Nokia 2730 classic review: Starting small

Introduction

The Nokia 2730 classic is part of a trio of dirty-cheap phones headed to emerging markets. It’s an economy pack that tries to provide value for money. The Nokia 2730 classic boasts the most advanced features of the bunch of cheap handsets (some of which dip down to 25 euro a piece). The 2730 classic is actually trying to stay a cut above the typical low-end phone, with a QVGA screen, 3G data speeds and a 1GB microSD card in the box.

Nokia 2730 classic official photos

Key features

• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
• Dual-band 3G
• 2.0" 262K-color QVGA display
• 2 megapixel fixed-focus camera
• S40 user interface, 5th edition
• Stereo FM radio with RDS
• Standard 3.5mm audio jack
• Bluetooth (with A2DP) and microUSB port
• Hot-swappable microSD card slot (up to 2GB cards supported, 1GB card included)
• Ovi Store, Nokia Maps for S40 and Ovi Share

Main disadvantages:

• Smallish display with poor viewing angles and poor sunlight legibility
• S40 interface feels clunky and out of date
• Stiff clicking controls and keypad
• Questionable build quality
• No smart dialing
• No document viewer

Nokia 2730 classic at our office

The 2730 classic is an entry-level offer, which is likely to enjoy robust demand. This handset seems the right thing to get us to try out a new format of reviews – crisp and short, all on one page. So, let’s not waste any more time and space and head straight to unboxing.

360 degree spin and unboxing

The Nokia 2730 classic comes in a tiny box and it actually has all the essentials – a BL-5C Li-Ion battery (1020mAh), a charger, one-piece headset and a microUSB cable. There’s a complimentary 1GB microSD card in the box and the handset supports up to 2GB.

A small box has it all

Design and construction

The Nokia 2730 classic is obviously modeled after the Nokia 6700 classic, which is one of our favorite phones for looks and feel. That’s an out-and-out compliment to the 2730 classic, but upon close inspection, you’ll spot the inevitable differences.

The 2730 classic screen is a QVGA two-incher. That sounds reasonable given the pricetag, but in reality the viewing angles are surprisingly limited and the sunlight legibility is quite poor.

The Nokia 2730 has a classic button layout • The display is not the best we’ve seen

The flatbed keypad is made from one piece of faux brushed metal. Keys are somewhat hard to press and give a pretty loud click. Spacing is OK though but touch orientation on the individual rows is appalling.

The stiff keypad is not too comfortable

The sides of the Nokia 2730 classic are pretty plain – the top side is the busiest with a charger plug and a 3.5mm audio jack. On the left, there’s the microSD card slot (readily accessible upon lifting the cap). On the right there's the microUSB port, covered with a plastic flap. The bottom holds just the mouthpiece.

Audio jack and charger plug

The back of the phone is made out of matt plastic that does a pretty good job of hiding fingerprints. The 2 megapixel camera lens is centrally placed at the top. The loudspeaker grill is at the bottom.

The back houses a 2MP camera and a loudspeaker grill • SIM compartment under the battery

As for the build quality – the Nokia 2730 classic is quite solid but it still seems hastily put together. The black plastic of the soft keys looks like it’s been glued on top of the keypad, which leaves an unattractive edge between the keypad and softkeys and worse still – it looks like it might come off. There’s a noticeable crevice between the display and the soft keys too.

The Nokia 2730 classic has rounded corners and feels very light in the hand. It’s a bit on the thick side though at 14.4mm.

Nokia 2730 classic in the hand