Nokia is increasingly adding sat-nav features to all its smartphones but it reserves the best of these for its dedicated ‘Navigator’ range. The latest addition to this line is the Nokia 6710 Navigator, which we’ve been putting through its paces for the last days. See how we got on with our Nokia 6710 Navigator review...
The Nokia 6710 Navigator is the third dedicated sat-nav smartphone Nokia has released and in many ways is the most accomplished to-date. Check out what comes in the box for the Nokia 6710 Navigator, as it's everything you need to get up and running.
The build quality of the Nokia 6710 Navigator is excellent. The design has a slight curve to it, so it feels more natural in the hand, but mainly it’s there to offer improved audio when in Call mode. The metal body feels really solid in the hand and the slider action is smooth. We found the keypad to be highly responsive and the keys are of a good size. The only really complaint we have about the keys is that the bottom row is a little too close to the edge, so using them is a little more awkward.
Check out the Nokia 6710 Navigator tech spec
The screen is an average 2.6-inches in size with a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels. While this is more than fine for phone use, for navigation it would have been nicer to have something slightly larger. Below the screen is a good-sized five-way D-pad with a button in the centre for carrying out actions. It feels good to the touch and responds well. The other function keys all share the same one-piece finish with designated sensors beneath. This works well but you’ll need to give the button a firm push to respond.
Below the D-pad is a four-pointed star, which is in fact the button you press to fire up Nokia Maps. You’ll find Nokia Maps loads incredibly quickly and smoothly and really makes this smartphone stand apart from others handsets.
Once in maps mode you’ll find the functions of the main keys switches, with the D-pad offering navigation controls and the other buttons offering zoom controls. On the side of the Nokia 6710 Navigator you’ll find a cover hatch that can be slipped back to reveal the microSD slot (4GB card is supplied) as well as the mini-USB port for synching up to your PC. On the top of the phone if the charge port as well as a 3.5mm audio socket.
On the right-hand you’ll find a dedicated Capture button that can be used with the 5-Megapixel camera, which comes with Carl Zeiss optics and dual-LED Flash. This capture button is positioned quite far down the length of the body but is easy to use. The same goes for the zoom/audio controls, which are pushed to the top end of the phone.
Also in the box you’ll find a suction cup for in-car mounting, along with a cradle and cigarette lighter charger. You’ll find that using the sat-nav can be a drain on the battery, so it’s best to make full use of the charger when in the car.
In pedestrian mode, we’ve found that you can get up to two days of battery from this phone, referring to the sat-nav when necessary, rather than constantly. When it comes to getting the best out of the Nokia 6710 Navigator, you’ll find the audio controls are clear but we would have liked a little more volume.
The Nokia 6710 Navigator is a good all-round device. It’s not about to stop beating hearts in terms of looks or speed but we found it works well and it feels great in the hand. Overall, the Nokia 6710 Navigator is a solid, all-round performer that makes the most of its built-in sat-nav credentials.
Check out our Nokia 6710 Navigator review image gallery:
