We've had the Nokia C7 for a little while now, but like the Nokia N8 it's a handset that you have to get used to, thanks to the new Symbian ^3 operating system. What's it like to use, though? Join us after the break to find out...

If you've used any recent Nokia before, the Nokia C7 will instantly feel familiar yet different at the same time. Although it looks slightly outdated, it is handy if you’re already a Nokia user, with the menus proving easy to navigate and everything falling quickly to hand.

Symbian ^3 is still a brand new OS, however, and although it looks similar, there’s a surprising amount of changes that make it a much better interface to use.

Just like Symbian ^3 on the Nokia N8, the operating system is truly fast on the Nokia C7. We tried it alongside our Nokia N97 Mini – a device we truly love – and it shamed our handset with the speed that applications and menus can be opened at. It's also every bit as quick as the N8 in daily use.

Granted, not all Symbian ^3 smartphones will have the all-out pace of the Nokia C7 and Nokia N8, but it’s an impressive start. The more you play with Symbian ^3, the more it becomes apparent that Nokia has really tried to get the details right.

Check out our Nokia C7 hands-on review

Hold down the menu key, for instance, and as before you’ll be met by the task manager. This time the icons are much larger, however, and work more like those in Windows 7 – with a big finger-friendly cross to close an app.

The home screen on Symbian ^3 has also changed, with the user interface proving a lot more intuitive. Although it still has the structured layout, you’ll now find features such as a scrolling contacts list. With support for up to 20 contacts – and the ability to display their photographs – it’s possible to call your best friends at the touch of a button.

The second and third home screens also work well, and offer a lot more customisation than before. Nokia was keen to talk about the reasons behind the multiple home screens, pointing out that they’re great for business use, for instance, with the ability to keep your emails hidden but easily accessible on the second screen.

Overall, Symbian ^3 is an impressive step forward for Nokia, and it doesn't hold the Nokia C7 back. It'd be nice if it looked a bit more modern, but then again it's great that Nokia is trying to keep things simple for outgoing Nokia owners. Once you get the hang of it, Symbian ^3 is also incredibly customisable, and there's a lot to like here.