Nokia 3660 InDepth Review of Specs Pricing Pros & Cons

Introduction to Nokia 3660

The Nokia 3660 was a significant mobile phone released during the early 2000s. Released in the fourth quarter of 2003, it captured the interest of users with its new features for that era. As a successor to Nokia’s 3650, it refined many aspects that appealed to users, offering a better user experience in terms of display, memory, and more. This article delves into the details of the Nokia 3660, exploring everything from its design to technical specifications.

Design and Build

The Nokia 3660 featured a robust design typical of early-2000s phones. Its dimensions were 130 x 57 x 26 mm, making it relatively bulky compared to modern smartphones but quite standard for its time. The phone's weight of 130 grams contributed to a solid feel, offering durability while remaining lightweight enough for portability. A unique design aspect was its circular keypad layout, which, while innovative, took some getting used to for those accustomed to the more traditional rectangular design.

Available in vivid colors such as Red and Blue, the body housed a mini-SIM and boasted a sturdy exterior shell designed to withstand daily wear and tear. This sturdiness was a key selling point given the era's focus on durable mobile devices.

Display and Interface

The Nokia 3660 was one of the early adopters of a color screen, featuring a 2.1-inch TFT display. The screen supported 65K colors with a resolution of 176 x 208 pixels, which was impressive at the time. With a screen-to-body ratio of approximately 18.9%, the phone offered sufficient space for viewing images and navigating the user interface.

It ran the Symbian 6.1 operating system with a Series 60 v1.0 UI, making it one of the early smartphones with a versatile and expandable software platform. Users could download and install additional applications, a feature that added significant value by enhancing functionality in ways that feature phones could not.

Camera Capabilities

Focusing on its photographic features, the Nokia 3660 included a VGA camera with 0.3 megapixels, which today seems basic but was fairly standard for its time. This allowed users to take simple photos on the go. The inclusion of video recording capabilities also enabled users to capture moments beyond still photography.

Performance and Hardware

Powered by a 104 MHz ARM 920T processor, the Nokia 3660 performed efficiently for typical tasks of its era. It was built with 3.4MB of internal storage and provided an MMC card slot for expandable memory, allowing users to store more media and applications as needed.

Despite limited storage and processing power by today’s standards, it supported enhanced multitasking capabilities through its Symbian OS, as applications could run simultaneously to some extent.

Battery Life

Equipped with a removable Li-Ion 850 mAh battery (BL-5C), the Nokia 3660 offered a battery life that was competitive with other phones at the time. It provided a standby time ranging from 150 to 240 hours and a talk time of 2 to 4 hours. The battery's removable nature allowed users to carry an extra battery, extending use without the need for a charger in all scenarios.

Connectivity and Network

The Nokia 3660 supported GSM network technology with 2G bands including GSM 900, 1800, and 1900. It featured Class 4 GPRS for essential data connectivity when on the move, although it did not support EDGE or more advanced data networks.

Connectivity features included Bluetooth 1.1 for wireless connections and an infrared port popular for short-range data transfers with compatible devices. Lack of Wi-Fi and modern USB connectivity options were limitations but standard for devices during that period.

Sound and Multimedia

The phone was equipped with a loudspeaker and supported a variety of audio alert types, including vibration, downloadable polyphonic and monophonic ringtones, and a composer for personalized tones. The absence of a 3.5mm headphone jack was a limiting factor for audio enthusiasts relying instead on proprietary connectors or alternative output methods.

Software and User Experience

With the Symbian 6.1 OS and Series 60 UI, the Nokia 3660 was equipped for a versatile range of applications. The interface allowed customizations, and it supported multiple languages, making it accessible worldwide. The browser provided was WAP 2.0/xHTML compatible, offering basic web navigation tailored for mobile use.

Conclusion

The Nokia 3660 remains a notable device in the history of mobile phones. While its specifications are humble by today's standards, it represented a leap forward at the time of its release. With a colorful display, basic internet capabilities, a user-replaceable battery, and an initial step into mobile photography, it catered to a demographic enthusiastic about emerging mobile technologies. It symbolizes a key transition from merely functional cell phones to the beginnings of a more connected, versatile mobile world.