Noknok

We’ve had a Nokia C7 for the past couple of days now, and it’s turning out to be a really smart device. As with the Nokia N8, it features Symbian ^3, so will be familiar to current Nokia owners, and there’s a lot to like. Join us after the break for our Nokia C7 review…

Put the Nokia C7 alongside the Nokia N8, and the two Symbian ^3 handsets are very closely matched in size. Both feature a 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen, and both are very thin. Where the Nokia N8 needs a thicker camera housing – for the mechanical shutter – the Nokia C7 features a completely flat back.

With a curvier and slightly narrower design, the Nokia C7 feels more compact than the Nokia N8, despite the similarities. The glass screen and stainless steel rear help to provide a premium feel, and although it doesn’t quite match the Nokia N8, it’s a very tough devicee.

Nokia has included dedicated call and end keys on the Nokia C7, and they’re easier to use than touchscreen buttons. Unfortunately, they didn’t sit quite flush with the screen on our review sample, letting a small amount of light from the screen through the gap.

Nokia N8 Symbian ^3 review

The 3.5-inch touchscreen is the same panel found on the Nokia N8, using AMOLED technology to great effect. Colours are vibrant and bright, and the 360 x 640-pixel resolution produces sharp images. It’s a multi-touch panel, letting you pinch to zoom when browsing the internet or viewing your photographs.

The Nokia C7 gets an 8-Megapixel camera, with full focus technology that results in pin sharp images throughout the frame. We’ll be bringing you a dedicated Nokia C7 camera review in the next week, and we’re particularly impressed with the results.

There’s 8GB of internal storage on the Nokia C7, and you can also add more via microSD card. Just like its sibling, the N8, you can easily transfer files using USB on the go. Other features include an FM radio, and an FM transmitter, letting you listen to your music in the car without needing to use wires.

802.11n Wi-Fi offers fast web browsing, and the Nokia C7 is also one of the first smartphones to get Bluetooth 3.0, letting you transfer files wirelessly at high speeds.

When it comes to buttons, the left-hand side of the Nokia C7 is completely devoid of features, with just a socket for a power adapter in place. On the right side, you’ll find volume controls, a sliding lock and the camera shutter.

There’s also a button to activate voice control, and it works very well. Simply press the button, and say a command – such as ‘new message’ or ‘photos’.

On the top of the Nokia C7, you’ll find a covered micro USB port, a 3.5mm headphone socket and the power/profile button.

Unike the Nokia N8, you can remove the battery on the Nokia C7 without needing any tools. The SIM card slips in above the battery. You’ll have to remove the battery before you can insert or remove a microSD memory card.

Overall, we’re really impressed with the Nokia C7. It may lack the headline-grabbing camera of the Nokia N8, but if you’re on a tighter budget it’s nearly as capable. We also love the new design direction, with the curvy style and high quality materials sure to win the Nokia C7 lots of new fans.

Along with a dedicated Nokia C7 camera review, we’ll also be bringing you a full software review. Check back here to find out how we get on with the Nokia C7′s battery when using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and the other many features on a daily basis.

Check out our Nokia C7 review photo gallery below: