Nokia 3200 Review

Overall Rating

Design
Customisation
Lots of features

Camera is a bit basic
Few niggles with software

Nokia are well known for their quality mobile phones and the 3200 is no exception to the rule. Even with the new remarkably low price of £50, the 3200 does not skimp on the features or design quality.

But first things first - the look. On first glance, those buttons look like they are going to be a disaster - rather than individual buttons for the numbers, there are 6 ovals each split into a top and bottom half with a different number on each. In order to get the right number, just press the corresponding half. It works really well and you never get a wrong number, which was a surprise. Also of note is the case, which is transparent and allows you to create your own inlays with the supplied cutter. This really is a fully customisable case.

Then there are the features. The 3200 has an integrated camera but the quality is debatable - nowhere near as good as something like an E700 or T160 and the snaps it takes are disappointingly small. However, the built in FM radio with automatic tuning (and fantastic reception) more than makes up for the (still useable) camera's shortcomings. There is also a great little LED torch embedded in the bottom of the phone that is activated by holding the * button down. I'm surprised that this isn't a standard feature on more phones considering that nearly everyone carries one these days - no more fumbling for keys or reading maps by the light from your phone's display.

The software is as solid as ever on Nokia models - very easy to use and in full colour. The icons are great and give a windows style feel to the menus, while other great things like infra-red allow Nokia users to swap images and ring tones for free. There are some minor niggles with the 3200. The case becomes loose after a while which is a minor annoyance, and the way that you have to individually delete sent messages (instead of deleting them all at once) is very tedious. The built in games can only be described as bizarre (an unplayable bouncy ball sim and a ridiculous virtual pet thing) and the built in ring tones aren't much cop either. However, as I'm a 23 year old male, the latest bus-annoyer from Usher isn't top of my wish list when it comes to tones - a simple 'ring' would suffice; but alas you'll have to make do with European techno pop ditties and classical tunes if you don't see the need to waste £4 of credit on a tone. Apart from those minor hitches, the 3200 is a great mobile, especially for under £50.

Members' Comments onTOMLEECEE's Review

• vocrobot on 28th Jun 2005

  TOMLEECE Just a quick point that you can delete whole groups of messages at a time (or the whole lot if you wish). Got to the Messages menu, select Text Messages and then scroll down to the Delete messages option and you can then delete All Messages, Inbox, Sent Items and Archive. Not trying to undermine your review, it's very good, just thought it would be helpful to you. PS, My review is underneath yours :-)

• TOMLEECEE on 5th Jul 2005

  Thanks, I discovered the error of my ways a few days after posting the review. I stand well and truly corrected!