Nokia 6303 Classic review

Nokia has a track-record of producing certain classic handsets that don't create much gadget-lover excitement but do the essentials well - and end up selling in bucketloads, sometimes for ages. The elegant Nokia 6300 was one of these understated smash hits, and the 6303 classic aims to update this favourite with a bit of (but not too much) refreshed functionality and design.

It's aimed squarely at mobile users who want an attractive, well-built handset that's reliable and straightforward to use, at a reasonable price.

While Nokia's recent 6700 classic has slipped into the range as a 6300 upgrade with a lot of extra feature muscle - including HSPA 3G connectivity, A-GPS and a 5-megapixel camera - the Nokia 6303 classic is a more straight down the line follow-on. Its metal-cased classic candybar design sticks faithfully to the 6300 template of refined looks and easy usability. It has no 3G or Wi-Fi data connectivity, relying on GPRS/EDGE instead, and its mid-range multimedia package includes a 3.2-megapixel camera.

The 6303 classic isn't intended to wow with touchscreen trickery or cutting edge smartphone applications, though it's not bare-bones basic either. Using Nokia's Series 40 user interface, it has a typically solid selection of Nokia mid-tier software, including music and video players, Nokia Maps route-finding and search software, plus a smattering of online-based apps and useful tools. It also comes boxed with a 1GB MicroSD memory card (which has UK and Ireland mapping data pre-loaded).

Design and handling
The 6303 classic echoes much of the design of the 6300, although the new model has a more rounded, curvy look to it. it's available in silver with black trim or matte black, with stainless steel bodywork providing a smart, high quality feel. Measuring 108.8(h) x 46.2(w) x 11.7(d)mm, it's tidily compact and reasonably slim, while that metal casing gives its 95g chassis a reassuringly substantial, well-balanced feel in the hand – without being chunky in the pcket

It sports a fairly average screen, a 2.2-inch QVGA (320x240 pixels), 16.7-million colour TFT display that's sufficiently clear, bright and readable. Under this is the control panel, comprising a typical navigation D-pad and two decently-sized rocker buttons, doing duties for softkey controls plus regular call and end keys. The D-pad and rocker buttons are precise and easy to operate, while the numberpad beneath, too, is neatly arranged with adequately sized, well-separatef keys that offer responsive finger action for texting.

Additional body buttonry is limited - an on/off switch plus a volume key but no camera key - but as well as charger and USB data sockets, Nokia has included a standard 3.5mm headphone jack. This allows users to easily upgrade their earphones, should the average set supplied in-box not be adequate for tune-playing requirements.

The 6303 classic's Series 40 user interface will be familiar to many Nokia users.There's no messing about. It has a straightforward set-up that's classic mid-level Nokia, with a simple to understand menu structure, based around a main menu grid, easy to find functions in sub menus, and a generally undemanding navigation system.  And from the standby screen there's plenty of shortcut options for getting quickly to features.

In default standby mode, the D-pad offers a selection of shortcuts, in conventional mobile phone fashion, while a 'Go To' softkey pulls up a list of handy feature shortcut options  – Bluetooth, alarms, profiles, media player, Maps and so on. The standby screen - which out of the box is a standard minimalist display - can alternatively be switched via the Go To softlkey (or in the Settings menu) to a busier 'Home Screen' display view. This shows status info (calendar, music player, messages, and so on) plus a row of five feature shortcut icons towards the top of the screen. Implemented as 'Active Standby' on previous Nokias, this 'Home Screen' display set up can be customised to suit how you use the phone; each of the shortcut icons can be switched for any one of more than 70 functions and apps, or any of your browser bookmarks can be selected.

It's a flexible set up; you can keep it simple of tweak it to something more personalised. Similarly, options such as the Phonebook are easy to use, but offer extensive options for adding extra details on top of name and number, should you want to add more than just the basics. As well as phone numbers, if you're using instant messaging (using a pre-loaded Windows Live Messenger app), a tab appears with an updated IM contacts status list.

Email is supported on this device too, and is easy to set up and use - only your email address and password are required and the phone's  email wizard software does the rest, finding and loading details. It works OK for getting email updates on the move, even if it's not the most sophisticated of email interfaces; there's no document viewer software onboard for viewing attachments, for instance.

Camera
The 6303 classic's camera is an unexciting 3.2-megapixel shooter. It has an autofocus system, but it's not as sophisticated as  Nokia's more upmarket cameraphones. There's no 2-step shutter button; you use the D-pad select key to shoot, holding the button down until it focuses, then releasing for it to snap. There's no way of re-adjusting the subject in focus before you snap, so you simply have to wait to see if you've got the sharply focused snap you're after. It's got a rudimentary feel to it, even if it can get properly in-focus shots; it's not one for the enthusiastic cameraphone snapper.

The camera user interface too is typical Series 40 - manly simple lists of options rather than more visually alluring menus. A conventional set of shooting settings are on hand as overrides to the serviceable auto metering system, plus colour effects and some basic post-shooting image editing options.

Snaps look reasonably good for this grade of cameraphone, with sharp focusing and generally rich colour rendition in good lighting conditions. The auto white balance system doesn't always adjust quickly to changing light conditions, but is pretty good indoors.An LED flash delivers some short-range illumination that's not hugely impressive  but is better than no light.

Video can be shot too, at maximum VGA resolution, which looks acceptable for a phone, though playback of the 15 frames per second footage can look averagely stilted mobile phone fare.
In typical Nokia style, images and video can be uploaded straight from snapping to content sharing sites including Ovi and Flickr, plus there are separate menu options linking to Facebook, MySpace and YouTuvbe mobile sites. Without 3G or Wi-Fi, it may be a bit slow, however, for bigger files.

Music player
Thanks to the supplied 1GB memory card to supplement the 6303 classic's meagre 17MB internal storage, there's plenty of room out of the box for a bit of music listening and video playback. MP3, AAC, eAAC+, MP4, H.263 and H.264 are among the file formats supported. The music player software is uncomplicated and unfussy, and easily loads up and lists new tunes copied over from a PC or slipped in on a MicroSD card (cards up to 8GB work with it).

It's operated by the D-pad, and supports cover art, fi available. The supplied earphones are rather basic, producing unimpressive sound quality. Thanks to the 3.5mm headphone socket, you can easily plug in your own headphones for an ungraded audio experience; it is capable of producing much more detailed and refined sound by adding relatively inexpensive better quality eargear.

An FM radio option is included too; with the earphones/antenna plugged in you can play it back through the loudspeaker too - if you don't mind the rather metallic tone.

Video playback is acceptable for a small screen phone, smooth and bright. Downloaded or sideloaded video plays proficiently enough. Without high-speed data though, streaming can be hit and miss, and YouTube clips were sometimes straggly and broken up.

Browsing
As is virtually standard on its Series 40 handsets, Nokia includes two browser options - regular Nokia software and an Opera Mini browser app. The Nokia web browser supports Flash Lite, so can render full pages, but the phone's lack of high-speed data means it can be very slow at delivering the full page when browsing data heavy non mobile-optimised sites.

The no-frills browser uses list-based options rather than a more user friendly control interface, which makes it feel quite clunky compared to otehrs we're now seeing. As usual, Opera Mini offers a much more user friendly interface with a more desktop-like browser interface, and it also renders pages quicker and delivers an easier to navigate page view. Still, without 3G or Wi-Fi, speed performance is limited.

Nokia has embedded its Maps software in this device, although there's no A-GPS technology built in, so its day to day location-finding use is limited. It can work with an optional separate GPS receiver, but if you're going to that trouble you may as well buy a mobile that already has A-GPS gadgetry inside (such as the 6700 classic).

With mapping info for the UK and Ireland pre-loaded on to the supplied MicroSD card you can get route-finding and mapping, pus search options for locations, businesses and services and addresses. But without auto location finding, either via GPS or cellsite triangulation, its usefulness is restricted.

Organiser
The 6303 classic ticks the usual boxes for organiser tools and apps. It has calendar, to do lists, various clock functions, calculator and avoice recorder. Bluetooth is supported, and the phone can be synced up to a PC using the in-box USB cable and downloadable Nokia PC Suite software. Other apps onboard include an Ovi Share feature which enables you to upload, view and share images online. A Flickr app is pre-loaded too, as well as links for Facebook, MySpace and YouTube services. Nokia's regular Download! tool is available too, providing downloadable apps and other content. Half a dozen decent games are included too.

Performance
The battery life and call performance are both exactly what you'd want from this sort of handset - excellent and reliable. Nokia claims its battery will provide up to 450 hours on standby or 7 hours of talktime, and we got over four days of normal usage between charges. Impressive.Voice calling was top notch too, high quality sound and a dependable network performance.

Conclusion
Refreshing the successful 6300, the Nokia 6303 classic doesn't stray too far from that winning template. It updates a few of the features and spruces up some of the functionality, but generally it still offers a useful, solid set of functionality for its target audience, plus an excellent battery performance.

The lack of 3G will be a drawback for those who want to make use of its online-based features, and if you're looking a more feature-enhanced similar model, the 6700 classic delivers extra punch, including A-GPS, HSPA and a 5-megapixel camera. However, if you're happy with the low-key but tidy approach, the 6303 classic's smart styling and quality build will add to the understated appeal of this unfussy handset that delivers what's expected of it.