Nokia and Microsoft might be bezzie mates these days, but the X7 sticks to what’s familiar. Is there enough life left in Symbian to take on the big boys?
The X7 runs a new version of Symbian, called Anna – which, if nothing else, means you no longer have to worry about how to pronounce €^3′. It also brings some tweaks to the interface, faster web browsing (with Flash) and a portrait QWERTY keyboard – hardly revolutionary, but all welcome improvements.
Nokia’s worker drones plundered the ‘fancy Stuff cupboard when they put the X7 together. Its stainless steel and glass chassis should mean it outguns even the iPhone in the desirability stakes, although with colour options listed as ‘dark steel’ arid light steel you won’t be spoilt for choice.
Nokia’s Ovi app store might not be as well stocked as Apple’s, but it’s got the bases covered. The X7 comes loaded with Facebook and Twitter, plus its free Ovi Navigation includes turn-by-turn voice directions. As for games, don’t forget Ovi was one of the first platforms to get Angry Birds (after iOS, natch).
Nokia’s cameras have been hard to beat for a long time, and the X7 doesn’t show any signs of giving in. It shoots 8MP pics and 720p videos, a dual LED flash helping out in low light. Unfortunately, arid unlike the N8, there’s no HDMI-out for watching them back on your TV.
With a vent on each corner of its 4Jn screen, the X7 looks a bit like something Darth Vader would use to order a pizza. The screen is AMOLED, meaning it should be bright enough for the odd movie or game, but with a resolution of 640×360 it’s not going to challenge the iPhone’s 960×640 Retina Display.
Verdict:
The X7 suggests there’s some life in the old OS yet-but for how long?
Tech Specs
Screen 4in, 640×320 touchscreen
Camera 8MP, dual LED flash
Video 720p @25fps
Storage micro SD [8GB included]
Connectivity A-GPS, Bluetooth 3.0, HSDPA, USB, Wi-Fi
Battery 6h30 talk, 450h standby
Alternatively…
Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc
Sony Eric’s 4.2in Xperia Arc is just as shiny as the X7, but runs Android 2.3 and undercuts the Nokia in the slim stakes by a full 3mm.
