Nokia C7-00 GSM/UMTS Smartphone

In the box:

• Nokia C7-00;
• AC-15 charger;
• BL-5K battery;
• WH-102 wired stereo headset;
• CA-179 USB cable;
• User guide.

Positioning

The Nokia C7-00 (hereafter, just the C7 for the sake of brevity) has been assigned a special role in the Nokia smartphone lineup. It is going to be the second Symbian^3 device to make it to the market. I would like to remind you that there will be quite many of such models in 2010 and 2011 along with the older devices based on Symbian^1 (S60 fifth edition). The Nokia N8 is considered to be a flagship and will be promoted the most. Yet it is the Nokia C7 that will sell better due to its lower price and will prove a very simple thing – i.e. that a camera is not much of an advantage for the mass market (provided that the customers are not aware of the camera "quality" in the C7 and will be buying the device only for its megapixel galore). Why is the Nokia C7 going to be attractive to the customers? The answer is simple. Essentially, it is the same Nokia N8, albeit in a smaller packaging and at a lower price.

Since the company tried to understate the cost of the Nokia N8, the C7 couldn't be made attractive in terms of price. That would predate the sales of the N8. As a result, the otherwise balanced solution became a prisoner of Nokia's pricing policy. The price difference between the C7 and C6-01 (save for the screen, both models are the same) is EUR 75, whereas the difference between the C7 and N8 is mere EUR 40. In the meantime, the Nokia C7 was designed as a solution with an optimal price/quality ratio, in a way, a logical continuation of the E series. Of course, there is also the Nokia E7-00 available on the market, yet it is a QWERTY device, whereas the C7 is an immediate successor to the E52/E72, featuring a similar design and overall device feel. It is a sensor solution, though. Initially, the model was supposed to become one of the first touch-sensitive models in the E series. At some point, however, they decided to turn it into a flagship in the C lineup comprised of casual, everyday devices.

All those perturbations played a nasty trick on the smartphone in the end. On the one hand, the customers may not understand why the Nokia C7 is so much more expensive than the C6-01 and on the other hand, the Nokia N8 appears more attractive whereas the price difference is not that critical. Unfortunately, the unbalanced product portfolio is going to have an impact on the Nokia C7 sales, preventing them from reaching the maximum level that the device actually deserves.

From the customer point of view, it is basically an everyday sensor solution from Nokia. It will mostly be bought by those either not familiar with Nokia's touch-sensitive products at all (i.e. switching from regular handsets) or replacing their older S60 based sensor devices. The first group tends to be not familiar with touch-sensitive phones per se and as such will hardly see any difference in terms of user experience. The second group will get better functionality, which can be interpreted as a positive dynamic. Those who have some prior experience with other sensor solutions of the same level (in terms of price and positioning) will hardly find anything new in the Nokia C7 and as such their experience with it can hardly be considered positive. Obviously, if it is some cheaper handsets (e.g. the LG Cookie, Samsung Corby) that are being replaced, then the model from Nokia will be a pleasant surprise. Yet if it is some truly comparable solutions that we are talking about, then there won't be any difference or it won't be in favor of the C7. From many perspectives, this smartphone is specifically targeted at Nokia fans and is hardly able to attract new customers, which is also true for any other recent Symbian device.

Design, Dimensions and Controls

In terms of looks, the model appears as some odd yet attractive blend of the Korean phone design and the typical Nokia. You can't really feel the charm of the Nokia C7 in the pictures. It feels good in one's hand and is quite a nice device in general. The weight is 130 grams and the dimensions are 117.3 x 56.8 x 10.5 mm. It is tall and thin and I really like holding it in my hand.

Nokia C7-00 vs Nokia N8:

The Nokia C7 is available in three colors: Frosty Metal, Charcoal Black and Mahogany Brown. In my opinion, all of them are good and the red-brown version should be a hit with ladies.

On the front panel, you can find an extra camera for video calls, light sensor (on the left-hand side from the speaker) and a proximity sensor. The Call, Hang Up and Menu buttons are actual hardware keys, which is a plus. The lock slider on the side follows the general style of the phone. Right next to it, there is a camera button and a volume rocker, which is quite handy unlike the one in the C6-01.