Picture-perfect 7610: Nokia’s1.0-megapixel smartphone

The 7610, Nokia’s new high-end camera smartphone set to be released this month, has the ability to take 3R/4R photos as well as up to 10 minutes of video, with a 4X digital zoom capability.

Running on the Series 60 Symbian operating system (a leading operating system on most smartphone models) and with features similar to the popular but bulbous Nokia 6600, the 7610 is a slimmer model with higher memory and added features.

The 7610’s form factor is oddly elliptical blending curves with angles; its keypad is similarly uneven, requiring some adjustments since no two keys are of the same shape or size. More mature users, who require more uniformity, may find the warped layout confusing.

The five-way navigator is one of the better design features of the 7610, possibly because it is the only aspect of the phone, aside from the vivid Active Matrix screen, that is actually properly proportioned. The tactile feel and response of the navigator beats most of the joystick-enabled phones we have tried.

Powerhouse Imaging

Nokia designed this phone for imaging at a higher level. Photos taken by the 7610 are surprisingly clear and noise-free even in dimly lit conditions. The phone doesn’t come with an external or built-in "flash-light" feature to enhance poor lighting; in our opinion, it doesn’t need one.

Nokia also bundled an application allowing users to upload their photo albums to an Internet site using MMS and GPRS connections (thanks to a tie-up with imaging giant Kodak).

The large 8MB internal memory and the generous expansion memory of 64MB (by way of a RS-MultiMedia Card, a scaled down removable MMC card), allow for hundreds of snapshots and up to 10 minutes of video to be stored on the phone.

A movie editor software application allows users to "edit" videos with some preset templates that are really for fun and not entirely for serious use. While the digital camera capability of the 7610 is leaps and bounds over anything we’ve seen before, the video application leaves a lot to be desired. But if you consider the relatively small size of the unit and all its functions, this is nonetheless remarkable.

Bold Design

The 7610’s functionality is what we’ve come to expect from Nokia. All the features mix truly useful elements (connectivity, to-do list, calendar and alarm, synch capability with most PCs and large memory) with some fun features (downloadable games, visual themes, long SMS and imaging).

The phone’s design may be a point of contention, however. The fit and finish of our prototype was reminiscent of a lacquer box (shiny, black plastic which is prone to fingerprints and smudges, and bold mirror back design). It may not be for everyone even if the features are desirable to most people considering an upgrade to a high-memory imaging smartphone. The 7610’s size is right and its feel is solid.

As with most Nokia phones, one can easily purchase and exchange the covers but the handset layout and the keys are impossible to change. After a few days of use, however, the keypad does grow on you but you need to adjust to the product, and a learning curve is required.

Nokia’s bold designs are legendary, with the company churning out an incredible number of phones, some of which have been more radical than the others. Only time will tell if the 7610 will be one of the favored models.

Battery life is adequate, and reception and signal are consistent. Speaker volume, however, is a bit too low for our comfort. While this may be an operator issue, we have used other phones that were louder.

The 7610 is a serious phone in terms of features and storage capacity, a sign that cellular phones are crossing over to the PDA and even PC space. The imaging capabilities are superior although the product’s build and finish are flamboyant. This may prove to be the make-or-break point for this unusual yet powerful megapixel camera smartphone.