Nokia 7610 review: The first megapixel

Nokia 7610 is the first Nokia camera phone with a megapixel resolution. It looks cool, has a bunch of memory and unexpectedly many applications in the basic set. Read our extensive review with a plentiful picture gallery.

Nokia has designed the most important features of its smartphones on the Series 60 platform, hence the ground for the new mobile is equal to the Nokia 7650, the first model for example. In contrast to Nokia 6600, which we consider as the predecessor, Nokia 7610 brings us many pleasant changes. On the other hand some of the expectations haven't been met.

Click on the thumbnails for full resolution pictures.



Nokia 7610

Construction

Nokia 7610 is a mid-big and mid-heavy phone standing alongside to the usual handsets but compared to other smartphones it seems very slim. Lying on the table, Nokia seems thinner then Siemens SX1 e.g., although both phones are equal in thickness. The 7610 mobile phone is much thinner than Nokia 6600. See summary of sizes and weight of some relative smartphones:

Phone	Dimensions	Volume	Weight
Nokia 7610	109 × 53 × 19 mm	109,76 cm3	118 g
Nokia 3650	130 × 57 × 26 mm	192,66 cm3	130 g
Nokia 6600	109 × 58 × 24 mm	151,73 cm3	122 g
Siemens SX1	109 × 56 × 19 mm	115,98 cm3	116 g

Light variation looks thinner then dark one

Design evaluation is subjective; everybody can make his own opinion from the pictures. Personally, I enjoy 7610 very much - it's an elegant phone, differing strongly from its predecessors. It will be available in two color variations: dark black-red and light white. Let me say my opinion: light variation looks better.

Dark and light variations

The main plan of the phone represents a refined rectangle with round edges. It's a little bit boring but convenient to hold in hand. The display, the keypad, and the small window on the rear side have the same form. If you look at it closely, you will find out that it looks like an image with several layers and a mirror in the background.

Round edges • art on the rear cover

The replaceable covers are okay, yet the phone construction will never be solid with them. Pressing the handset causes improper sound. Considering the rear cover construction the crunch should not expand, but still that's not a standard for a perfectly solid phone.

Comparing phone size and a credit card

One thing that annoys me a bit is the fact that Nokia is not very stable when on the table. It lies on the lens system and rocks when you touch it on any side. It's sticky in case when you want to type on laying phone. The good news is that Nokia 7610 can stand on its bottom side when on a flat surface.

Phone can stand on its bottom side

Pop-Port does not automatically stand for stereo

There are no buttons on the sides of Nokia 7610, except the main switch - a small button on the top. This time it's really pretty recessed and I recommend using a nail to press it. Alike to other Nokia models, pressing this switch button can change the ringing profiles.

At the bottom side of the phone there's a socket for a charger and a Pop-Port connection. For the first time Nokia uses a system connector for a Series 60 European handset. USB cable for a PC connection is also included in the package.

Pop-Port connector

The Pop-Port has been used as an argument in occasional discussions about the integrated MP3 player. But presence of a connector of this type doesn't automatically mean a stereophonic output. E.g. 7250i headphones are not compatible with the Nokia 7610 phone. Trying to connect those, the phone warns for an "Unsupported accessory". However, when all of the contacts were not connected and I held the connector in my hand, one of the headphones started to play. Of course, that's useless.

Only personal handsfree with one headphone or Bluetooth set can be used with Nokia 7610. You can find complete overview on Nokia web site.

The loudspeaker can be found on the left side of the phone. There is a slot for a leather hanger in the corner. You will get the hanger in the handset package (I haven't got it at my disposal, so there is no picture of it).

Loudspeaker • hanger slot and inconspicuous switch

The battery is hidden under the rear cover, which is secured by a small latch. It is of Li-Ion type with a capacity of 900 mAh. Nokia claims that it can last for 180 minutes in talk mode. This is a laboratory value, of course, during tests I successfully discharged the battery in one day.

Small latch secures the rear cover • view under the rear cover and the battery

The SIM card is inserted in a standard slot so there is enough space for a memory card beside it. Nokia uses the small format Reduced Size MMC and there's no way to fit a standard MMC card into 7610. Except the size, the cards are identical and you can use the small MMC in a standard card reader or other device owing to the adapter, included in the package. Nokia 7610 has a card with a sufficient capacity of 64 MB. It includes also software, which will be described below in this review.

Card placement under the battery • RS MMC card • reduction will extend the memory card to standard length • memory card data

How to get an ordinary MMC card into 7610

Let me add a note on the standard MMC card: Perhaps there is a way to get it into the phone. First, it is necessary to remove the SIM cardholder and to put the card straight on the contact. After partition removal - probably to file it off - the MMC card will get above the SIM and the battery will secure this "system". Surely, I can't try this technique with the test handset, but I think this might do the job.

Just remove the drawer and file off the partitions