E71: A Business Class Of It's Own

Tagged as the successor to the similarly shaped E61, the Nokia E71 is indeed a veritable improvement in so many ways. The form factor alone trumps the old. The E71 feels ultimately tough and robust while dressed to kill in chrome metal. It looks professional and feels expensive. But despite the heavy metal impression, the E71 weighs a mere 127g. The size is noticeably smaller than the E61 too. The plus point means that it’s now more pocket-able and looks less chunky. But the natural detraction is the smaller QWERTY keypad which loyal E61 users will definitely moan about. We feel it’s still manageable. The best positive notion is in fact the better build of the keypad, which is now more rigid allowing you to feel every button press with a responsive click.

The screen size has been downsized to 2.36”. The QVGA 320 x 240 pixels may not shout of a highest quality display but acceptable considering this to be a business phone. Connectivity checks every box, ranging from Quad-band GSM, HSDPA, Wi-Fi to even Bluetooth. Naturally, the E71 comes packed with a host of work-related applications. QuickOffice is one such item which should please the busy executive on-the-go. In addition, there’s even a built-in dictionary. Also, the included Assisted-GPS with Nokia maps worked well in providing directions.

The E71 has a few features which suggest it’s not just work and no play! The new ‘switch mode’ lets you quickly alternate with a second customized profile. You change your shortcut buttons, wallpaper, email settings and etc. So as the clock turns 5.30PM and the tie comes off, simply switch modes to let the phone adapt to your ‘after work’ lifestyle. You can happily snap pictures of your escapades too. The 3.2 megapixel camera with LED flash works well, although fall short of the quality imposed by 5 megapixel variants in other more multimedia-themes phones. It is though missing a lens cover, which leaves the plastic more vulnerable to scratches.

The sleek chromatic E71 sees a major improvement over the bulky E61, and despite the smaller keypad, still types considerably well. The zippy device performed smoothly even when a host of apps were running in the background. A major plus sees the E71 turn from serious to seriously fun, thanks to the new ‘switch mode’ feature.

Pros : Silvery sleek design, full connectivity choices, new ‘Switch Mode’

Cons : Camera is missing lens cover

Nokia E71 Specifications :

Frequency : Quad-band EGSM, WCDMA (HSDPA)

Screen : 2.36” 320 x 240 QVGA TFT

Connectivity : GPRS, EDGE, HSDPA, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

Others : A-GPS, 3.2 Megapixel camera

Weight : 127g

Nokia E71 is available at all Utara Hati's outlet @ RM1,299.00 (price as at 09/03/2009)

Review courtesy of Hardware Tech Review