Nokia 6110 Navigator: Useful GPS Phone (Nokia 6110 Navigator)

Member Name: Argon

Product:	Nokia 6110 Navigator
Date:	18/05/09 (8 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: GPS and free to use navigation. Feature-filled handset.

Disadvantages: Build quality. Dire battery life when using the GPS.

I was due for a new contract phone, and was somewhat underwhelmed by the range on offer - apart from this handset.
A phone with GPS? More importantly, a phone with FREE GPS?!?
As far as the phone goes, it does all the usual 3G phone things - call audio volume/clarity is fine. It's useable, and the handsfree works without any problems. Bluetooth compatibility is perfectly adequate. Battery life is OK (apart from when using the GPS).
The camera is surprisingly not that great. Photos seem to be a bit on the "blue" side, but not too pixellated. There is a lens cover, which is a plus for this handset - though it is quite thin metal, and I managed to put a superficial dink in this! There is a flash, but annoyingly there is no way of saving camera settings, so the flash stays on "automatic", even if you would prefer not to use it, etc.
Video quality is fine, but it records in the typical Nokia video format, rather than something more universal.
There is a dedicated camera key on the side.

The handset IS chunky, and a bit heavy - but it does pack in a lot of features!

The screen is nice and large, and very clear. It is OK under bright sunlight.
Audio quality is fine, and playback is via two large speakers on the back of the phone (though these tend to end up partially covered by your hand when in use).
Media player capabilities are, as expected, fine. This isn't a media player type phone, but it isn't bad.
Menus are easily navigated, being the standard Nokia system. There are some very useful features, e.g. PDF reader, and some free software that reads Word and Excel documents.
This phone makes an excellent organiser, without being a "business phone".
The main feature is the GPS, with free access to Nokia Maps. There is Route 66 software/maps installed, and though you would have to pay to update these - access is free! (Not so with many other GPS-enabled phones.)
The GPS is pretty good, though it takes several minutes to get a satellite fix outside. Inside (and sometimes in the car), it can take ages! This in itself is a bit of a problem, but has been rectified in later Navigator models.
The Nokia Navigator software is easy to use, and gives excellent voice directions, which are nice and loud/clear. One good point is that a very convoluted route will sometimes be selected by the software. This would normally take you well off the beaten track (it still gets you there) - but if it's obviously the "wrong" way, the software quickly re-routes you on the more logical route.
The screen is clear enough, but I really wouldn't want to look at it in the car! It's just too small, and easier to rely on the voice guidance.
Changing the route manually is not easy though. One other major fault is that it is impossible to put waypoints or favourite locations into the software without the GPS activated.
Also, the GPS drains the battery like crazy! I would only consider using the GPS if it's plugged into a charger. When using the GPS in "on foot" mode, it's useful for finding a specific address/location, but just hope that you can recharge the phone soon afterwards!
Altogether, the GPS will never be able to compare with a proper satnav, but to have it included in a mobile phone is pretty good for casual use.

What let this phone down for me was the build quality:
My previous Nokia was solid, well made and reliable. This handset seemed a bit plasticky from day one. The casing is a bit thin, and the whole thing illuminates from internal lighting (screen, keys, etc.). The slider mechanism seems solid enough, though.
The keys are thin plastic, and don't seem to be securely attached to the handset. Also, the first row of keys is a bit too close to the top of the phone, and makes texting a bit awkward.
I had this phone for eight months, and was really happy with it until one day someone called me and they couldn't hear me. All appeared to be fine, but the microphone had apparently packed up. I sent the phone away for repairs, but it was returned to me saying that it was damaged beyond repair through "water damage". This is something that appears to be happening more and more with various handsets.
All other features of my handset still work fine, but for this one reason I really cannot recommend the Nokia 6110 Navigator.

Summary: Not as good as a cheap satnav, but a useful handset.

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