Nokia 3100 Review

Overall Rating

The 3105 is very light weight and small. The range of features is outstanding. Great games and with the ability to download and install other series 40 games makes it very compatible.

Dissapointed in differences between two phones of the same make and model. screen quality issues need addressing and some problems with custom ring tones set as alarm clock sound.

I signed up on a contract with a local carrier and they supplied two 3105 mobile phones. The 3105 is identical to the Nokia 3100 in every respect except that it is on the CDMA network, not GSM.

One of the phones I received was, in my opionion, perfect. Screen colour, quality and contrast is what I would expect. For this handset I would give it a 10/10.

However, the second handset I recieved had a DRAMATICALLY different quality to the screen. The screen, for a start, was much darker. Using background wallpapers is almost impossible as they are so dark that the text on the screen can, at most times, not be read.

When the 'screen saver' feature engages, after about 3 minutes, the screen presents as totally black except for a white bar that should show a clock. On the 'good' handset, the time is very clear and distinct. However, on the 2nd handset, the time is virtually non-existant. you cannot read it. it is just so feint.

The service provider has changed the handset once, but the replacement exhibited the same problems. I have compared the phone with others of the same model and non exhibit this feint screen issue.

The service provider are unwilling to exchange again, and I feel this is a little poor considering that I have had the phone for 10 days in total.

The other issue that I have found with this phone is that if you select a custom ring tone to be used as an alarm and the phone is turned off, when the alarm time comes around the phone turns on and the backlight starts blinking, but no sound is produced. However, if the 'standard' alarm sound is selected, the phone opperates as expected - when the alarm time arrives, the phone turns on, lights blink and alarm sound is produced.

The 3105 features a 4096 colour screen. A problem with screens running at this colour depth is that a 'shimmer' can sometimes be seen in darker colours. This is not a fault of the phone or the screen, but generally of the technology. This same screen can be found on the Palm M130 and exhibits the same 'shimmer' effect. It is something to be aware of when buying this phone or devices with 4096 colour (12 bit) screens.

I love the phone, please don't get me wrong. This is a great phone. I am just a little dissapointed mainly by the huge differences between two phones that are supposedly exactly the same.

The resolution to this, now, is to take a phone that is less than a week old (as I have had it changed over once) to Nokia serive for repair. This is just very very dissapointing.

Members' Comments onsgrant's Review

• sgrant on 10th May 2004

  I would like to expand on my review as presented here:
  
  I have now had the phone back to Nokia for the day for a service. After having the phone with them for most of the day, it was returned unfixed.
  
  I discussed the issue of the poor contrast with the Nokia customer care representative and he took the phone back out to the tech. After about 15 minutes the representative returned and told me that the tech has no idea what is wrong. he suspects that it is a software issue and is unable to fix it.
  
  The suggestion was I call Nokia directly, which I have done.
  
  I have been forced, now, to take my hand set, plus my wife's hand set to the repair centre for comparison.
  
  As a further kick, I have now been told that the 3105 is NOT WAP COMPATABLE in Australia and there are no plans to make it wap compatabile in the future - despite the fact that my service provider has assured me that it is going to be activated soon, the service providers web page STILL details this phone as WAP compatable....
  
  I am beginning to be VERY VERY VERY unhappy with both this phone and the service I am receiving from Nokia and Orange and the string of lies that are coming from both.

• f3ze on 6th Jun 2004

  yep don't expect any help from Nokia, I've given up after years of using their phones their customer service is diabolical. I bought a brand new 3200 which I took to the Care Center in Sydney, they told me it had manufacturing problems, and charged me $100 to fix (On a brand new phone this is surely ridiculous), and took a week to do so, with no replacement handset available during that week. They also gave me a wrong email address (when I phoned to ask for one as their website feedback was not working, I tried that one 5 times from different locations). Absolutely terrible. If they keep disrespecting their cutomers like this theyre gonna go down.