Nokia 7705 Twist Review

Introduction:

These days messaging phones with QWERTY keyboards are quite popular: from the Samsung Alias 2 and Rogue, to the LG enV3 and enV Touch. Now another one enters the mix, the Nokia 7705 Twist for Verizon. As the name implies, the phone twists open to reveal the hidden keyboard and there is a “contact light ring” that will illuminate different colors depending on who is calling or sending a message.  The Twist is geared to the under-20 crowd that is looking for a unique messaging device while maintaining a sense of style and individuality, thanks to the two Xpress-On battery covers, built-in mirror, and habitat mode home screen.

Included in the retail package are the Nokia 7705 Twist phone, black and purple Xpress-On covers, 860 mAh battery, wall charger, and user manual.


Design:

While closed, the Nokia 7705 Twist is overall one of the smallest phones currently available through Verizon, but when opened it’s taller than even the Samsung Rogue. Rotating (or twisting) the phone open 90 degrees can be accomplished by one hand and you can hear it snap into place, though the hinge doesn’t feel too strong and you can easily flex the two sections apart. The two included Xpress-On battery covers are also a bit flimsy, as they just snap on and off, but we wish more colors were available.




You can compare the Nokia 7705 Twist with many other phones using our Size Vizualization Tool.

The front is taken up by the 2.4-inch QVGA (320x240 pixel) resolution display, which is capable of 262K colors. We like its overall larger size and higher resolution than the one found on the Samsung Intensity, as images and text aren’t pixelated. Below the display is the standard square d-pad and surrounding it are the clear key and left & right soft keys, which are touch-sensitive. We didn’t care for this design , as often times when using the mechanical d-pad, our thumb would accidentally press the touch-sensitive keys surrounding it. The contact light ring is one of the coolest features of the phone, as it can show up to 6 different colors when someone calls or sends a message. Located on the sides are the volume rocker, microUSB port, 2.5mm headset jack, microSDHC memory card slot (16GB support), and external speaker. The 3MP camera and flash are on the back, and when the phone is opened the rear also sports a large mirror.



The QWERTY keyboard has a nice design and looks like it belongs on a BlackBerry. There are 5 rows with dedicated buttons for messaging, web browser, voice command, speakerphone, and camera. Even though the keyboard buttons are small, they are raised from the surrounding plastic, which makes them easier to use than the flat keys on the Samsung Intensity and Alias 2. We had no problem using the Nokia Twist’s keyboard for typing messages, but still prefer the larger keyboards on the Samsung Rogue, LG enV3 and enV Touch.