Nokia E61i Specs Pricing Pros & Cons Unveiled

Overview

The Nokia E61i, announced in February 2007, stood as a significant device in Nokia's line-up targeting business professionals. This device was discontinued but left a notable mark in the history of mobile communications, particularly because of its advanced features for the time. It succeeded the popular E61 model, building upon its predecessor's reputation with improved functionalities.

Design and Build Quality

The Nokia E61i features a professional and robust design with dimensions measuring 117 x 70 x 13.9 mm and a weight of 150 grams. Its substantial weight and size gave it a sturdy feel, showing it was built to last, which was a characteristic appreciated by many business users. The device also featured a full QWERTY keyboard, an attractive addition for users who demanded mobility with efficient typing capabilities. Additionally, its body housed a Mini-SIM slot and came in two color variants: Silver and Mocca.

Display

This device hosted a 2.8-inch TFT display with a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels. Though not large by today's standards, it provided adequate brightness and color depth with its 16 million color capability. The display was sufficient for reading emails and browsing simple webpages, thanks to its 143 ppi density and 29.6% screen-to-body ratio.

Platform and Performance

Underneath its polished exterior, the Nokia E61i ran on the Symbian OS 9.1, Series 60 v3.0 UI, which was one of the most popular mobile operating systems at the time. It was powered by a 220 MHz Dual ARM 9 processor, adequate for handling basic applications and multitasking with moderate efficiency. With 64MB of RAM, the device managed to stay competitive, allowing users to run essential productivity apps smoothly, though heavy multitasking could slow it down.

Storage

The internal memory of 60MB meant that users had to rely on the microSD slot for additional storage. This was a reasonable option at the time, allowing users to expand storage capacity as per their needs, making the E61i quite versatile in handling more applications and media files.

Camera

The Nokia E61i was equipped with a basic 2MP camera, offering CIF video recording capabilities. Although not designed to replace a standalone camera, it was adequate for capturing essential moments on the go. The absence of a front-facing camera highlighted its primary focus on business rather than multimedia enjoyment.

Connectivity and Networks

The Nokia E61i supported GSM and UMTS networks, with 2G bands covering GSM 850/900/1800/1900 and a UMTS 2100 band for 3G. This provided wide coverage for global use, specifically for business travelers. The device offered satisfactory speed with a 384 kbps capability on 3G networks, enough for email checking and light browsing.

Communication Features

As a business phone, the E61i included an array of communication options such as WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11b/g and Bluetooth 1.2 for wireless connections. The inclusion of an infrared port was reminiscent of the transitional period between older and newer communication technologies. Although lacking a GPS, the phone concentrated on traditional communication means through its browser compatibility with WAP 2.0/xHTML and HTML.

Battery Life

The device came with a removable Li-Po 1500 mAh battery (BP-4L), providing impressive longevity for its time. Stand-by time was rated at up to 400 hours on 2G and 456 hours on 3G, while talk time could reach up to 9 hours on 2G and 5 hours on 3G networks. Its superior battery performance made it an ideal companion for professionals needing reliable communication throughout the day.

Sound and Audio

The E61i supported multiple alert types including vibration, downloadable polyphonic, monophonic, and MP3 ringtones, but lacked a 3.5mm jack. This absence could be a limitation for users who preferred using their high-quality headphones, marking it as a trade-off for its otherwise robust design.

Market Position and Impact

During its launch, the Nokia E61i was priced at around 200 EUR. It positioned itself as a cost-effective smartphone for business users who needed an efficient communication tool with essential functionalities. It wasn't just a phone, but a mobile office that met the requirements of demanding professionals, securing its place as a memorable piece of technology history among Nokia's successful mobile phones.