Nokia 6310i

The first thing that strikes you about the 6310i is how tall the phone looks. That’s really just an illusion, since the width and height are identical to the old 6190. In fact, the silhouette is identical as well. If you examine the position of the keys, screen and earpiece opening, you’ll find that they too are in exactly the same locations (though the screen on the 6310i is about 10 to 15 percent larger). The styling of the faceplate alone creates the illusion of tallness.


However, there is no denying that the 6310i is markedly thinner than the old 6190. This is due in part to the new Lithium-Polymer battery that ships with 6310i. Even though this battery is much thinner and lighter than the old BLS-2 battery, it packs a whopping 1100 mAh of capacity compared to 900 mAh in the older Li-Ion unit. Battery life on the 6310i is phenomenal. Even after countless hours of on-air testing and playing with the phone, the battery still wasn’t anywhere near being run down. Finally Nokia has a phone with decent battery life.


Also improved is the backlighting, which is now a light blue color, and very easy on the eyes. Even though the screen backlight is still provided by LEDs, it is so evenly distributed that you’d swear it was an electro-luminescent type. The screen could do with being a bit brighter, but I found it was otherwise very readable, and very handsome when lit. The screen is a bit bigger than the one found on the 6190, and it offers more lines of text. It also has much better contrast, and a more reflective backing than many previous Nokia models.


The keypad is great, with just the right amount of user feedback. Each key presses with the same level of force, and it is extremely predictable. The placement of the keys is also excellent, and using the keypad with your thumb while holding the phone in one hand is as easy as it gets. My only gripe with the keypad at all was that its keys weren't raised enough for my liking. I would have preferred keys that stuck up just a little more (but at least they aren't flush as they are in some phones).