Price and specifications of Nokia 6790 Surge advantages, disadvantages, and a comprehensive explanation

Overview of the Nokia 6790 Surge

The Nokia 6790 Surge, released in July 2009, emerged as an innovative smartphone from the Finnish giant aimed at the young and the socially active. This device was distinct for its slide-out QWERTY keyboard and offered an attractive combination of mobile communication and media features. Below we will dive deep into the various facets of the Nokia 6790 Surge, discussing its specifications, design, performance, and capabilities.

Design and Build Quality

With dimensions of 97.5 x 57.9 x 15.5 mm and weighing 123.9 grams, the design of the Nokia 6790 Surge was strategically compact yet robust. Its 15.5 mm thickness allowed for the integration of the slide-out QWERTY keyboard, which was quintessential for a full typing experience. The bold and slightly curved design exuded a sense of sophistication, making it visually appealing to its target audience.

The device housed a TFT screen with a 16M color display, supporting a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels. The 2.4-inch display had a screen-to-body ratio of approximately 31.6%, which aligned with the need for device compactness while still offering adequate visual real estate for task handling.

Display Characteristics

The TFT display, supporting 320 x 240 pixel resolution, was efficient for its time. Despite being relatively small at 2.4 inches, it provided clarity and a broad color spectrum, essential for tasks such as browsing or multimedia viewing. However, the pixel density of approximately 167 ppi meant it was not exceptionally sharp but was adequate for typical usage scenarios during its era.

Hardware and Performance

The Nokia 6790 Surge ran on the Symbian S60 rel. 3.2 operating system, a decision that offered access to a good range of applications and functionalities. Though the details of the CPU and RAM were not heavily marketed, the device’s operating standard was in line with contemporaneous entries in similar price brackets.

For storage needs, the phone offered 128 MB of internal storage, expandable via the microSDHC card slot. This ensured that users could store more applications, images, songs, and videos beyond the device's built-in capacity, granting expanded functionality in line with user demand.

Camera Features

Equipped with a 2 MP rear camera, the Nokia 6790 Surge allowed users to capture decent-quality images. While it lacked advanced camera features, like autofocus or a front-facing camera for selfies, the presence of the video shooting capability at 320p was valuable at a time when mobile video was beginning to rise in popularity.

Connectivity Options

The device was well-equipped in terms of connectivity, supporting GSM and HSPA technologies. It offered sufficient 2G and 3G bands for voice and data services worldwide. However, the device's absence of WLAN was a notable missing feature, with reliance instead placed on cellular data connections.

Bluetooth 2.0 support enabled users to connect to a range of devices wirelessly, and GPS/A-GPS functionalities facilitated basic navigation and location services. The inclusion of a stereo FM radio with RDS added another multimedia option for users.

Battery Life and Efficiency

The removable 1500 mAh Li-Ion battery (BP-4L) was a positive aspect of the Nokia 6790 Surge, promising up to 400 hours of standby time and up to approximately 4 hours of talk time. These specifications indicated a reliable battery life, capable of supporting the user's daily needs without frequent charging interruptions.

Multimedia and Additional Features

For sound output, the device supported loudspeaker functionality, enhancing its multimedia prowess, although the absence of a 3.5mm headphone jack was a limitation. Being limited to microUSB 2.0 restricted its connection speed for data transfer and accessory connectivity, although this was standard for the period.

The browser capabilities included support for WAP 2.0/xHTML and HTML, catering to basic browsing activities suitable for social networking enthusiasts and casual news reading. Despite not incorporating sensor technologies or WLAN, its supplementary offerings such as responsive GPS effectively met primary mobility needs.

Conclusion

The Nokia 6790 Surge stood out in a crowded market primarily due to its unique slide-out QWERTY design, robust build, and social networking optimization. Despite a few shortcomings, such as a modest camera sensor and the lack of Wi-Fi and a headphone jack, it delivered solid performance for its target demographic. With its combination of strategic connectivity, usability, and a user-friendly hardware keyboard, the 6790 Surge carved out its niche successfully for the period, remaining a memorable entry in Nokia’s illustrious device lineup.