Nokia X6 preview
04 SEP 2009
Launch price
£400 TBC
Stuff says
The improved touchscreen and social networking could see the X6 take up the reins as the dark horse in the Nokia music phone gang
PREVIEW
After all the hype, the Nokia 5800 was a tad underwhelming. Fortunately, the newest recruit to the Comes With Music brigade – the X6 – promises not only to paper over the cracks but replaster the walls for music lovers.
Nokia takes a swipe
Far more elegant than Nokia's previous musical outings, the X6 is also the first from the Finns to boast a capacitive iPhone-style touchscreen.
Rather than prodding your way through the menus, the new screen should see proud owners swiping effortlessly. It's nothing new – rivals like the Samsung I8910 HD and T-Mobile G1 are all tapping their watches – but it should make for a more seamless user experience.
Review continues after the break...
If you're going to lay claim to the multimedia crown, you've got to have the brawn to back it up. The X6 has boosted its built-in storage capacity to a generous 32GB, making it a viable alternative to your iPod without having to faff around with memory cards. It's also got the all-important 3.5mm jack for hooking up your own headphones.
Comes With Music – regardlessMusic can be downloaded direct to the handset via the
HSDPA/
3G or
Wi-Fi connection, or side-loaded from a PC, and users will have to sign up to a Comes With Music subscription whether they like it or not. On the up side, you'll get a year's worth of free downloads that won't expire – even after the subscription ends.
Another service Nokia has been plugging is its Ovi suite of internet services aimed at keeping you connected with your mates. The X6 has these apps coming out of its ears, all of which can be accessed from the home screen, including push email support.
Nokia has also ramped up its camera capabilities to 5MP, a decent figure but not enough to leave the latest 12MP crew quaking in their boots.
Widescreen delightsWhat should help it stand out from the crowd, though, is the 16:9 widescreen format 3.2in screen. With plenty of storage onboard, it's bound to appeal to those who like working their way through
Mad Men on their daily commute.
It been difficult to get excited about Nokia handsets lately, as they tend to look like what they essentially are – the dependable type. The X6 is certainly one of the more aesthetically pleasing, but it still lacks the wow-factor of sleeker rivals. For music fans, though, it stands to be a great all-rounder.