Nokia C2-01

Editor's Review of the C2-01

Thanks to its entry-level handsets, Nokia still maintains the title as the world's largest mobile phone vendor. The latest addition to its budget range is the C2-01, which the company claims is its cheapest ever 3G capable device. So, can Nokia yet again prove that good value for money is the key to success?

The C2-01 is a compactly styled candybar handset, and measures in at just 110 x 47 x 15. Available in Black, Warm Silver and White, this classic looking handset comes with typically traditional functionality, sporting a 2 inch 320 x 240 colour display alongside a sturdy alphanumeric keypad. The physical keys are extremely easy to get to grips with, and would be ideal for those of you who prefer T9 predictive text over QWERTY-toting devices. There's also a 4-way navigation key, providing easy navigation around Nokia's super-basic, and easy to use Series 40 interface.

Now we move on to the handsets features, or in this case, lack of. Unlike some of its similarly priced siblings, this isn't necessarily a bad thing, as the Nokia C2-01 boasts the addition 3G connectivity. This is coupled with Facebook and Twitter integration, alongside a manageable email client and Ovi Chat for free instant messaging. If social networking isn't your thing, the handset also arrives with an integrated Opera Mini web browser. The screen of the C2-01 may be small, but the slick browser manages to render pages well on the cramped display.

Media-wise, Nokia's latest blower arrives with a built in FM radio and a full music player, with support for a host of popular audio files and a built-in 3.5mm jack for boosting the otherwise flat sound quality. It also features a fairly-basic 3.2 megapixel camera, capable of recording QVGA video footage. The snapper may not boast a heft of advanced features, but considering its price tag, the rear-facing camera coped well, and delivered some pretty impressive shots.

Other specs include up to Flash Lite support, up to 16GB of storage via microSD and a beefy 1020mAh battery, promising almost 9 hours of talk time on a single charge.

It may not offer a hoard of features, but the Nokia C2-01 would be an ideal choice for those of you not necessarily after all the 'bells and whistles' of a pricey smartphone. While it's hard just who will be excited about reliving 2005 with this budget handset, Nokia's strategy has worked well thus far.