Nokia 6500 Slide Comprehensive Review of Specs Prices and Features

Overview

The Nokia 6500 slide was announced in May 2007 and released in September of the same year. As is common with many devices from this era, it is now discontinued. Despite its discontinuation, at the time of release, it was a stylish mobile phone that gained popularity due to its sleek design and solid build quality. Nokia's emphasis on merging functional features with elegant design is evident in this device.

Design and Build Quality

The Nokia 6500 slide has dimensions of 96.5 x 46.5 x 16.4 mm, and it weighs 125 grams. This weight gives it a substantial feel in the hand, yet it's compact enough for pockets. The slide mechanism is smooth and reveals the keypad for ease of use. Crafted with a steel finish, the device exudes a premium aesthetic which was ahead of its time. It’s available in colors such as Steel and Black, which enhance its sophisticated appearance.

Display

The phone comes with a TFT screen that displays 16 million colors. The 2.2-inch display has a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels, which was quite standard for feature phones of that time. Despite the modest screen size and resolution by today's standards, it offered clear and vibrant visual output, making it suitable for viewing images and basic multimedia consumption.

Camera Features

One of the standout features of the Nokia 6500 slide is its camera. The device is fitted with a single 3.15 MP rear camera with autofocus. Nokia partnered with Carl Zeiss optics to enhance image quality. It also includes an LED flash for better low-light photography. The camera is capable of capturing video at 480p@15fps. For video calls, there is a QCIF front-facing camera, delivering basic functionality for the era's video conferencing needs.

Network and Connectivity

The device supports GSM and UMTS networks, with 2G bands including GSM 850, 900, 1800, and 1900, and 3G bands covering UMTS 850 and 2100. In terms of data speed, the phone supports up to 384 kbps, adequate for basic browsing and streaming in the mid-2000s.

Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP is available for wireless data transfer, and it also has microUSB support for syncing and charging. Although it doesn't support WLAN connectivity, the presence of stereo FM radio provides an analog option for enjoying music.

Storage and Memory

Internally, the Nokia 6500 slide offers 20 MB of storage, which is quite limited. However, the phone includes a microSDHC card slot, allowing users to expand storage significantly according to their multimedia needs. This feature was crucial at a time when music and video files were gaining popularity among mobile users.

The phonebook can store up to 2000 entries and includes a Photocall feature, while the call records keep track of 20 dialed, 20 received, and 20 missed calls.

Operating System and Interface

Nokia 6500 slide runs on a feature phone platform, which is typical of devices from its era before the dominance of advanced smartphone operating systems like Android and iOS. It includes robust messaging capabilities, supporting SMS, MMS, Email, and Instant Messaging. The phone’s browser is compatible with WAP 2.0/xHTML and HTML using Opera Mini, adequate for basic internet browsing.

Battery Life

Powering the Nokia 6500 slide is a removable Li-Ion 900 mAh battery (BP-5M). The device promises a standby time of up to 310 hours and a talk time of up to 6 hours on a full charge. These specifications provided sufficient battery life for daily use when smartphones and constant data usage were not as prevalent.

Sound and Multimedia

The loudspeaker delivers good quality sound, and it supports vibration alert types along with downloadable polyphonic and MP3 ringtones. However, the absence of a 3.5mm audio jack limits wired audio connectivity. Nevertheless, Bluetooth A2DP enables wireless audio streaming.

Games and Applications

Pre-loaded with entertaining games like High Roller Casino, Golf Tour, Rally 3D, and Snake 3*, the device also allows for downloading additional games. With Java MIDP 2.0 support, users had the flexibility to access a wider range of applications available at that time.

Miscellaneous

The Nokia 6500 slide had a price point of approximately 140 EUR at the time of release. Its SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) rating stands at 0.95 W/kg for the head and 0.79 W/kg for the body, with the EU-specific SAR for the head at 1.10 W/kg. These values were within safe exposure limits, aligning with international safety standards.

Conclusion

The Nokia 6500 slide is a representation of Nokia's commitment to delivering robust, elegant, and functional mobile devices in the pre-smartphone era. Its combination of a quality camera system with Carl Zeiss optics, expandable storage, solid build, and a feature-rich interface made it a popular choice among consumers. While technology has advanced significantly, making such devices obsolete, the Nokia 6500 slide remains a notable piece of mobile phone history.