The Nokia 5730 XpressMusic takes the basic design of the Nokia E75 but rather than being a business device, the 5730 is about everything XpressMusic does well, so we get instant access to music, movies and even N-Gage on this all-round media device. Find out how we got on with the Nokia 5730 XpressMusic with our in-depth review….
The Nokia 5730 XpressMusic is a full-blown messenger device, packing in a good-size numeric keypad for when you want to just send a quick text of punch in a number. However, it also packs in a slide-out full QWERTY keyboard for when you want to get serious with your messaging.
The basic design is that of the Nokia E75 but with a more media-centric feel to it. However, as we’ve already seen, the size of the Nokia 5730 is exactly the same as the Nokia 5800. Differences are apparent; the 2.4-inch screen isn’t touch-sensitive so you’ll find a dedicated numeric keypad. The keys are a good size and the D-pad is especially worthy of note, as it’s large and highly responsive. The only buttons that feel less than solid are the Options and Exit function keys. These tend to take a lot of punishment in daily life so it would have been good to find them a little more reinforced.
Check out our Nokia 5730 XpressMusic First Impressions
You’ll find dedicated music buttons to the left of the screen, which gives you instant access to your music. We were impressed with how loud and clear the built-in speaker is on this device, with a fair degree of Bass. This means if you want to share music with friends, it won’t suffer from that ‘tinniness’ found with lesser phones. What’s more, there is a 3.5mm audio jack on the top of the phone when you want to play music in private.
The 2.4-inch screen has a standard 240 x 320-pixel resolution but the Homescreen allows you to add your favourite contacts. There is also a row of six icons that allows you to personalise the screen. You’ll find Facebook, Messaging and camera functions already pre-loaded.
The dot matrix lettering on the keypad is also mirrored on the slide-out QWERTY keyboard is an acquired taste but it’s one we like. We’re also really impressed with the overall look and feel of the Nokia 5730. The plastic used is nice to the touch and it feels great in the hand. There is no lock holding the keyboard in place but we haven’t found this to be a problem
As we noted in our First Impressions, the keyboard is a good size and the keys have a very shallow travel to them, so you need to make sure you strike them correctly to register. Having been using the Nokia 5730 for a few days you quickly get the feel for the keyboard, so messaging really takes on a life of its own once you’ve got the balance right.
When it comes to functionality, the Nokia 5730 is a great little phone. We didn’t find it as quick and responsive as the Nokia 5800, for example, but apps load smoothly and moving around the device is easy.
What’s more, there is a genuine wealth of features in the Nokia 5730. We’ve been checking out a couple of games using the built-in N-Gage, downloading Dirk Dagger and Ducati Moto using the built-in Wi-Fi and games look great on this handset.
Check out the full tech spec of Nokia 5730 XpressMusic
Then there is the built-in GPS and the latest version of Ovi Maps, so you make the most of location services, which makes getting around on foot a whole lot easier. The 3.2-Megpixel camera on the back of the device looks a little lost but with Carl Zeiss optics and single LED flash, it has a good general purpose feel to it.
Verdict
We gave the Nokia 5730 XpressMusic 4 Stars as part of our First Impressions but having used the device for a few days now, we’re really starting to warm this device, which is reflected in the higher score. If messaging and multimedia are high on your priority, then we think the Nokia 5730 XpressMusic is the best device out there right now. After all, it looks good and the keyboard is great!
Check out our Nokia 5730 XpressMusic review image gallery:
