Nokia C2-01 review

The Nokia C2-01 is a candybar mobile for those who don't want fancy features

Nokia C2-01
The definitive Nokia C2-01 review

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Nokia C2-01 review: Battery life

The 1020mAh battery in the Nokia C2-01 sounds unbelievably under specified, but in fact, it doesn't have to drive a huge screen or manage incredibly power sapping processes, and we found it was quite adequate.

Nokia c2-01

Nokia says the battery is good for up to 8 hours 45 minutes talk on GSM, 4 hours 30 on 3G, and on standby it will last for 430 hours on GSM, 450 on 3G.

We found that we easily got two days of life from the Nokia C2-01, and with frugal usage that might well stretch to three. Long battery life is a key advantage of an undemanding candybar handset.

With no GPS or Wi-Fi to rock the boat and fancier things like DLNA nowhere to be seen, there's really just music playback and 3G to drain the battery.

Apps

The mapping application of choice is Ovi Maps, but with no Wi-Fi for downloading data and no GPS for pinpoint accuracy, we'd suggest it's best forgotten about. If you want mapping on a mobile phone, do yourself a favour and find a smartphone with Wi-Fi, GPS and a much bigger screen.

There are lots of apps pre-loaded. We've already mentioned the likes of a stopwatch, countdown timer, notes taker, calculator, to-do list, alarm clock and calendar. There's also a unit converter, Flickr client and size converter for clothing. And there's a smattering of games, too.

Nokia c2-01

Nokia c2-01

Nokia c2-01

You can download more over the Ovi store, so you can keep the Nokia C2-01 refreshed with new stuff. But doing so is nowhere near the compelling experience it is with handsets that have bulging stores that are easy to access and which offer fast downloading over Wi-Fi or faster HSDPA. Think of any Android phone, such as the Samsung Galaxy Ace, or the iPhone.

Latest in Nokia Phones
Composite of three new Nokia phones
3 new retro-inspired Nokia phones will have you rocking out like it’s the 2000s
Nokia G42 in So Purple color
Nokia G42 combines repairability and 5G connectivity in a handsome purple package
Nokia 5710 Xpress Audio with earbuds pictured on the screen
Nokia’s new phone is like a 3310 with earbuds built into the back – and I love it
A Nokia G60 5G from the front and back
A trio of cheap phones from Nokia have landed, with eco-friendly credentials
The Nokia G11 from the back, in someone's hand
Nokia G11 review
A Nokia G21 from the front, showing the home screen
Nokia G21 review
Latest in Reviews
HP OfficeJet Pro 9012e main image
I tested the HP OfficeJet Pro 9012e - read why this is a cracking home printer
HP LaserJet Pro MFP 4302fdw main image
I tried the HP LaserJet Pro MFP 4302fdw - read why it disappoints
Epson EcoTank ET-2830 main image
I tried out the Epson EcoTank ET-2830 - see how this cheap inkjet holds up
Canon Pixma TS8750 main image
I tested the Canon Pixma TS8750 - see how this home printer compares
Sage Oracle Jet coffee machine with cup of coffee and milk pitcher on kitchen counter
I tested the Sage Oracle Jet for a month, and it delivers top-notch espresso with minimal effort
Brother HL-L9430CDN main image
I tried out the Brother HL-L9430CDN - see what I thought of this laser printer