Nokia 6303i classic review

Introduction

It’s either a job that pays the rent or a job to love, not both. If the Nokia 6303i had this mentality it would be in big trouble. Fortunately, there’s nothing to worry about here. It’s a handset that knows its place and does the job it’s paid to do.

The Nokia 6303i classic is an "i" phone – but not the Apple variety. Call it a facelift or call it a sequel – it’s a sub that comes in to keep sales strong. Some minor improvements are implied to an already well-rounded product.

    

Nokia 6303i classic official photos

At first glance however, it seems that Nokia has cut features rather than add them. The 3.2MP auto-focus camera with VGA video @15fps has been downgraded to fixed-focus unit and QVGA video capture @8fps.

However, the boost to battery life makes quite a difference. Plus, 3 megapixel is nothing to write home about – with or without autofocus. The retail package was updated too – you get a 2GB microSD card instead of 1GB and the phone supports cards up to 16GB (the original 6303 managed just 4GB cards). And then, there’s the updated user interface as well.

So, some trade-offs have been made, but when you add them up the 6303i inches slightly ahead of its predecessor.

Key features:

• Tri-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
• 2.2" 16M-color QVGA display with excellent sunlight legibility
• 3 megapixel camera, fixed-focus and LED flash
• QVGA video recording at 8fps
• Refreshed S40 user interface, 6th edition
• Stereo FM radio with RDS
• Bluetooth (with A2DP) and microUSB port
• microSD card slot (16 GB supported, 2GB included)
• Standard 3.5mm audio jack
• Rich preinstalled application package
• Ovi Maps, Store, Contacts and Share
• Solid metal casing, nice oval shapes
• Web browser is WebKit-based and plays YouTube video
• Respectable BL-5CT battery (Li-Ion 1050 mAh)

Main disadvantages:

• No 3G
• Memory card slot under the back cover
• Below par camera image quality
• No smart dialing
• No multi-tasking of any sort
• No office document viewer

   

Nokia 6303i classic in our office

Looks is one thing that Nokia didn’t change on the 6303i classic. The metal body with neutral styling (not too extravagant, not too formal) was great the first time around and the phone did and still does look dressed above its pay grade.

Unboxing Nokia 6303i classic

The retail package of the Nokia 6303i is standard issue stuff. The charger is of the mini variety, there’s a short (and we mean, really short) USB data cable, and a one-piece stereo headset. The 1050 mAh battery is here as well, while a quick start guide and a manual round out the contents.

We also found a 2GB microSD card and a voucher for 25 songs from the Nokia Music Store – not bad for such an affordable phone.

  

Nokia 6303i classic unboxed

Nokia 6303i classic 360-degree spin

The Nokia 6303i classic measures 108.8 x 46.2 x 11.7 mm with a volume of 57 cc – precisely the same dimensions as the 6303 classic.

The phone hits the sweetspot of comfortable handling. Neither too small, nor too big - it fits nicely into any pocket but it’s not too small to use. It weighs just 96 grams – but don’t let that fool you. It’s metal all over - the back, the front, even the keys, and has a solid, expensive feel to it.

Design and construction

The i-modification of the Nokia 6303 classic is not a facelift so on the outside the 6303i and the vanilla 6303 are identical.

The earpiece is centrally placed right above the Nokia logo up front. The ambient light sensor is right next to it.

 

Earpiece and ambient light sensor above the display

The display of the 6303i classic is great in terms of both contrast and color rendering, and it has a very wide viewing angle. Sunlight legibility is an absolute treat.

The screen has QVGA resolution and can display up to 16M colors on a 2.2" diagonal.

  

A decent-sized display