Nokia E55 Comprehensive Review of Specs Pricing and Features

Overview and Introduction

The Nokia E55, announced in February 2009 and released in August of the same year, was a device that marked an important era in the telecommunications landscape. Born from Nokia's Eseries, which was originally designed for corporate users needing reliable devices with advanced email and messaging capabilities, the E55 combined sophisticated design with high functionality.

Design and Build

The Nokia E55 boasts a sleek and compact design with dimensions of 116 x 49 x 9.9 mm and a weight of just 98 grams, making it easy to carry and handle. Crafted for durability and style, the phone's exterior came in several appealing colors, including Black Aluminium, White Aluminium, and Red. The use of durable materials ensured robustness, while its compactness allowed it to easily fit into pockets and bags.

Display

Equipped with a TFT display that supports 16 million colors, the E55’s 2.4-inch screen, with a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels (~167 ppi density), provided sharp and vivid visuals for its time. The screen-to-body ratio was around 31.4%, allowing users to interact efficiently with the device, albeit with a limited touchscreen experience compared to modern phones.

Hardware and Performance

The core of Nokia E55’s hardware was an ARM 11 processor clocked at 600 MHz, which delivered smooth performance for standard applications and tasks of its era. It was equipped with an internal storage of 60MB, but for users needing more room, it offered a microSDHC slot with 2 GB included in the package, expandable further to accommodate more data and applications.

Operating System

The device operated on Symbian OS, S60 rel. 3.2, a popular operating system of the time that offered a wide range of features for enhancing productivity and connectivity. Known for its versatility, the Symbian platform provided numerous customization options and supported a multitude of applications for both personal and professional use.

Camera and Multimedia

Nokia E55 came equipped with a 3.2 MP rear camera, complete with an LED flash. The camera offered decent photo quality and video recording capabilities at 480p@15fps. Additionally, it had a QVGA video call camera on the front, allowing for basic video call functionality. An FM radio with RDS and a 3.5mm headphone jack further expanded its multimedia capabilities. The phone's sound department included a loudspeaker that provided clear audio for calls and media playback.

Battery Life

One of the highlights of Nokia E55 was its battery life, powered by a removable Li-Po 1500 mAh battery (BP-4L). It was capable of providing up to 672 hours of standby time on a 2G network and up to 432 hours on a 3G network. In terms of talk time, it offered up to 8 hours on 2G and 6 hours on 3G. Moreover, the device supported up to 18 hours of music playback, making it an ideal companion for long journeys and remote work.

Connectivity and Networking

The device supported GSM/HSPA technology and covered various 2G and 3G bands, allowing for extensive connectivity options across different regions. With HSPA speeds of up to 10.2/2 Mbps, the E55 facilitated efficient internet browsing and file downloads. Connectivity options were further enhanced with Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g and Bluetooth 2.0 technologies, along with GPS and A-GPS capabilities via Nokia Maps 3.0 for navigation purposes. The inclusion of a microUSB 2.0 port enabled seamless data transfer and device charging.

Sensors and Additional Features

The Nokia E55 was equipped with an accelerometer and a digital compass, enhancing user interaction with motion-based functionalities and location-based applications. The built-in browser supported WAP 2.0/xHTML and HTML, offering a modest web browsing experience to access internet information and services.

Market Position and Aftermath

Priced at approximately 150 EUR at launch, the E55 was positioned as a mid-range smartphone appealing mainly to business professionals and individuals seeking reliable email functionality on-the-go. Due to its balanced combination of features, it saw considerable success and laid some groundwork for subsequent models until its discontinuation.

Audio and Voice Quality

The E55 boasted voice quality figures of 66dB for voice, 62dB for noise, and 74dB for the ring. For audio connoisseurs, it offered audio quality readings with noise at -83.6dB and crosstalk at -84.3dB, ensuring clear sound during calls and multimedia use.

Conclusion

In retrospect, Nokia E55's release marked a period where mobile technology was undergoing significant shifts. With its sleek design, dependable performance, and comprehensive features, it exemplified Nokia's capacity to meet the diverse needs of mobile users during its time. It stands as a testament to the era's innovation, remembered fondly by those who used it for its robustness and multifunctionality.