nice.

A 3.2Mp camera built into the 7230’s rear takes respectable quality images. I was pleased to see that the phone has a selection of camera features, including a self-timer, effects – such as sepia, portrait mode and tools for adjusting the white balance.

The camera also functions as a video camera, which proved handy for those times when a single still image just didn’t cut the mustard.

Despite a dedicated camera button lurking on one side of the phone, the button can only be used to take a picture and not to launch the app itself – this is done by selecting “Camera” from the 7230’s “App” menu.

Speaking of Apps, the 7230 wirelessly accessed Nokia’s Ovi Store from where I was able to download a selection of games, mapping tools and videos.

Nokia Ovi store

The lack of Wi-Fi was disapointing

Ovi Store’s app selection was – at the time of writing this review – pretty limited and I couldn’t find enough apps to sustain my interest for longer than a few minutes. Apps generally come either free or for a few pounds.

Downloading apps to the 7230 is slow at times because the phone only supports 3G wireless connections - not higher-speed Wi-Fi networks. Don’t expect a smartphone or PC-like web experience on the phone either, because the device’s lack of a touchscreen makes website navigation a disheartening process.

A bundled 2GB Micro SD card that slots in underneath the 7230’s battery is used for storing all your pictures and music onto. The latter is accessed through the dedicated and easy-to-use “Media Player” app.

The Nokia 7230’s other noteworthy application is Nokia Maps – a tool which allows the phone to be used like a sat-nav. I found the service particularly handy for locating the nearest Starbucks, for example.

However, the service’s reliability was limited to the availability of a 3G connection.