Nokia 3120 classic review: Mid-range fighter

Even if every little Nokia wants to be an N95 when it grows up, most of them end up a decent looking gadget with a neat little perk here and there to top the good old calling and texting. Nokia 3120 classic is just another one of them mixed by the time-tested recipe - do the bare minimum but do it right. Now, the notion of bare necessities in mobile phones is stretching as we speak, so no wonder yet another 3G-enabled junior gets thrown in the midrange skirmish.

Key features:

• 2" 16M-color QVGA display
• 2 megapixel camera with LED flash
• S40 user interface
• Compact and lightweight
• Quad-band GSM support
• 3G network support, video-call
• Bluetooth and USB connectivity
• Stereo FM radio
• microSD card slot, microSDHC support
• Very good battery
• 2.5mm standard audio jack
• Rich preinstalled content

Main disadvantages:

• Slow camera and unimpressive image quality
• Uncomfortable battery cover latch
• Weak backlighting
• Memory card slot under the battery cover

Nokia 3120 classic is going for a piece of the midrange action and it's getting a run for its money both inside the Nokia family and from competing manufacturers. Let's have a quick look at some of the potentially bitter rivalries shaping up. It's a mixed bag and we're looking at the plenty of choice you get for Rs.7,500/- or less.

Main Competitors:

• A golden oldie, Nokia 6233 support microSD cards up to 2GB, while the 3120 classic can easily handle 8GB cards.

• Nokia 5300 is another money-saving alternative. but it's larger and has neither 3G nor quad-band GSM, but packs in the same fine 2" QVGA screen and costs a good Rs. 2,500/- less.

• Nokia 6300, which is slimmer but again lacks 3G and support for high capacity memory cards.

• The ultra slim slider Samsung U700 retails for about the same price. However, it packs a 3 megapixel camera, larger screen, HSDPA and slimmer.

• Samsung D900i goes even easier on the wallet but drops 3G. It saves you about Rs. 1,500/- and gives you one of the good 3 megapixel cameras on the market. So if you are not all about 3G or the S40 UI, you might just have yourself a deal.

• Samsung E590. The minimalist design signed by Jasper Morrison and the sweet size might just be enough to steal some market share. 3 megapixel autofocus camera and a saving worth 3000/- are its key advantages over the 3120 classic. On the other hand, the fast data transfers and the QVGA screen swapped for EDGE and a square 220 x 220 pixel display don't sound as tempting.

• Sony Ericsson K770. With 3G, a nice 3 megapixel autofocus camera and a cool display, it seems to have all the odds in its favor. The only disadvantage is that its screen is slightly reduced to 1.9 inches. Having the same price as the 3120 classic it looks better.

• The fashion-savvy sleek looks of Sony Ericsson S500. The slider is virtually identical to Nokia 3120 classic (save for 3G). The problem with S500 is the numerous complaints about its keypad durability.

• bar Sony Ericsson W880. It only has a 1.8" display but that is the sole difference to the 3120 classic. However, it ships with a 1GB memory card and costs less than the Nokia. Furthermore, it's much slimmer and it does look nicer than the 3120 classic.

Read full detailed review at GSMArena.com.