We've been playing with the Nokia X2 for the past week or two now, and Nokia's entry-level music handset has really endeared itself to us. It may not be as flashy as the latest smartphones – such as the Nokia E7 or Nokia C7, but there's still loads to like. Join us after the cut for our Nokia X2 review...
The Nokia X2 sits near the bottom of the Nokia X-series range, and is a great choice for those wanting something a little more simple than the latest touchscreen gadget.
That doesn't mean quality has been compromised, however. Quite the opposite, in fact, with this budget handset boasting a brushed aluminium back cover that offers a premium feel. The rest of the plastics are finished in glossy black or white, with contrasting red or blue highlights. It's a compact phone, and looks smart.
The screen measures in at 2.2-inches, and features a standard 320 x 240-pixel resolution. It's perfectly good for everyday use, proving sharp, colourful and easy on the eye.
The Series 40 operating system is easier than ever to use, with the now familiar scrolling bar at the bottom of the homescreen with all your favourite shortcuts, and links to your music, the integrated radio and the Ovi Store above.
Check out our Nokia X2 Unboxing
The big button in the centre of the Nokia X2 lets you access the main menu, and also lets you click items. There's a raised D-Pad around the button, which is easy to use in any lighting conditions – helped by white backlighting. There are soft keys under both edges of the screen, offering Options and Exit functionality, with call and end keys under those.
The keypad on the Nokia X2 is a standard alpha-numeric affair, with 12 keys in place. The keys are also finished in glossy plastic, with raised sections between them to mark the edges. It's easy to use – even for those with larger fingers – and is very responsive.
Nokia has included a set of hot keys down both sides of the Nokia X2, letting you control all of your music on the move. From pausing to skipping songs, everything is available at the touch of a button. The bundled earphones are also pretty good, with a comfortable in-ear design. Unlike most other Nokia handsets, you can use the integrated FM radio without having the earphones plugged in, although reception can be a bit sketchy.
Perhaps surprisingly for an entry-level phone, Nokia has fitted a 5-Megapixel camera to the Nokia X2. We'll be bringing you a full review of the camera next week. Photos can be saved to the included 2MB microSD card, with cards of up to 16GB supported. When you want to transfer your snaps to your laptop, Bluetooth is included for wireless transfers.
Software-wise, Nokia Messaging makes it easy to set up email accounts and keep in touch on the move, and the Opera Mini Web Browser does a superb job of resizing web pages for the 2.2-inch screen.
Overall, we're big fans of the Nokia X2. In an age of complex and feature-packed smartphones, it's nice to get back to basics with comfortable and well-designed feature phone. Best yet, we managed to get days of use out of a single charge – Nokia quotes an impressive 810-minute talk time and 540 hours on standby. If you're frequently away from home, it's a great choice.
Check out our Nokia X2 Review Photo Gallery below:
