Nokia's second Windows Phone device, the Nokia Lumia 710, is set to go on sale in the UK over the coming days, so some of you Nokia C6-01 owners might be considering an upgrade. To help with your decision, we thought we'd prepare a quick side-by-side feature to see how the two devices compare.
Nokia Lumia 710 Unboxing review
The compact Nokia C6-01 has been a solid performer for Nokia ever since its release back in November 2010, when it stood as the cheapest Symbian^3 device yet. Now, of course, Nokia has moved on to bigger and better things. The question for upgraders is: is the Nokia Lumia 710 one of those bigger and better things?
It's certainly bigger when viewed head-on. While the Nokia Lumia 710 is a fair bit longer and wider than the diminutive Nokia C6-01, the newer phone is surprisingly lighter and thinner.
We can forgive the Nokia Lumia 710 its larger head-on form factor, too, as it facilitates the inclusion of a much bigger screen. The Nokia C6-01's 3.2-inch touchscreen display is well and truly overshadowed by the Lumia 710's 3.7-inch example. We reckon 3.7 to 4-inches is the sweet spot for every day usage, as it provides a nicely sized viewing area for videos and web browsing while remaining usable with just one hand.
It's worth noting, too, that the Lumia 710's screen is a fair bit sharper than the C6-01's - which is fortunate given the Windows Phone OS's sharp, clean lines and bold use of text.
Ah yes, Windows Phone. While there are hardware differences between the Nokia C6-01 and the Nokia Lumia 710, none are as major as the differences between their operating systems. Put simply, Windows Phone is a major step forward from Symbian^3. Its bright live tile-based front end is the best in the business, and the way all the apps and features integrate makes for a truly pleasant experience.
Thankfully, this advanced mobile OS works brilliantly on the Nokia Lumia 710 thanks to its swift 1.4GHz processor. That's considerably more powerful than the Nokia C6-01's 680MHz example, and it opens up the way for stunning 3D games such as ilomilo and slick HD video playback.
Thinks aren't quite so clear cut when it comes to the camera. The Nokia C6-01 came out during a bit of a golden spell for Nokia camera phones, not long after the Nokia N8. As such, it has a fine 8-megapixel snapper that would appear to trump the Nokia Lumia 710's 5-megapixel offering. However, what the Nokia Lumia 710 has is super-fast response times (press and hold the shutter button from sleep mode and you'll jump straight to the camera), slicker 720p HD video (30fps rather than 25fps) and the ability to store your pictures in the cloud through SkyDrive.
Not only does the Nokia Lumia 710 have access to 25GB of online storage through this SkyDrive tool, it also has an impressive 8GB of internal storage, whereas the Nokia C6-01 has 1GB. Of course, you can expand the C6-01's memory through its micro SD slot, which the Nokia Lumia 710 doesn't have.
While the Nokia C6-01 remains a decent handset, then - and even gives the Nokia Lumia 710 a run for its money in terms of camera and memory expansion - the newer device is simply a far more complete and capable phone. Its extra power, superior screen and stunning Windows Phone OS makes it the perfect choice for Nokia C6-01 owners looking for an upgrade.
Those are our impressions - what do you Nokia C6-01 owners think of the new Nokia Lumia 710? Are you happy to swap to an all new operating system? Let us know in the comments section below.