Nokia 5300 Xpress Music Phone
Little red rocker
Nokia's music phone, which we'll simply call the “5300”, is the company's attempt to answer the market request for an all-in-one cell. The 5300 not only features music playback, but also a 1.3 megapixel camera. You won't be submitting your photos for artistic awards, but the option is a fun one for those young 'uns who simply must document each and every Saturday night. As for the music, the 5300 sports Bluetooth stereo, easy file transfers and a large list of additional features.
So, what makes this phone so special?
As should be the case, Nokia's central focus - despite all of the various options attached to this phone - was to make a music device capable of cranking out tunes at an optimal sound quality. Not only does the 5300 sound great via headphones, but also through its tiny stereo speakers. Considering how hard it's been to create portable devices that do this in the past (whether they were phones or exclusively designed for music) that's a point worth noting.
The second reason for the 5300's attractiveness is the wide variety of formats compatible with the device. This phone supports everything from AAC (Apple's Advanced Audio Coding, the most prominent codec on iTunes) to AAC+, to WMA (Microsoft's Windows Media Audio) and finally the old stand-by, MP3. Those might be considered the first, second and third most popular codecs, so their inclusion is an important feature for digital music gurus.
Users can also use their favorite songs as ringtones.
- Tech Highlights
- Nokia 5300 Xpress Music Phone
- Networks: GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 (Tri-Band)
- Bluetooth v2.0
- Messaging: IM, SMS, MMS
- GPRS: Class 10, 32-48 kbps
What about the design?
Accessing music files is pretty simply via the 5300's controls. Exterior play and stop buttons allow the user to ramp up and halt proceedings with exceptional ease, although much more in-depth controls can be found by opening the main menu. Spartan by design, the music details are kept to just the meat and potatoes, including artist, album and song name, as well as the length of each tune. Users are given some management of the advanced sound settings, including access to the equalizer which has five settings.
Cons?
The only major complaints about this phone (and there are very few) surround the placement of the SD storage slot. Others may complain that the red and white design is, how shall we say, a bit “feminine”, but skins can be purchased to testosterone things up for the gentlemen out there.
Concluding thoughts
It's hard to find fault with a music phone designed as well as this one. Not only do the camera and phone function well, but the device acts as an apt replacement for a lost Apple iPod. With that said, the sliding design, although cool, is still a bit bulky. It may be tough for any manufacturer to find a perfect balance between functionality and lightweight convenience - herein lies the challenge for Apple.