The Nokia C7 proved to be a fine addition to the Symbian range when it was launched in October 2010. Now, well over a year since its launch, many C7 owners will be looking for an upgrade. Does the new Nokia Lumia 710 fit the bill?
Nokia Lumia 710 software review
The Nokia Lumia 710 has arrived on the scene in much the same way as the Nokia C7 did - as an affordable alternative to a very well received Nokia device. Just as the C7 could do much of what the Nokia N8 could do but with a few unique quirks of its own, so the Nokia Lumia 710 can stand toe to toe with the brilliant Nokia Lumia 800 while retaining its own unique charms.
But how to these two phones match up? Starting with the screen, the Nokia C7 was notable for offering a 3.5-inch 640 x 360 AMOLED display - just like a Nokia N8 before it and similar to (though not as sharp as) the Nokia Lumia 800 after it. The Nokia Lumia 710 can’t boast such display that’s quite as vibrant, but it is a fair bit bigger (3.7-inch) and significantly higher resolution (800 x 480).
When it comes to raw power, there really is no contest, and the Nokia Lumia 710 is a significant upgrade. The Nokia C7’s 680MHz CPU has been replaced by a 1.4GHz example in the Lumia - more than double the processing power. This will have a marked effect on general performance, as well as web browsing, video playback and app performance.
The biggest difference between the Nokia C7 and the Nokia Lumia 710, though, relates to their relative operating systems. While the Nokia C7 uses Nokia’s own Belle OS, the Nokia Lumia 710 benefits from Nokia’s partnership with Microsoft. It runs on Windows Phone 7.5, which brings with it a revolutionary user interface and peerless search and social network integration.
For those looking to make the step up to a truly modern smart device, the Nokia Lumia 710 is the most accessible entry point. It’s worth noting that you also get Nokia Drive as standard with the Nokia Lumia 710 - an outright sat nav replacement - as well as free music streaming through Nokia Music.
If you’re a keen mobile photographer, the choice is a little tougher. The Nokia C7 can capture higher resolution pictures with its 8-megapixel camera than the Nokia Lumia 710 and its 5-megapixel camera. In practice, though, this only comes into play if you want to print larger-than-normal images.
If the C7 has the edge on image resolution, then the Lumia 710 has the edge on response time (thanks to that fast processor), ease of sharing (thanks to the Windows Phone OS), better video (720p at 30fps rather than 25fps) and storage.
The latter might seem a strange thing to say, as both phones have 8GB of internal storage. However, the Nokia Lumia 710 comes with 25GB of free online storage through SkyDrive - a way to store your photos and files in the cloud.
The final consideration is a purely aesthetic one - which do you prefer the look of? We can vouch for the Nokia Lumia 710’s premium feel, and the ability to switch between multiple battery covers (it even comes with an alternative example) is a nice touch.
The Nokia C7 was a hero in its time, and remains a solid device that’s only going to improve with Symbian Belle. However, the Nokia Lumia 710 is a definite step up into another league of smartphone - and one we wholeheartedly recommend to take if you get the opportunity.
What do you Nokia C7 owners think of the Nokia Lumia 710? Are you reluctant to leave Symbian behind? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments section below.