TechRadar Verdict
A stylish and well-priced 3G slider phone that packs in the features, but a lack of overall quality ultimately holds it back.
Pros
- +
3G connectivity on a budget
- +
Stylish design and ergonomic feel
- +
Ease of calling and messaging
- +
Impressive internet experience
- +
Good quality apps pre-loaded
- +
Decent outdoor images from the 3.2MP camera.
Cons
- -
The disappointing performance of Ovi
- -
Incredibly slow email
- -
Poor audio quality of media player
- -
Lack of flash on the camera
- -
Low-quality indoor and low light snaps
- -
Less-than-intuitive interface.
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Not everyone needs a phone with a million apps and a 20MP camera.
Sometimes you just want to make calls, text and browse the internet for basic information, with a little style thrown in.
Something like the Nokia 7230 slider phone for example.
At only 10 x 5.5cm when folded, you're easily able to slip the Nokia 7230 into your suit or trouser pocket with ease.
But it still packs plenty of everyday essentials, including a featured 3.2MP camera, 3G connectivity, a media player with radio and a 2.2-inch screen for viewing everything from messaging and checking your email through to web browsing and fast access to Facebook and MySpace.
And there are apps too via Ovi if you want them, with a few demo games and utilities to get you going. All of that in a phone that's mostly free on contract or at £129 should you opt for pay-as-you-go, which isn't bad as a stylish-looking 3G phone.
Nokia 7230: Design
Small, functional and with smooth curves the 7230 is classic Nokia design. Sized at 98(h) x 48(w) x 14.75(d) mm and weighing in at 100g, the phone is small and light enough to fit into anyone's bag or pocket, with curved, chromed edges that contribute to an ergonomic shape for your hand.
Within the fairly minimalist design is a mini-USB slot (although the cable for hooking up the phone to a USB slot doesn't come as standard), a headphone point and those front facing controls for accessing/ending calls, along with an additional three menu-based controls for getting round the 2.2-inch TFT screen.
Memory card slot? That's located inside the handset, with a 2GB microSD down to come as standard..
The rear of the phone is devoted to photography, with a dedicated camera key on the side (or on top if you're taking pictures in landscape) turning your phone into a reasonable outdoor snapper in seconds.
The sliding mechanism is a dream, a 'glide' rather than a 'clunk', exposing a keyboard that's spacious enough for error-free typing and sufficiently responsive when you hit the keys. When you close the slide, the phone automatically locks, kicking off that lock when you flick it back open.
