Nokia 7610 Comprehensive Review of Features Pricing and Performance

Network and Connectivity

The Nokia 7610 was a groundbreaking phone in its time, specifically in terms of network and connectivity. It supported GSM technology and was operable in 2G networks on the GSM 900/1800/1900 bands. Although it did not support EDGE, it was equipped with GPRS Class 6, allowing users to access mobile internet with reasonable speed for that era. The absence of EDGE indicates the initial stage of mobile data capabilities when the phone was released.

Design and Build

The Nokia 7610 featured a distinctive design which became one of its most notable aspects. With dimensions of 109 x 53 x 19 mm and a weight of 118 grams, the phone was compact and lightweight, making it highly portable. It housed a Mini-SIM slot, another trademark of earlier mobile phone models. The aesthetic design with color options such as Ruby and Onyx and its unique shape were iconic, helping it stand out in a market increasingly filled with rectangular devices.

Display

For its time, the 2.1-inch TFT display offering 65K colors was rather impressive. Boasting a resolution of 176 x 208 pixels at approximately 130 ppi density, the screen was designed to offer a clear, vibrant view which was sufficient for the user activities prevalent during its prime market years. The display size to body ratio was about 24.3%, which was considered quite ample back then.

Platform and Performance

The Nokia 7610 ran on the Symbian 7.0s operating system, employing the Series 60 v2.0 user interface. It was powered by the TI OMAP 1510 chipset and a 123 MHz ARM925T CPU, which was a standard configuration for mobile phones released around that time. The phone's performance, while basic compared to modern standards, was more than adequate for its range of tasks, from calls to basic internet browsing and using available applications.

Memory

The inbuilt memory was limited to 8MB, and it had a card slot for RS-MMC, with a 64 MB card included. This offered users some flexibility in storing messages, small applications, and contacts, though multimedia storage was quite limited due to the low memory capacity. However, for the specific period the Nokia 7610 was introduced, this setup was in line with user expectations for mobile storage.

Camera

One of Nokia 7610's key features was its 1 MP camera, which included capabilities for video recording. Although cameras with higher megapixels are now prevalent, at its launch, having a 1 MP camera in a mobile phone was a significant achievement, allowing users to capture images and videos conveniently. It didn't have a selfie camera, indicating that the trend of front-facing cameras had not yet achieved mainstream status.

Sound and Alert Features

The Nokia 7610 came with a loudspeaker and supported various ringtone types including vibration, downloadable polyphonic, monophonic, and MP3 ringtones. However, it lacked a 3.5mm headphone jack, which was a drawback for users hoping to listen to music through headphones. Despite this, the offered alert feature set was versatile and met the basic needs of consumers during that era.

Connectivity Features

While modern mobile phones boast extensive connectivity options, the Nokia 7610 offered fundamental connectivity capabilities. It supported Bluetooth 1.1, allowing for connections between devices for data transfer. The lack of WLAN meant that users could not connect via wireless internet, and the absence of a conventional USB port was offset by its Pop-Port connection. Additionally, there was no support for location-based services or radio.

Browser and Language

On the software side, the Nokia 7610 supported WAP 2.0/xHTML and HTML browsing, enabling users to access the web within the constraints of the technology at the time. This feature represented an early step toward fully mobile internet browsing. The phone supported an impressive 39 languages for menu settings and 22 for T9 input, catering to a wide global audience.

Battery Life

Battery life was supported by a removable Li-Ion 900 mAh battery (BL-5C). Effective power management enabled standby times of up to 250 hours and talk times of up to 3 hours, reflecting typical performance standards for mobile phones of that time which recognized the constraints in battery technology.

Miscellaneous Features

Additional features of the Nokia 7610 included selectable colors of either Ruby or Onyx, which provided consumers with stylish choices. The Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) values were 0.90 W/kg for the head and 0.88 W/kg for the body, adhering to safety regulations of electromagnetic exposure - another vital factor among consumers buying mobile devices.