Nokia C7 Review
| |
Review: February 2011 |
|
| |
Phone rating: 
In a nutshell: The Nokia C7 runs
the latest Symbian^3 smartphone operating system and offers
a lot for your money. Star features include a responsive touchscreen
with pinch-and-zoom capability, HD video recording, GPS with
free navigation software and maps, 8GB of onboard memory and
great battery life. Available in silver, black and brown.
|
|
Well, we recently laid into Nokia over their uninspiring C6-00.
And it came to pass that Nokia released the C7, in which they fixed everything
that we criticised about the C6-00! We're not saying they actually listen to
anything we say, but spooky coincidence or what?
Anyway, the Nokia C7 is a middish-priced (£20 per month on contract)
smartphone with a surprisingly nice appearance, for a Nokia. It's superslim,
at just 10.5mm and has a nice shiny stainless steel casing with curved edges.
It's a good size to hold and very tactile. The weight is a solid yet manageable
130g. The screen is a decent size (3.5 inches) and the dodgy old resistive screen
used on the C6-00 has been replaced with a more responsive capacitive screen
with pinch and zoom support. Nokia have also ditched the dinosaur release of
Symbian used on the C6-00 and replaced it with their new Symbian^3. Now, as
we remarked in our Nokia N8 review, Symbian^3 isn't
yet ready to compete with Google or Apple, but it's getting there. Freezing
and crashing is still present from time to time.
The C7 is endowed with an excellent feature set. When Nokia get things right
they can be excellent value for money. For instance, as well as all the usual
smartphone stuff (music player, FM radio, assisted GPS, web browser, etc) the
Ovi mapping system comes with a free lifetime license for car and pedestrian
navigation, as well as free access to the latest maps. There's also Bluetooth
3.0, and an FM transmitter, which is something only Nokia seem to offer. The
memory has been boosted up to a huge 8GB and there's support for microSD cards
up to 32GB too, giving a maximum possible storage of 40GB. That's big by anyone's
standards!
The camera is pretty good, with 8 megapixels and a bright flash. We're less
keen on Nokia's full focus cameras compared with proper autofocus cameras, but
they do have the advantages of being fast and enabling the phone to be very
slim. The camera is capable of recording video in 720p high definition, and
a secondary video camera enables video calling.
The battery isn't the biggest in town, but at 1200mAh it's "right"
for the phone and manages to give excellent battery life, for a smartphone.
Likewise, the processor isn't the fastest available, but it's fast enough, and
there's a dedicated GPU to provide support and 3D graphics.
Just when we thought Nokia had gone into a nosedive, we find ourselves pleasantly
surprised by the C7. Sure, it's not at the cutting edge of technology, but for
the price it offers a lot and delivers it well. If only Nokia could polish Symbian^3
as well as the stainless steel finish on the C7, it might be in with a chance
of taking on its newer rivals. Still, Nokia fans are used to glitchy software,
and for those die-hard Nokia fans, we'd recommend the C7 as an excellent alternative
to the N8, if the 12 megapixel of the latter doesn't grab you.
Features of the Nokia C7 include:
- 8 megapixel camera with full focus, digital zoom and dual LED flash
- HD 720p video camera (secondary VGA camera for video calling)
- Display: AMOLED, 16.7 million colours, 640 x 360 pixels (3.5 inches), capacitive
touchscreen
- Music Player (mp3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA formats)
- FM radio with RDS support
- MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA ringtones / video ringtones
- Speakerphone
- Messaging: SMS, MMS, email (POP3, IMAP4 and SMTP protocols),
Instant messaging, Nokia Xpress audio messaging
- Java™ MIDP 2.1 applications
- A-GPS, Ovi Maps with free lifetime navigation licence
- Internet: Web browser, Facebook, Twitter, WAP, GPRS,
EDGE, HSPA (10.2 Mbps download, 2.0 Mbps upload)
- Connectivity: WLAN 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 3.0, micro-USB 2.0, 3.5 mm audio
jack, FM transmitter
- Memory: 8GB plus microSD card slot (up to 32 GB supported)
- Vibration alert
- Quadband (850/900/1800/1900) plus WCDMA 850/900/1700/1900/2100
- Size: 117 x 57 x 10.5 mm
- Weight: 130g
- Battery: 1200 mAh Li-Ion battery
- Talktime: 5 - 9.6 hours
- Battery standby: 650 hours
Nokia C7 User Reviews
Love your mobile? Hate it? Please share your experiences to help other
people choose the phone that's best for them. Please do not review this
phone if you have not used it. This is a review site, not a forum, so
please don't just ask questions. Please do not use swear words or offensive
language, and please, no advertising!
Average rating from 52 reviews:
Reviewed by Nwaezemilli from Nigeria on 24th Jun
2012
Very very good l love it works very fine I will like every body to buy
it
Rating: 
Reply
Reviewed by marcelo7752 from Philippines on 3rd
Jun 2012
Surprisingly, this phone is superb!!! Those with a negative review has
a fake C-7 made in finland but in reality I beleived it is the same
with China phone. Disgusting!!! I have seen one already and it was really
a shocking imitation!!! Please, please, please do not put them online
here!!!
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Joanne Brown from England on 13th
Mar 2012
I think this is possibly the most infuriating, overrated dismally slow,
turn itself off, charged up for 5 minutes piece of junk I have ever
had the misfortune of owning. It is so senstitive that your ear puts
phone calls on hold constanyly. The Ovi godforsaken store is impossible
to download ANYTHING to. The web takes a good 15 minutes to get online
and god forbid you want to go to a different page, let alone a different
SITE! Facebook?? Email?? Sorry no can do or try to & take an hour to
do anything. My family have stopped ringing me up because they get cut
off so often and don't even think of changing from hands-free to phone
during a phone call. Phone says NO!!! The screen freezes for a past-time.
Awful, awful, awful phone. The one and only redeeming feature of this
phone is the Sat-Nav, that's quite good. Oh, and it looks pretty. Can't
believe I actually have to give it a star at all, IT'S A RUBBISH PHONE!!!!
Rating:  Reply
Reviewed by rawna from egypt on 5th Mar 2012
good
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by ray from Malaysia on 2nd Feb 2012
Its more than a year since I got this. Probably one of the plus is it
can read pendrives using the USB-on-the-go cable. Have many of Android/Apple
users scratching their heads!!! It even can memory cards with a card
reader. Neat trick!!!
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Daryoosh from Iran on 25th Jan 2012
I believe that the shape of C7 is glory & capability is excellent .
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Loti from UK on 9th Jan 2012
I have had my C7 for over a year and can't wait until I can upgrade
and get rid of it... I constantly put people on hold when on the phone
and it keeps blocking itself, then it has to turn itself off and on
again.... very annoying!!! Have been a samsung girl but thought I would
give nokia a go... will be returning to samsung in the near future!!!
Rating: 
Reply
Reviewed by subhashknair from india on 6th Dec
2011
so good no other words to exprees
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by gigz singh from uk on 30th Nov 2011
ive had the nokia c7 for a year now , its a great device really good
for everything tbh after update to anna the smartphone looks are superb
performence wise its really fast ive had no problems at all touch screen
is responsive no glitches att all even when using the web , prefer to
go on opera web brwser . Memory is great also camera perfect crisp clear
photos all round bout the device nokia done a wiked job with c7 and
n8 ! Great pone worth it at 300 pounds .
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Suyog from India on 13th Nov 2011
Wow its amazin phone same as e7
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by WOOL from UK on 9th Nov 2011
I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A NOKIA PERSON, BUT SADLY THIS ONE PUT ME OFF! SCREEN
WENT BLANK RIGHT FROM THE BEGINING, ALTHOUGH ON THE FAIR SIDE, I WOULD
SAY THAT THE C7'S MOST OF 'EM HAD A FAULT, EASIER THAN THE OLDER NOKIAS,
IF ONLY IT WAS AS FAST QUICK N EASY AS IPHONE, IM SURE IT WOULD TAKE
OVER. WILL NEVER BE USING THE C7 AGAIN COZ ALL 3 THAT I OWNED WERE USELESS!
PLEASE READ MY REVIEW ON THE E7.
Rating: Reply
Reviewed by Kev skid from GB on 2nd Nov 2011
Nice looking, good screen but touch-screen sometimes freezes. Auto-rotate
has a mind of its own. Wifi only works if you are within a few feet
of router. Very annoyingly, the touch screen becomes "live" as soon
as somebody rings, so, as you are getting it out of your pocket, you
can be pressing hold, loudspeaker, silence, reject call or anything
else - very poor. Had a Nokia before & was 10/10. This one I would only
rate as 2/10
Rating: Reply
Reviewed by Keith from England on 21st Oct 2011
Got the C7 a few month ago, only used it for 2 weeks before it died
on me. Took 6 weeks hassle to get a new one out of the shop. but now
my new one doesn't like me also cos the touch screen keyboard won't
work anymore and I've only sent 40 texts on it, I usually use my reliable
20 quid phone. So hear I am stuck overseas and can't get back into the
shop for another two months. The on/off switch is...what can i say on/off.
the lock switch is rubbish, the display goes bright to dim. The first
one did the same. Should have hassled the shop to replace the first
one with a Samsung..Won't touch Nokia again
Rating: Reply
Reviewed by Steven from England on 19th Oct 2011
As an avid Nokia user for the last 16 years, phone tech has moved to
the level of the C7, which is great looking and functional phone, but
with one major gripe...it loses contacts...dont know why ?? Functually
great, but annoying, looking forward to next generation Nokia.
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Asmith from Saudi Arabia on 22nd Sep
2011
Its A Rocking phone !!!! Prefer ot to a I Phone. Easy to use and real
good for email and Facebook. Good camera and gr8 video.Music is also
gr8 and very sleek unit.Updated to Anna OS , its real good. Kudos !!!
to Nokia Team.
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by RACHEL RUBY from UK on 21st Sep 2011
The fone looks great and has a good size screen but it freezes often.
Also found a fault in that my call log disappears daily, so if someone
rings me and i haven't yet logged that number, by the next day the number
will have been erased from the memory. I'm also experiencing problems
going online. I've had enough now so will purchase a different fone.
Very frustrating!
Rating: 
Reply
Reviewed by A.K.HOTA from INDIA on 21st Sep 2011
EXCELLENT
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by WITKISSG from ENGLAND on 9th Sep 2011
THIS IS A BRILLIANT PHONE AND I WOULD RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE, ITS GREAT.
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Andrew from NZ on 5th Sep 2011
This is the worst phone I have ever bought. It hangs and crashes frequently.
Have just upgraded to Anna and now cannot check emails. When I tey to
configure it hangs and crashes (about 20 times today alone!). And this
is after they have replaced the motherboard (as it hung and flash wouldn't
sync with the shutter). Am going to Samsung now and never ever Nokia.
Rating: Reply
Reviewed by m.r from uk on 13th Aug 2011
nokia c7 is a nice looking phone with loads of problem .I am a nokia
lover but nokia has failed me this time.My phone once again gone for
repair.I am very disappointed.
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Malcolm from England on 9th Aug 2011
i have a c 7 most of the time its ok but every now and then it freezes
and knocks it self off it can be a pain. I rate this phone as a 3
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Udegbunam Michael from Nigeria on
22nd Jul 2011
I am astonished!
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by nassari from Iraq on 13th Jul 2011
one word ... Spectacular
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Folake from Nigeria on 17th Jun 2011
Nice indeed.
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by akin akindele eben from nigeria on
25th May 2011
i just bought my own few days go bliv me,the purple aint a joke.any
image u av on it bcoms tinted.its a very gud fone though but u can't
use it 4 indoor picture wthout flash.it's so noisy.my sony ericsson
c902 wit 5 megapixel is 25times better than it in terms of d picture
quality.if u av a high blood pressure i'll advice u to tink twice b4
spending ur fortune on it.d battery life is nothing to write home about.if
u're so much obssessed about it like me then u should be ready to overlook
all these and satisfy your heart desire.wu knows u may be lucky to get
d one without any issue.
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Rodney from Scotland on 17th May 2011
If C7 and iphone had a fight C7 would win
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by emma from nigeria on 15th May 2011
quite a surprise from nokia. when we all thought nokia was dead and
buried it comes up with this! the video camera is one of the best in
the market (nothing in its price range even comes close). love the fm
transmitter and the usb on the go feature too (this is seldom mentioned).
perhaps nokia has lost some of its media contacts, few sites give the
phone the rating it deserves.
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Kossy Okolo from Nigeria on 13th May
2011
Dis is wat I call PHONE!
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by bbbysherry from uk on 11th May 2011
the bees knees just brill
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Hanafi from Indonesia on 6th May 2011
- Very very slow cellphone. - Menu item too simple. - For no reason
this phone sometimes get hang when i try to unlock it with lock slider.
- Bluetooth connection with my laptop really paint in ass (connected
but really really slow). - foto taken indoor have much noise (even with
flash on). - Battery really fast drained, even with wifi and bluetooth
set to off. Not Recomended this phone, I already try to sell this phone,
switching for android OS or BB maybe.
Rating: Reply
Reviewed by Michael from UK on 25th Apr 2011
This phone is driving me up the wall. Its horrible to use and extremely
unreliable. Setting it up and swapping contacts took forever and needed
to be done 3 times before it worked. The lock slider is pants. It is
terrible at switching between landscape and portrait mode. The predictive
text doesn't seem to recognise simple words like 'blue'. Inserting symbols
is a pain. It takes about 3 days to setup a mailbox appearing to crash
whilst doing so. The touchscreen isn't very reliable, responding to
the slightest touch sometimes and sometimes not at all. Terrible signal
all the time, even in places where my old phone was definitely good
(same network). My old 5800 expressmusic was actually better in about
300 different ways. I'm sending this back and getting an iPhone or something.
Rating: Reply
Reviewed by Daniel from UK on 21st Apr 2011
Just got this phone yesterday and love it, so easy to use everything
is simple and straightforward, just upgraded from the 5800 and can see
that it is much faster and smoother, would have likes the small edge
like on the 5800 to protect the screen when its on a table and also
signal is poor, i now dont have signal where the 5800 used to but im
sure this will settle down in a few days, amazed at the 8GB internal
memory. Last few years Nokia have come along massivly and this is deffenently
better than any sony LG samsung or HTC that i have used especially dads
experian x10 utter rubbish
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by shake from india on 12th Apr 2011
i m in love wid dis phone
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by reza from iran on 24th Mar 2011
very best
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Ian from England on 19th Mar 2011
This is world away from the X6 my last phone. At last Nokia have a phone
that works. The battery life is good for a smartphone and it has all
the toys. Its not a 5 star phone but at the same time its better than
4.
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Daniel from UK on 6th Mar 2011
Overall this phone is just what i wanted, must admit though im struggling
to get 2 days out of battery even with 3g andn bluetooth etc turned
off but the phone. 4 star for me because of the battery
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Thein from Burma on 28th Feb 2011
Great phone ! So nice to hold and works very well in my country with
no 3G. Therefore switch to GSM only for maximum performance. 8 megapixel
Camera is really superb ! Internet is extremely fast ! Battery is okay.
Love it !!
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Sami from Sudan on 16th Feb 2011
One word: Perfection :)
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by dave morgan from uk on 16th Feb 2011
at 5 weeks mine would only lock onto a t mobile signal (orange contract)
at 6 weeks the screen died at 7 weeks phones for fools declared it dead
by that old chestnut "moisture damage" i.e.faulty handset but we're
not gonna replace it just say it's your fault i know for a fact that
3 c7s from the same shop have died the same way so it's probably a faulty
batch. i would wait 6 months before buying to make sure all the betas
are sold thru before purchasing
Rating: Reply
Reviewed by Sam from England on 16th Feb 2011
Brilliant phone. My last two phones were iphone3gs then iphone4 and
this phone is far better than both. Slim good looking phone with fantastic
call clarity. So easy to use unlike my wifes HTC desire HD thats a complete
nightmare and battery only lasts a day at best. C7 can easily do three
days with basic internet use. Keep mine connected continuous, and have
used multi tasks and its never frozen. Also love the black amoled, so
can have constant bedside clock. Never had nokia before, been stuck
in the iphone craze and feel such an idiot wasting all that money when
could have been using phones like this. The symbian 3 system works fine
and i really can't tell difference from my iphone, although symbian
is easier to use. If it makes any difference my handset is a factory
sim free and does not have the networks software forced upon it, which
i believe can cause problems. Have had my eyes opened with this Nokia.
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by elaine from scotland on 11th Feb 2011
i really dont like my new C7 - sending it back next week. Touch screen
too sensitive - keeps cutting off when im on a call - as if my cheek
touching screen cut it off - arrgh! so annoying. Querty key pad is also
very poor, when texting , the cursor keeps going back to start for no
apparent reason - another reason i cant carry on with - tried to stick
with it - but cant keep this for a yr contract. wouldnt reccommend this
phone to anyone. POOR 3/10
Rating: Reply
Reviewed by deejc from UK on 8th Feb 2011
Having previusly had the first Nokia touchscreen, the 5800, I was keen
to ignore every critic telling me that Nokias were now rubbish and not
competing with Apple, Android and HTC. I got fed up seeing all these
comparisons about how much better the iphone is and how great android
was. In the end I was always going to stick to Nokia and Symbian and
I'm glad I have. The C7 is an awesome step up for me from the 5800.
It looks and feels amazing and everytime I pass it lying on the table
I cant help but pick it up and use it, for me its more elegant than
the new iphone4 and way better looking than the geeky HTCs. All the
reviews of Symbian 3 harped on about how rubbish it was and how ungainly
it is to use - absolute rubbish! Every phone needs an element of customising
to each individuals needs and the critics unfairly hit out at Symbian
3. It all boils down to 'its not an iphone' Well I didn't want an iphone
and I'm glad I stuck with Nokia. The new homescreens allow you to customize
and place shortcuts, widgets and other useful items to enable you to
use the phone how you wish to use it. thankfully there isn't an array
of rubbish useless apps and widgets as you find on samsungs which clutter
and mess up the homescreens. everything is neat and tidy and manageble.
The music player is amazing - the internet access over wifi is fast
and sites load up quickly, compared to the S60 5800 phone I used to
have. Social networking is great and easy to manage your various accounts.
The one minor gripe would be the fixed focus camera - for close up pictures
its not great but then again I hardly use it for that type of 'photography'.
Unbelievebly great handset and so cheap with a free contract!
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Dandii from Bahrain on 4th Feb 2011
good deal for the money,,,this all rounder phone is going head ot head
and in some area surpass my Samsung Wave which is far more expensive
than my C7...Nokia C7 touch keypad size is good, screen is bigger,both
LED ( but of course tha Samsung is more vivid), higher pixel camera
(8 againt 5 of wave)...I'm a Nokia and Samsung fan but I'm not always
buying the high end models of both,I'm just up to the mid ends and I
say Nokia C7 is one of the Nokia's best phone....Symbian is hanging,ok
but no phone is perfectly made...so if your looking for a good mobile
with a good price...grab one of this unit.
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Malc from uk on 25th Jan 2011
Fantastic all round phone. Does everything you want in a phone and is
very user freindly.In the past i have owned the samsung wave and the
htc wildfire and this knocks the spots off both of them.The wife owns
the nokia c6-01 and thats pretty damn good as well.
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Wendy from Uk on 6th Jan 2011
I love its a good looking phone, slim and has top specks. Moved to this
after problems with my HTC Wildfire, this phone however has not disappointed!!
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Zaid from Jordan on 6th Jan 2011
This is a really great phone, I bought it 2 weeks ago and I just love
it. It's so classy, so stylish and elegant. The metal on it is so good-looking.
The camera, it's excellent, the colors are great and the pictures and
videos are so clear. On heavy use, the battery lasts 2 days, I still
don't know what happens on light use because I can't stop playing with
it lol. It is really worth its price as you can't get any mobile phone
this good with such price. One thing that really bothers me is the proximity
sensor, when I'm in a call, it doesn't always lock the phone, it's pretty
weird, so I got used to locking it myself. 8GB of memory might not be
enough, but you can always expand it. And when you run many apps (more
than 5), it might get slow. But in overall, this phone, I would recommend
it to anyone. And yes it has Gorilla Glass, so I don't worry about it
at all. N8 or this? If you need the 12 MP auto-focus camera, go for
the N8, otherwise, it is of course the C7.
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Clint Oris from Uk on 6th Jan 2011
Before I got this phone I had a Sony Ericson Experia X10 and actually
the C7 is better overall than the X10. Camera and video better and so
is the battery, it is also more solid and it feels more high end than
the X10, as well as being thinner. I got used to Symbian quickly and
it fulfills its purpose fine.
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Giorgio from Greece on 6th Jan 2011
Love it got, got it in black looks amazing. Build quality is great and
it it very slim. 3.5 inch glass, capacitive, AMOLED screen is really
good. I think it has Clear black technology as well, and it really stands
out. 8 megapixel camera with dual led flash and fullfocus is also good,
makes very nice pics although would prefer autofocus. Hd video recording
at 720p and 25fps is very good and you can easily edit photos and videos
on the phone. Speakers are better than its rivals like iphone, which
is really quiet and tiny. Battery life is excellent. Supports most flash
and bluetooth 3 and micro usb port. Got internal memory of 8 gb and
that is expandable to 40gb. Symbian 3 is not a slick as some of its
rivals but it is easy to use, I think it looks good and it is very customizable.
For the price as well it is very worth it and I reccomend it to anyone.
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Callum from Australia on 30th Dec
2010
I bought this phone two weeks ago and it's absolutely amazing.....highly
recommended by me, I've done a hands on review which I've uploaded on
youtube... :) don't hesitate to check it out...hopefully you'll find
it helpful to make your choice but this phone is an excellent all round
phone..one of the best handsets out there...
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by fizzy from uk on 22nd Dec 2010
i've been using this fone 4 a while nd i din't hav any issues, i have
used iphone nd n8 as vel bt i like dis 1 more. its great 4 music nd
apps.
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Reema from UK on 14th Dec 2010
I haven't had the phone for long but it's absolutely amazing as it is!
The battery life is amazing, the 3 homescreen's are great. I love the
way the contact list shows up, and the overall display and screen is
just beautiful. Connecting to the internet is easy, and apps aren't
hard to figure out. The only negative things are that even though it's
the first 8MP camera I've had for some reason it is a little bit grainy.
I don't like the way the notifications arrive but with a little tweaking
im sure i can find a way to fix it.
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Rob James from UK on 2nd Dec 2010
I decided to go for the C7 over the N8 due to its lower price, slimmer
profile and dedicated call buttons. The C7's 8mp camera gives above
average results for a phone in all conditions, but the lack of macro
mode (due to its fixed focus) can be frustrating. The HD video record,
however, is excellent. The build quality and battery life appear excellent
for this type of phone. Symbian 3 is a major upgrade from Symbian 1
but its operation remains very similar. The UI is slicker due to the
introduction of long press options and pinch to zoom, although there
are elements that look like the OS is still in beta, so the upcoming
updates will be greatly received. Symbian 3 specific apps seem few and
far between at the moment, although most (but not all) Symbian 1 apps
work correctly. For the more adventurous should head towards the Nokia
Beta labs site - for example, the new Ovi Maps version is available
on there and is an excellent upgrade from the version supplied with
the phone. I'm hoping that the NFC functionality is useful and allows
hassle free contactless payment. Overall a quality product, but the
OS needs some bug fixes and functionality improvements as soon as possible.
Rating:
Reply
Links
Nokia C7
Silver deals
| 
