The Nokia C3 is an entry-level messenger smartphone that comes with a non-touch screen and full QWERTY keyboard. Powered by the Nokia Series 40 OS it also offers an interesting array of features and apps. Find out how well this budget smartphone works in the real world with our Nokia C3 review.
We been testing out the Nokia C3 for a few days now and we have to admit it is one of the most user-friendly devices out there. Don't be put off by the idea this is a 'budget' or 'entry-level' smartphone as the user-experience is first rate.
Check out our Nokia C3 unboxing
The first thing you notice about the Nokia C3 is how well built it is. It's a slim and lightweight device that weighs in at 114g. OK, so at 58mm it's a little bit wider than the average candybar phone but that's so it can easily accommodate the full QWERTY keyboard, which is clearly the main selling point of this device.
The keys on the Nokia C3 don't feel as big or as rounded as they do on the Nokia E72, for example, but you'll quickly find yourself picking up speed. The keys are nicely responsive and idea for hitting off longer email messages as well as quick texts or even updating your online status. The layout will be instantly familiar to anyone who has used a QWERTY messenger device before but you you will find the Spacebar is nice and big, certainly bigger than on our Nokia E72, which just makes messaging that tad easier.
Above the keyboard sits the standard D-pad and function buttons, so navigating your way around the Nokia C3 itself is nice and easy. You won't find any buttons on the sides of this phone, giving it a very fuss free feel. On the top of the Nokia C3 there is the usual 3.5mm audio jack alongside the charger port, while on the left-hand side you'll find covers for the USB port and the microSD card slot and that's it!
Then there is the screen, which at 2.4-inches is a good size and comes with the standard 320 x 240-pixel resolution. It's nice and bright and while it merely has a 18-bit colour depth, you'll still find images and text look bright and reasonably sharp. The screen certainly makes the most of the Series 40 OS, which is well suited to this type of device.
Moving around the Series 40 operating system you'll find there are plenty of apps to get you up and running. Everything from Ovi Mail and Ovi Store are there, as well as an MP3 player and FM Radio.
If you want to just us the Nokia C3 for making phone calls, you'll also find that in-call quality is more than acceptable, with our tests proving it to be clear and loud.Wi-Fi is also bundled in with the Nokia C3 and we found it incredibly easy to set up and start using. Mini Opera is the pre-installed browser of choice and while getting online via GPRS can be slow and sluggish at times, the browser loads quickly and is well suited to this type of device.
When it comes to storage, the 55MB of internal memory is best saved for updates and such like, while the supplied 2GB memory card is enough to get you making the most of the MP3 player and downloading new apps via Ovi Store, you will find that it supports cards up to 16GB in size, so memory space shouldn't be an issue at all.
With a cost of around £80 on PAYG it's a cheap smartphone but that's largely due to the lack of 3G, so web browsing can be a little sluggish and the camera is merely a 2-Megapixel snapper so nothing to write home about. However, when it comes to getting the job done, the Nokia C3 delivers. We've found the keyboard on the Nokia C3 to be great, the battery life is outstanding and the sheer ease-of-use makes it one of the better entry-level devices on the market today!
Check out our Nokia C3 Review photo gallery:
