Nokia X7 Review
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The traditional Symbian^3 interface has been given an overhaul in Anna including a brand new set of icons which freshen up the platform and real-time switching between home screens, which basically means that you can gradually scroll to the next home pane with the content moving along with your finger. In previous editions of Symbian, scrolling left or right in the home screen also brought up a transitional animation, but you couldn't only gradually scroll to peek at the next screen for example without actually completing that transition.
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The traditional Symbian^3 interface has been given an overhaul in Anna | |||
That's just eye candy, but its not only the visuals that have been improved. Code optimization in Anna brings faster performance, along with novelties like a portrait QWERTY keyboard and an improved browser. The portrait QWERTY is simple yet convenient with the only major difference with other platforms being the positioning of the numbers which appear in three rows instead of just one upper row. To our relief, typing on the full portrait QWERTY in Anna is much faster than using the numeric keypad in previous Symbian editions, so finally, the portrait QWERTY is a welcome addition, but one long overdue.
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Anna brings novelties like a portrait QWERTY keyboard | |
Under the hood, the Nokia X7 runs on a 680 MHz ARM 11 processor, Broadcom BCM2727 GPU with only 256MB of RAM. This is enough for the interface to run fairly smoothly, but occasionally it stutters and you can definitely notice how that lag affects the overall performance.
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Messaging |
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Calendar | |
Organizer apps of the Nokia X7 | |
Camera and Multimedia:
The Nokia X7 comes with an 8-megapixel fixed-focus camera with dual-LED flash. You can easily operate it with the physical shutter key on the right and if we have to sum up its performance in one word, that would be speed. The shutter button however is located on a slope on the back making it hard to reach, but once you do reach it, the camera reacts extremely quickly. That's mostly due to the fact that it doesn't take those extra fractions of a second to focus, which in turn allows you to fire the camera right away when you feel like it. But at the same time, fixed-focus means no macro shots as the sensor automatically puts everything further away then 20 inches in focus, but the rest within that range appears blurry.
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Camera interface | |||
Overall, however, we find the quality of the image stills on the Nokia X7 below average - decently detailed and moderately sharpened, but colors seemed washed out and in most (if not all) cases the sensor picked up side light and ended up with pale images. When it comes to the camera interface, you're treated with plenty of options including scene modes, face detection, self-timer and color tones. You can even set the white balance and ISO light sensitivity, as well as the contrast and sharpness of pictures. The X7 supports up to 2x digital zoom. Unfortunately, the handset comes with no front-facing camera.
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Outdoor samples made with the Nokia X7 | |||
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Strong | Medium | Low light | Darkness with flash |
Indoor samples | |||
Nokia X7 Sample Video:
Nokia X7 Indoor Sample Video:
Just like the N8, the Nokia X7 sports capable image and video editing tools. For stills, you can crop, rotate, add frames, text and some basic effects, while for videos you can stack up a couple of clips and add transitions and music for some home-baked videos.
The spacious 4-inch screen with its vivid colors is the perfect tool for watching videos. The built-in movie application plays back MPEG-4 and DivX/Xvid encoded files out of the box – pretty much everything you need. We managed to run files encoded at up to 720p smoothly. Combined with its support for microSD cards of up to 32GB (the X7 comes with an 8 gig card), the phone will easily entertain you on the go.
When it comes to audio quality, you'd be wowed with the amazing loud and clear sound of the stereo speakers located at the bottom of the Nokia X7. The music application hasn't changed much in Symbian Anna, but with album art, which you can flick through, it didn't have dire need to as it looks good visually. Along with standard file support, the handset also comes with Stereo FM radio with RDS.
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Video editor | |||
Music player | |||
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42 Comments
3. Eingild posted on 20 Jun 2011, 10:21 3 1
Seriously? A 5 out of 10? You can at least give it a 6 or 7 out of respect dude. That Nokia hatin' is pretty much obvious in this one. I know the review is subjective to the reviewer's opinion. But seriously? A 5?
16. Jack95 (unregistered) posted on 20 Jun 2011, 13:10 1 3
Hey dude do you know how much does it costs the price is higher than an cool Android device hahaha Nokia are losers now because Androd is the KING . Just because Nokia can't use Android cause "they are special" (but they are not) HAHAHA losers.
27. alec (unregistered) posted on 21 Jun 2011, 16:25 0 0
you release giving a phone a higher review out of respect is incredibly biased right
5. Piotrek007 posted on 20 Jun 2011, 10:59 4 1
LOL !! 5/10 ?? Who the hell made this review ?? =\
6. aamir-250 (unregistered) posted on 20 Jun 2011, 10:59 3 1
hmmmmmm, 5 on 10 this is not fair ,,, phonearena
24. alec (unregistered) posted on 21 Jun 2011, 07:40 1 0
so were you just blown away by the 640 mhz processor or was it the 320x640 resolution or the $650 price tag that just blew you away
nokias dead get over it
43. kastor posted on 16 Feb 2012, 16:36 0 0
yes,640 mhz processor,but iron made,best navigation on phones and lot of it what only nokia can do!
8. NokTokDaddy posted on 20 Jun 2011, 11:14 0 0
Never take one review site's verdict as the Last Word...
Readers of Nokia products on this site would be best served to follow sites like All About Symbian or even Engadget (Myriam Joire knows a good device when she sees one, as does her now-ex colleague Chris Ziegler)
All things in balance...
9. Josh (unregistered) posted on 20 Jun 2011, 11:21 0 0
Are y'all forgetting that it is mid 2011? These specs would suck last year. And it's not that these are just numbers to brag about when they really effect the performance. If you're upset cuz you're a Nokia fan wait until their windows 7 phones come out. The actual desgin looked cool tho. That's bout it.
10. A (unregistered) posted on 20 Jun 2011, 11:35 1 1
some1 else should do over this review, this dude is really baised!!!!!
11. ps (unregistered) posted on 20 Jun 2011, 11:40 0 0
"most resent tasks" cmon those are things u have runnin simultaneously. Wierd to keep 9 applications running at the same time and complainin about small lag...
12. Alinda (unregistered) posted on 20 Jun 2011, 11:41 1 1
I can't blame the reviewer because he has been spoiled by the Apple & Android experience. Phonearena is not the only one harsh to Nokia, just wait what TrustedReview & Mobilechoice UK have to say when they review X7. Even when harshly criticized, I doubt Nokia engineers will listen. They will defend the full focus camera no matter what.
After being Nokia user for as long as I can remember, come Wednesday I'm jumping ship. I'm getting a Samsung Galaxy S2 - there you go Nokia, you just lost a customer.
23. vinay kumar (unregistered) posted on 21 Jun 2011, 00:43 0 0
You are right,they have to get powerful hardware with more ram,probably the chances are more to fight the competition.
42. pipo (unregistered) posted on 03 Oct 2011, 17:37 0 0
Good luck with your samsung Galaxy S2. It doesn't do full 2-way recording out of the box. Like ANY serious communication tool should do these days. It doesn't play xvids with subtitles without additional software. It doesn't sync with your tried and trusted Outlook. Oh, and don't forget to get that hefty data-plan when using Google Maps to find your way around. BTW, could you tell me how you can use the adresses from within your contacts as a navigation-pointer. I know in Symbian I just tap the address and it'll insert it into ovi-maps.
Oh and good luck when Sams**t decides that you don't need any ICE Cream upgrades and you need to resort to jailbrea... I mean "rooting" your device.
Bye.
13. John (unregistered) posted on 20 Jun 2011, 11:53 2 1
Honestly Victor H. i really hope you get shot or get fired. You make the stupidiest reviews in the world. 5/10? Do you even know how to work a phone? Even MobileSyrup is a better website then this phonearena s**t. I am actually emailing Nokia & the staff member of PhoneArena showing them how This so called " Reviewer" does not know anything about phone what so ever.
Hey Victor just a question. How much do you get paid? Oh wait you are reviewing a phone from a company that makes millions & even billions & you are making what? Thats right nothing. I really hope that staff do something about this tool.
Watch he will delete all teh comments before staff can see & claim that they never were written to save his ass. Just remember Victor something called PRINTSCREEN. Can not wait too see what staff & staff from Nokia have to say about this. Goodluck you will need it :)
33. Hạnh Dzuy (unregistered) posted on 03 Jul 2011, 11:43 0 0
Calm down. You are the one who marketing for Nokia or what? I can see this review is quite fair. I myself like this design a lot and when come to the resolution and proscessor I totally pissed off. Speak frankly, do you think 360x640 and 680Mhz is competitive information? And even 1300mA battery is not standard anymore. I am sometimes dissapointed with some PA review, but not this one.
14. Mobile-X-Pert posted on 20 Jun 2011, 12:24 2 1
This is why I always say that "Gsmarena" is the best website when it comes to reviews. I don't really think that phones should be rated by numbers, but then again if you guys would like to see an exellent and "well made" review just go to Gsmarena.
15. luis_lopez_351 posted on 20 Jun 2011, 12:44 2 2
Wow! The E7 and N8 gets an 8.5 and this has better spec but gets a 5? Phonearena your turning into bullsh_t. Just because it cant do what your iphone can. News flash its iphone cant do what Nokia x7 does.
