It’s time for another phone review. PureMobile.com sent us the Nokia E71 for review. The E71 is a BlackBerry-style phone, with a full qwerty keyboard in a candybar form factor, meaning the E71 is direct competition for the phone we reviewed in October, the BlackBerry Bold 9000. Read on for our findings.
The Nokia E71 has 110 MB of internal memory and 128 MB of SDRAM. It is powered by an ARM 11 processor, running at 369 MHz. Dimensions are 114x57x10 mm, weighing in at 127gr; it’s heavier than most other phones, but I actually like that as it gives you the idea that you’re actually holding something sturdy. It’s made mostly out of metal, which only adds to this feeling of quality and sturdiness. The black finish of the keyboard, combined with the dark metal creates a very slick and “professional” look, a look Nokia has really perfected over the years – I don’t think there’s another phone company out there that makes such proper use of metals in its phones (all hail the 8800!).
Connectivity-wise, it supports GPRS, HSCSD, EDGE, 3G, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, Bluetooth, GPS, and USB. I have no complaints regarding call or signal quality; even in speakerphone mode everything’s loud and clear. With a 410h standby time, and 4h30m of talk time, you won’t be running out of juice very quickly.
The USB connector is one of those still fairly rare micro b connectors, and sadly, it can’t actually charge the device, which I find a huge missed opportunity. My previous phone did support charge-over-USB, which always came in handy when I was at a friend’s place, without my dedicated charger, and an empty battery. It might be a limitation of the micro b port, I don’t know. Going around the device, there’s a headphone/headset port (non-standard), up/down buttons, charge plug, the USB port, and a micro-SD slot. On top you’ll find the speaker and the on/off/profile button.
It has a QVGA (320x240pix) 2.36″ display, which sports an ambient light sensor so it automatically adjusts the brightness of the display and keyboard lighting accordingly, saving battery power. Going from a portrait-oriented touch screen smartphone to a landscape orientation is a bit odd at first, but it actually works pretty well.
Right underneath the display is the phone’s main feature: a full qwerty keyboard. As someone who regularly text messages his friends (SMS is more effective and less intrusive than calling), the keyboard is a blessing compared to numpads and a touch screen. I also use my phone as a diary to track my appointments, work hours, class hours, and birthdays, and adding entries into the diary with the qwerty keyboard is a beeze.
Each key is convex, which helps in allowing your fingers to differentiate between each key. You can use the entire keyboard with just one hand, or hold the phone in both hands and type with both thumbs, which is obviously faster, but not possible in some situations. The fact that it allows for full control with either one or two hands is a must for anyone who regularly does two or more things at the same time (guilty as charged).
The keyboard has a few dedicated buttons as well, such as two softkeys, green/red keys, a centre button (with built-in notification light, or ‘breathing light’ as Nokia calls it), and the directional pad. There are also home, diary/calendar, contacts, and messaging buttons.
For a phone aimed at business folk, it has a surprisingly capable camera. It sports 3.2 megapixels, autofocus, and a LED flasher. The phone lacks a dedicated one/two-press shutter button, so autofocussing is a bit troublesome: you need to press the t/2 button to engage autofocus, and then release the shutter with another button. And it also does video, of course.
Software
The phone runs Symbian OS, Nokia’s Series 60 3rd edition. It was my first foray into Series 60 territory, and I must say, I’m rather impressed with the way the interface handles itself. There’s a row of shortcuts atop that you can modify, and underneath that there are notifications like upcoming appointments – also definable. On my phone, I put the WiFi on/off switch there for easy access. It’s fully themable, so I quickly downloaded a black/white theme, which really fit this phone.
What’s really cool is the home button, which will always take you back to the main screen no matter where you are. Pressing and holding the home button brings up “alt-tab” so you can switch between running applications. Sadly, the “alt-tab” pop-up does not allow you to close running applications – you need to switch to the individual app first and close it from there. Odd, as well as annoying since not each application has its exit button in the same place.
Since the E series Nokia phones are aimed at business users, the E71 also comes with a load of business-specific applications, such as QuickOffice, with which you can view and edit Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents. It also has support for Microsoft Exchange email, but since I don’t have access to an Exchange server, I couldn’t test this functionality. Reports from other reviewers indicate that there are problems with the E71’s Exchange support: the Nokia Mail for Exchange applications lacks support for sub-folders, so you can’t access your Exchange emails if they’re located in sub-foldes. To further illustrate the phone’s business shortcomings, Nokia’s Series 60 BlackBerry client application is incompatible with the E71.
Another cool gimmick is the text-to-speech functionality on the E71. The phone can actually read text messages aloud if you wish, but since my model only came with support for English (UK), I couldn’t really test it on any of my text messages. I did try it, but pronouncing Dutch words in English? Apparently doesn’t sond so good. You can also have the phone read callers’ names aloud.
The browser on the E71 is remotely usable, but don’t expect a desktop experience on such a small screen. It renders websites fairly well, and the mini-map helps, but it’s still extremely cumbersome and not particularly useful. I’d much rather tether the phone’s 3G to my netbook, and go from there.
Conclusion
Nokia’s E71 is a great phone, but not for the users it was originally aimed at. As a business phone, the less-than-stellar Exchange support, as well as the missing BlackBerry support, will limit the phone’s use. However, as a normal phone “for the rest of us”, the excellent keyboard, sturdy design, and easy-to-use interface enables it to be a fine mobile phone.
Do you hate touch screens, like I do? Do you hate one person controlling what you can and can’t do with your phone, like I do? Would you still like a smartphone? The E71 is a decent choice.
Well after one year using a WM6.0 device i need to switch..and switch fast!
Windows Mobile is sluggish,non-responsive,badly designed and a absolute nightmare if you want to use with your finger.
WM applications database is the only positive thing about it, even with 90% of that is pure garbage.
So after years using Nokias,is time to switch again from my HTC Touch to this phone. Nokia provides a rock-solid experience with “E” models and reviews about E71 are unanimous about his quality.
I had Nokia E61 for a while, two years ago, and it sucked so badly I had to quickly replace it with Treo 680 (which was even cheaper). Symbian is completely unusable without touchscreen. There are no shortcuts, for everything you have to go to the menu using the tiny joystick in the middle.
I don’t know about E70, but it seems to me they didn’t change it that much.
Another Frigging connection format to contend with.
This is especially useless as you can’t charge the unit through it even though the spec seems to allow it.
Nope. not on my shopping list. I’ll keep my 6310 a while longer.
The text to speech function has a module for many languages including Dutch, you can find them in the downloads section.
You should also have mentioned more of its business features (VPN, Printing etc)
Edited 2008-12-10 13:17 UTC
I bought an E71 a few months ago myself and while the hardware is great the software (S60) is far from it IMHO (inconsistent shortcuts, you can’t save files that you transfered via bluetooth to the file system, brain dead calendar that supports neither multiple calendars or categories, picky syncml implementation, …).
Otherwise, I fully agree with your conclusion.
btw. you can close applications in the task-manager with the backspace button.
I can save the files received via bluetooth into the filesystem. What kind of files you are trying to save?
How do you do that? The only filetype I manage to copy where I want is .ZIP because the standard application for .ZIP files lets me do that once I open the file. For everything else (.jars, .dict files, …) I have yet to find a way.
Just open the new bluetooth message in the “Inbox”, and select “Save” from the “Option”.
However, E71 will try to be store the files based on how it recognised it.
So, if you sent in a text file, after saving it, run the “Notes” application from the phone “Office” folder to view or edit it.
For image, it will automatically saved it into the gallery.
For themes files, it will automatically install it and let you select it from the theme selection.
Though, I only tried these files type. I have not tried zip file.
Thats odd — I only got a “move to folder” but no “save” menu entry.
But thanks for the info anyway, maybe I am just lacking a firmware update.
Oh! The excellent keyboard with all those tiny keys which I can hardly dial… What a phone!
Durrr, yeah, a tap-and-pray touchscreen like the iPhone’s would be much better.
hey there tom, you can close apps while in “alt-tab” mode, using the delete key…
I kinda grew up with Symbian, the E71 is my 4th phone of that kind. While Symbian phones evolved over the years in terms of features and capabilities – the phones’ UI got slower and slower – especially my previous phone the E70 was horrible.
The E71 is very much a positive surprise to me – it is very mature both in terms of software and hardware and it’s fast.
Keyboard feels good(my fingertips aren’t thin!). Battery-time is clearly superior to N95 or E70. GPS-sensitivity is feels better than N95, ok for car-navigation, but gps-fix takes a long time in narrow streets.
Even VoIP over wifi is mature – in terms of connectivity, quality and energy efficiency – especially compared to E70.
Usually I am a smartphone-evangelist and used to convince friends and relatives to get a Symbian phone, but not this time – three people bought it before I had the chance to do so and knocked my door to help them set it up.
Taking all the applications I came to know and love over the years and installing them on the E71 – this phone fulfills all my needs.
useful apps:
Geocaching (with the builtin-gps) – GeocachingNavigator(Trimble), free
Dictionaries – SlovoED
Ebooks – Mobipocket Reader, free
SMB-Server – SymSMB (accessing phone more convenient than usb or bluetooth)
OpenStreetMapping – whereamI, free
nokia-maps – maps&browsing them is free, guidance needs subscription
With a maxim µSD-capacity of 8Gb you can load the entire wikipedia (2007, without pictures) as an ebook onto the phone and still have enough space for several other Gb of music, pictures, videoclips and maps.
caveats:
-in order to engage autofocus you need to press “2” before taking a picture
Sorry – no touch UI 😉
Edited 2008-12-10 13:58 UTC
Well I’m just about ready to get a new phone, My nokia 6600 is still running fine but I’ve had the thing for going on five years now and I need to get one with better reception given the area I’m now living in. This E71 just might be exactly what I’ve been looking for–capable, fast, and Symbian based as well as being a GSM and just as important, no friggin touch screen! Woohoo! . I shouldn’t have any issues with T-mobile, should just be able to get it from a place like PureMobile and swap the sim card and that’s it at least, that’s how it’s supposed to work. Anyone know if it really is that simple? It used to be, but if things have changed I’d like to know before I dive into getting one of these.
I just got one a few weeks ago, I really like it. But it has one flaw, it has backgound noise when using the headphone plug, a bit sad when you use it as a music player. I have tested different headphones, and two different phones, all with the same problem. So i’m pretty sure it is a flaw in that model.
/Urth
I’ve had my E71 for a few months now and find it brilliant. Great build quality, fast interface.
I recommend replacing the default theme as there are a bunch of better ones available on places like Deviantart.
Also, as mentioned in the article the bundled Nokia Mail for Exchange is a little underpowered (I can’t get it to calendar sync, for instance).
Instead, check out Dataviz’s Roadsync (Thanks to Joel Spolsky for the tip), it’s 3rd Party and isn’t free, but it’s a beautiful piece of work for those who are unfortunately tethered to Exchange at the office.
Nic
I have the E71’s sibling, the smaller E51, and am quite pleased with it—has almost all the functionality of the E71, but in a smaller package. The article mentions the text-to-speech function and, yes, while it’s not very good, the ability to read aloud the names of the callers in my Contacts, so I don’t need to look at the phone to determine who’s calling, can be quite convenient.
Another bug I’ve found with this phone is that battery life sucks when using IMAP as an email server.
Even when setting the option of only polling the server every two hours the battery will drain in less than a day.
From what I’ve been able to deduce by looking at active connections it keeps the 3g connection open all the time even though there’s no need to, when using IMAP. When I removed the “automatically download” option the connections closed properly and battery life went up to almost 5 days ….
I don’t know about Exchange, but Nokia’s got a new consumer email product called Nokia Messaging. Check it out here: http://email.nokia.com.
The E71 is a supported device, and you can get pretty much any POP or IMAP mail pushed to your phone with it.
So I had an E61i, silver/mocha, from Vodafone. About a month ago at Ikea A’dam, it got stolen out of my jacket pocket and I was forced to seek a new phone. After a lot of research, I finally settled on the unit that, all things considered, was the best replacement.
It’s an E61i. In red this time, tho
This is my first smart phone and it preformed flawlessly for me. Excellent build quality and long battery life. I don’t use any push email so that is not that important to me. I especially like using sport tracker.
1) You can kill applications when “alt-tabbing” using the backspace button.
2) You can charge your phone via micro-USB –
http://europe.nokia.com/products/accessories/all_accessories/memory…
The first Nokia Symbian phone to offer real USB charging is the N85. So it will come to all of them sooner or later.
3) Text-to-speech language modules for many languages (including Dutch) are available for free download either through the “Download!” application or via Nokia’s website.
Also, you don’t mention the pre-installed, integrated SIP VoIP client (3G and WLAN capable), I think this is a pretty big deal. Additionally, an official Gizmo VoIP client is available (integrating nicely with the address book).
Edited 2008-12-10 20:53 UTC
I love my E71, Nokia got it right! So thin, fast, so well built (Like a luxury car), WiFi, GPS, FM, QWERTY solid battery, good loud speaker. Apart from the camera it’s the best!
Thanks to Nokia devs for porting open source apps, Nokia E71 (Symbian) has lotsa open source goodies and more…
Open source…
Python for S60
http://opensource.nokia.com/projects/pythonfors60/
Python Applications and Games (Freeware)
http://www.symbian-freak.com/downloads/freeware/cat_s60_3rd/python….
Freeware Python Scripts
http://www.symbian-freak.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=16778
Mobile Web Server (Apache HTTP Server)
http://opensource.nokia.com/projects/mobile-web-server/
P.I.P.S. Is POSIX on Symbian
http://wiki.forum.nokia.com/index.php/P.I.P.S
Nokia Internet Radio (SHOUTcast etc)
http://opensource.nokia.com/projects/s60internetradio/ClientPage.ht…
Fennec For Symbian (Firefox coming soon)
http://www.symbian-freak.com/news/008/12/firefox_mobile_for_symbian…
More…
Opera & Opera Mini
http://www.operamini.com/
Skyfire (Web browser)
http://www.skyfire.com/
BBC iPlayer for Symbian
http://www.symbian-freak.com/news/008/12/bbcs_iplayer_gets_new_mobi…
Google Maps with Street view
http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2008/12/street-view-on-nokia-s60-a…
Mundu Internet Radio
http://radio.mundu.com/
Games…
Freeware collection (As in beer)
http://www.symbian-freak.com/downloads/freeware/freeware.htm
Games on Symbian
http://www.symbian-freak.com/downloads/freeware/cat_s60_3rd/games.h…
This is all FREE stuff
Edited 2008-12-11 21:05 UTC
Compared with the Treo 750 I moved from. Never been that keen on the Nokia interface but after 2+ years of WM6.0 I changed my mind. Its quick, hasn’t crashed yet, and hasn’t needed a reboot in the two months I’ve been using it. The browser is also good compared with IE on WM6.0. Only thing I miss is VPN/PPTP support as far as I can see.
I have the very same problem, plus with all VoIP/Skype blocked in the Middle East, it’s costing me money, since I can’t bypass those blocks. I really need a VPN app thats works wither with PPTP or OpenVPN, only IPsec VPNs works with the Nokia VPN client.
SymVPN 1.00 for S60 3rd edition, came out recently, it didn’t work in my case at all, because my VPN provider runs its PPTP servers on FreeBSD. Maybe it’ll help you out…
SymVPN 1.00 for S60 3rd edition
http://www.symvpn.com/