Nokia 5310 XpressMusic Review

Nokia are have always been the big name when it comes to mobile phones. However, when it comes to mobile phone music devices they are relative chasers to Sony Ericsson and their well established and well received Walkman range. Nokia have responded with their own range of music style handsets known as XpressMusic already gracing the range is the fantastic 5800, 5300 and now the 5310. Certainly one of the cheaper devices in the range it begs the question, does 5310 meet the spec of what we have come to expect from budget devices and does it deliver in terms of meeting the prestige of Nokia?

The Nokia 5310 XpressMusic Phone

What’s in the Box?

• Nokia 5310 XpressMusic mobile phone
• Battery BL-4CT (860mAh)
• AC-3 Charger
• HS-45 stereo headset with AD-57
• CA-101 Micro USB cable
• 2GB uSD card

More information can be seen in Matt’s Nokia 5310 Unboxing Video

Specifications

• Dimensions: – 103.8 x 44.7 x 9.9 mm:
• Weight: – 71g
• Display: 240 x 320 pixels (2 inch)
• Camera: – 2 mega-pixels
• Music: – Supported formats: MP3, AAC, eAAC+, WMA
• Network: – GSM: 900, 1800, 1900
• Memory: – 30MB internal
• FM Radio
• Bluetooth 2.0
• MicroSDHC memory card slot
• 3.5 mm audio jack
• Standard battery, Li-Ion 860 mAh

General

As mentioned, the Nokia 5310 is a budget device. However, as for build quality, although the 5310 is light weight it doesn’t feel particularly flimsy.

The front of the device is fairly eventful with a decent sized keypad of which a D-Pad with central click button is located above. Either side of this are the menu quick launch keys and of course the two call buttons. A interesting feature of the device is that located on one of the two red strips running parallel with the screen and this is the music control keys which are well placed for quick and easy media management.

Nokia 5310 – front view

The right hand side of the device is home to a two way volume rocker and that is just about it.

Nokia 5310 – right side view

And, if you think you are going to be spoilt with buttons and controls on the left of the device I am afraid you may well be disappointed as the left side only features the very small input for Nokia’s new style propitiatory connection.

Nokia 5310 – left side view

The top of the device is more interesting in terms of connections and buttons, and for the top of a mobile device it’s actually fairly jam packed. From left to right there is a standard 3.5 mm headphone jack which allows you to use your favourite headphones with the 5310, a mini USB input is in the centre with the stand by key located next to this.

Nokia 5310 – top view

The 2 Mega pixel camera is located on the back of the 5310 however, there is no flash which although a disappointment is not something which is expected on a budget device such as the 5310.

Nokia 5310 – back view

Highlights

• Ease of use
• Good Connectivity

Lowlights

• No Flash

Review

The Nokia 5310 XpressMusic may not be what you would describe as a stunning device but I certainly wouldn’t call it ugly, reminding me somewhat of the BenQ E72. The phone sticks to the tried and tested candy bar style design with two single red stripes running parallel to the screen. The device itself is a truly portable device, extremely slim line and lightweight, although as I mentioned the phone doesn’t feel flimsy it does feel a little plastic in the hand and lacks that feeling of quality however given the price that is easily forgiven.

As I mentioned at the start of this review the closest competitor to Nokia’s XpressMusic range is of course Sony Ericsson’s Walkman range, a range which is very much respected in the mobile phone market. Besides the price the key things that stand out when glancing down the spec list include a 2 mega pixel camera, Bluetooth connectivity, up to 4GB storage to name but a few.

The whole point of an slim line, lightweight device such as the 5310 is to make your pockets that bit lighter and replace that MP3 player and replace it with this device. As for storage, the 5310 comes boxed with a 2GB MicroSD. However, the device will support up to 4GB which is not fantastic but when given the price it does actually out do many MP3 players out there on the market. Transferring music files is a breeze as the 5310 supports MP3, MP4, AAC, eAAc+, and WMA music files as well as this the device supports album art which further enhances the overall experience of using the phone for its MP3 capabilities. The inclusion of a standard 3.5mm headphone jack on the top of the device is very pleasing and sound quality is more than acceptable and offers surprising clarity compared to some other mobile devices I have used in the past. The phone also includes an FM radio which works as you may expect – like a radio.

The 5310 comes packed with a 2 mega pixel camera which by today’s standards seems like a fairly modest addition, but for a device which is far more focused on the music side as appose to the photographic focus many devices are taking these days the 2 mega pixels are of a decent level. With the addition of a few basic editing and effect tools you are sure to get a few decent snaps from the 5310. Image quality is surprisingly good and I don’t imagine it will disappoint. The phone can also capture video but the quality is nothing to write home about.

Navigating my way around the 5310 came with a learning curve of around 20 seconds, a smooth cover flow style icon navigation system is present on the main device screen allowing you to select the most popular applications such as camera, music players, radio, etc. A single click will take you to the phone’s familiar Nokia main menu with standard options such as the settings, organiser and contacts. An interesting addition to the menu is something known as PTT or ‘Push To Talk’. It is not commonly used here in the UK but is often used as a placement for texting in the US As I was unable to find a friend with PTT I was unable to use this feature but I have seen it in action and it is a nice addition should it ever really take off in the UK. The phone comes with the usual bundle of fun otherwise known as Snake III as well as a few other games including a fun little music guess game.

Connectivity-wise the 5310 as I mentioned includes Bluetooth 2.0 and Micro USB 2.0 (Full Speed) which, lets face it, is not a dramatically impressive list, however, those purchasing this phone are not likely to be looking for features such as 3G or GPRS. The one word I would use to sum up the 5310 is ‘practical’. Its keyboard was by far one of the easiest I have used in a long time with no problems with big thumb syndrome, navigating around the phone is simple whether you are a seasoned Nokia user or a complete novice. The battery life is quoted at 300 hours standby, 18 hours music playback and around 5.4 hours talk time which is slightly below average but I didn’t find myself reaching for the charger or suffering any problems with the battery cutting out during the day.

Conclusion

In conclusion the Nokia 5310 is a practical well thought out addition to the XpressMusic range which is showing real signs of improvement with each and every device released by the Finish mobile giants. It is certainly a phone to replace your low to mid range MP3 player but for the avid music fan 4GB is just not going to cut it when compared to the 16 or 32 GB devices available however a solid addition to the XpressMusic range at a great price, congratulations Nokia you are now officially in the mobile vs. mp3 player war.

Reviewed by: Nick