The Nokia C3-01 Touch and Type is Nokia's latest budget touchscreen handset, and the range of features it has to offer shows just how far the mobile phone industry has progressed. We've looked at the camera, the hardware, the software, the interface - join us after the break for our Nokia C3-01 Touch and Type review roundup...
When we first got the Nokia C3-01 Touch and Type out of its box, we were impressed with the build quality:
“Take the Nokia C3-01 Touch and Type out of the box and the first thing you’ll notice – at least if it’s been sat in a cold delivery truck – is the metal construction. Despite being an entry-level handset, the Nokia C3 Touch and Type features excellent build quality, and the stainless steel casing is cool to the touch.”
This was something we confirmed again in our full Nokia C3-01 Touch and Type review:
“Build quality on the Nokia C3-01 Touch and Type is excellent, proving that you don’t have to spend lots of money to get a high quality product. The majority of the Nokia C3-01 Touch and Type is constructed out of stainless steel, with a metal bezel around the screen, and a metal back plate.”
We were particularly complementary about the Nokia C3-01 Touch and Type's keyboard, stating:
“The Nokia C3-01 Touch and Type is perfect for everybody. The buttons dwarf those of its sibling, with additional space liberated by the omission of a D-pad.” “Overall, however, we love the keyboard on the Nokia C3-01 Touch and Type. It proves that there’s still a place for regular hardware buttons, and that they can complement a touchscreen, and offer the best of both worlds.”
The Nokia C3-01 Touch and Type also pulled out all the stops when it came to camera quality – falling short of devices like the Nokia N8, but proving more than good enough for an entry-level handset. In our Nokia C3-01 Touch and Type camera review we stated:
“Overall, the Nokia C3-01 Touch and Type’s camera does an impressive job. Sure, it’s not as good as the Nokia N8, but at this price point it was never going to be. It’s more than capable when you need it, and it’s nearly up to the standard of the Nokia N97 Mini – a device that also gets Carl Zeiss optics and Autofocus.”
Perhaps surprisingly, the Nokia C3-01 Touch and Type also proved a capable all-rounder when it came to media playback. In our Nokia C3-01 Touch and Type music and videos review we pointed out:
“The 2.4-inch screen is sharp and colourful, and movies look great on it. It’s also bright, making it easy to see even the smallest of details. Unlike lots of other Nokia handsets, there are no media keys on the Nokia C3-01 Touch and Type, but then again they’re not needed.”
“As an afforable media player, then, the Nokia C3-01 Touch and Type proves more than capable. It can never match high-end devices like the Nokia N8 – purely because of the more comfortable screen size – but if you’re going on a long journey, and need something to entertain, then copy a movie or album onto a microSD card, load it up on your Nokia C3-01 Touch and Type, and enjoy.”
Overall, then, it's impossible not to be impressed by this touchscreen handset. It's similar in concept to the Nokia X3 Touch and Type, but the keyboard is that little bit bigger and more usable, the casing more robust, and the package slightly more attractive to our eyes.