Available for entry in September 2010, Nokia C6 is similar, in terms of
design, with its large sliding keyboard, the N97 and its mini version.
Oriented messaging and social networks, this new touch screen model but
has a much more moderate prices. Features clearly designed to attract a
young audience and communicating. Does this smartphone has, however, the
height of his elders? Lets test it to find out more.
Very close to the N97 in terms of design, color (it comes in white or
black) and size, Nokia C6 is different at first glance with its
navigation keys. It has three physical buttons to call, hang up and open
the menu, which is not so bad, and the use of the touch pad is often
showing less reactive. With a standard connector, the device has a
micro-USB jack (useful to transfer files to and from the computer but
can not recharge the battery), a 3.5 mm jack (a hands-free basic stereo
is provided) and a MicroSD card slot, easily accessible from the side.
A comfortable keyboard with 4 lines
When the screen is slid on the keyboard, another difference is obvious:
the keyboard on the C6 is spread over 4 lines and the pad is now located
on the right. The seizure did not suffer quite the contrary. The only
flaws, the spacebar is a bit small and a key .com, or at least one
direct access point – a must when entering URLs – would have been
welcome. Otherwise, the keys were relatively large and comfortable to
the touch. A keyboard has all the more valuable that the user accesses
the majority of messengers (Yahoo Mail, Gmail, Hotmail, Mail Ovi or even
Microsoft Exchange), including instant messaging (Yahoo Messenger, Ovi
Chat, Google Talk, or Windows Live Messenger) and this is the main
strength of this smartphone. Social networks are no exception. Users can
easily access their Facebook account with the ability to see the latest
articles on the home page.
Not perfect, but a moderate cost
Running the latest version of Symbian (Touch Edition), Nokia C6 can tap
into the platform for downloading applications from Nokia. However,
browsing the Internet proves somewhat cumbersome because of these recent
models of competition, whether in equipment or iOS Android. The screen
is fairly responsive, but resistive, probably in account for much of
this delay, as the processor moderately swift. All these characteristics
could still win at the launch of the N97 but now seem a bit outdated.
The cost is considerably more moderate of C6 when compared to N97, it is
true, counterbalances this fact.
A battery that is only slightly
Regarding performance multimedia enthusiasts will appreciate the
presence of an FM radio RDS, in addition to the Walkman function.
However, despite the 5 megapixel sensor with LED flash, the picture
quality is a little disappointing. The video function (with the
possibility of filming in 640 x 352 pixels) is fortunately more
efficient. We find all the same in all the expertise of Nokia. A more
powerful battery would be nice. If the 5:15 hours of talk time remain
correct, the 3:30 hours of video independently are less satisfactory.
Specifications
Dimensions
- Size: 113.4 x 53 x 16.8 mm
- Weight (with battery): 150 g
- Volume: 80 cc
- Additional size and shape information
- Sliding touch-screen display
Display and user interface
- Screen size: 3.2"
- Resolution: 640 x 360 (nHD)
- Up to 16.7 million colours
- Resistive touch screen
- Brightness control
- Orientation sensor
- Proximity sensor
- Ambient light detector
Keys and input methods
- Full backlit slide-out keyboard with navigation key
- Cover keys (Home key, Send/End keys)
- Touch screen
- Dedicated camera and volume keys
- Side-mounted Lock key
Colours
- Black
- White
Personalization
- Customizable home screen
- Widgets
- Themes
- Icons
- Shortcuts
- Menu
- Customizable profiles
- Video ringtones
- Ring tones: mp3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA
- Themes
- wallpapers
- screensavers
- ringtones
- pre-installed themes
- changeable colour themes
Power Management
- BL-4J 1200 mAh Li-Ion battery
- Talk time:
- GSM up to 11 h
- WCDMA up to 5 h
- Standby time:
- GSM up to 400 h
- WCDMA up to 400 h
- Video playback time (Mpeg4/nHD): 246 mins
- Video call time (maximum): 144 mins
- Music playback time: 30 h
Data network
- CSD
- HSCSD, maximum speed 43.2 kbps
- GPRS class A, multislot class 32
- WCDMA, maximum speed up to 3.8 Mbps with simultaneous voice & packet data
- HSDPA, maximum speed up to 3.6 Mbps with simultaneous voice & packet data
- WLAN
- TCP/IP support
- Dual Transfer Mode (DTM), simultaneous voice & packet data connection, class A, multislot class 11
- Capability to serve as data modem
- Support for MS Outlook synchronization of contacts, calendar and notes
- Integrated GPS/A-GPS
Memory
- MicroSD memory card slot, hot swappable, up to 16 GB
- Internal memory: 200 MB
Operating frequency
- Quad band EGSM 850/900/1800/1900
- WCDMA 850/900/1900/2100
- Automatic switching between GSM bands
- Flight mode
Connectivity
- Bluetooth version 2.0 with Enhanced Data Rate
- Support for local and remote SyncML synchronization
- High-Speed USB 2.0 (micro USB connector)
- 3.5 mm AV connector
Software platform & user interface
- S60 5th edition
- Symbian OS version 9.4
- Voice commands
- FOTA (Firmware update Over The Air)
- Automatic UI rotation
- Software updates
Applications
- Email (SMTP, IMAP4, POP3), MMS, SMS, unified editor
- Viewing of email attachments – .doc, .xls, .ppt, .pdf
- Calendar, Contacts, To-do, Notes, E-mail
- Nokia Messaging
- Social networking (Facebook, Hi5, MySpace)
- Ovi Maps
- Ovi Suite, Ovi Store, Ovi Share, Ovi Contacts
- PC Applications: Microsoft Outlook, Outlook Express, Lotus Organizer, Lotus Notes
Personal Information Management (PIM)
- Detailed contact information
- Calendar
- To-do list
- Notes
- Recorder
- Calculator
- Clock
- Converter
Email and messaging
- Easy-to-use email client
- Supported for SMTP, IMAP4, POP3, MMS, SMS. Unified MMS/SMS editor.
- Email web widget
- Nokia Messaging for email
- Mail for Exchange
Call management
- Contacts: advanced contacts database with support for multiple phone and e-mail details per entry and thumbnail pictures
- Top Contacts widget
- Speed dialing, voice dialing (speaker independent) and voice commands
- Logs of dialed, received and missed calls
- Conference calling
- Integrated hands-free speaker
- Video calling
Browsing and internet
- Full web browsing of real web pages
- Web browsing with touch control
- Supported markup languages: HTML, XHTML MP, WML, CSS
- Supported protocols: HTTP v1.1, WAP
- TCP/IP support
- Visual history, HTML and JavaScript support, Flash LIte 3.1 and Flash video support
- Nokia Mobile Search
- RSS reader
- Ovi Store for application downloads
- Support for streaming video
- Ovi Share with connectivity to popular sharing services
-
Nokia XPressPrint: direct printing via USB connection
(PictBridge), Bluetooth connectivity (BPP) or via an online printing - Video calls
GPS and navigation
- Ovi Maps with free lifetime navigation licence
- Integrated GPS, A-GPS receivers
- Accelerometer for correct orientation of display
- Nokia Maps loader application via PC
Camera
- 5 megapixel camera (2584 x 1938 pixels)
- Still image formats: JPEG, EXIF
- Autofocus and integrated LED flash
- Zoom up to 4x (digital)
- Secondary camera for video calls (QVGA)
Image capture
- Automatic location tagging (Geotagging) of images and videos
- Cover Flow change photos with finger motions
- Images automatically taken in the correct orientation
- Store photos on Ovi Share
- Economic sharing to optimize battery and memory use
Other
- 200 MB internal memory, expandable to up to 16 GB with microSD card
- High-Speed USB 2.0 connectivity
Video sharing and playback
- Enhanced video centre: central hub for video experiences
- Access to last-played video and easy resume
- My videos: collection of stored videos
- Access to Internet Videos, compatible with RSS feeds, and video podcasts, with direct wireless updates and downloads
- Video directory to discover new Internet Videos
- Support for download, streaming, and progressive download
- Support for Flash video
Video codecs & formats
- MPEG-4 Video resolution up to nHD 640 x 360 pixels or VGA at 30fps
- Video file format: .mp4 (default), .3gp (for MMS)
- Zoom up to 4 x
Music features
- Nokia Music Player
- Music Recommender
- Ovi Music
- Nokia Music Manager (PC application)
- Music codecs: .MP3, WMA, AAC, AAC+, eAAC, eAAC+
- Music meta-data ID3 tags, album art
- Bit rate up tp 320 kbps
- DRM support WM DRM, OMA DRM 2.0/1.0
- Stereo FM radio (87.5-108 MHz/76-90 MHz), RDS
Standard Sales Package
- Nokia C6
- Nokia Battery BL-4J
- Nokia Compact Travel Charger AC-15
- Nokia Connectivity Cable CA-101D
- Nokia Stereo Headset WH-102
- Nokia 2 GB microSD card
- User guide
Conclusion
The Nokia C6 is attractive mainly for its low price and this equipment
is very close to the N97 model. A bit outdated technologically, its
interest lies mainly in its broad, comfortable keyboard, combined with a
full email offering. This is best mobile for fans of written
communication. With its large touch screen and sliding QWERTY keyboard,
the C6 is oriented for messaging and social networks. With built-in GPS
navigation and entertainment, it offers excellent equipment/price ratio.
Pros
- Sliding qwerty keyboard
- Touchscreen
- Multimedia features complete
- Communication Functions
- Affordable
Cons
- Old technology
