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Review: Nokia N75 Cell PhoneNokia is, of course, one of the biggest names in cell phone manufacturers. And the way they got to be in that position was by designing cool, quality phones. The Nokia N75 is one of their latest models and it does not fail to satisfy. The N75 has a lot going for it - from Cingular 3G network access for highspeed Internet and email, to a great built-in MP3 music player, to a still and movie camera. How much does the Nokia N75 cost? Though priced at a high $399 as a standalone cellphone, you can find it priced at $0-$25 when signing up for a new 2 year cellphone contract, making it pretty affordable. You can check out details on the entire N series of Nokia phone at Nokia's site, NSeries.com. Speaking of the N Series, the other hot models Nokia offers are the N81, the N95, the N77, the N76, the huge N800 Internet tablet, the N93i, the awesome N95, and the N70 and N80. But in this guide, we will look just at the N75 - what features it has, what accessories are available, information on wireless plans, places to buy, etc.
Nokia N75 FeaturesFirst up, is the N75 design. This phone is a flip phone, in the style of the classic StarTac. As such, it has 2 screens, a smaller one of the outside (1.3", 128 x 160) and a larger one (2.4", 16M colors) on the inside. On the outside of the phone, you'll find a power button on the top -- press and hold for a few seconds to turn the phone on and off. On the right side is the volume control rocker and button for taking pictures or video. You can turn off the external buttons if you have problems of "accidental" pressing when held inside your jeans or whatever. Inside the phone, there is a familiar 4 way scroll button for moving left, right, up and down. And like most Nokia phones, there are additional buttons surrounding this area left and right selection options, call begin and end, and clear and edit buttons. When it comes to phone functionality, the N75 works as well as most Nokia phones you have seen or used - and that is very good. Sound quality and reception were both excellent in our experience, speakerphone was a little quiet though. Bluetooth headset worked well, no problems connecting to it and no problems with noise or reception. Speakers are located near the top rear of the phone. Music - this phone is a versatile little music player. A lot of people dump their iPods once they start using the N75. You can store up to 2GB of music (about 400 songs) on an optional microSD storage card. Most people use headphones, but even the stereo speakers on this unit are VERY loud (for a phone) and quite crisp in the sound department, though heavy bass is always lacking without a large subwoofer. What makes the N75 an especially efficient music machine is the external controls on the phone -- you can see what is playing, pause, move ahead or behind, all without opening the phone. I think Nokia gets kudos for good design when it comes to including an MP3 player in a cell phone -- this design works very well, and everyone we talk to seems to be happy with it. The Nokia Music Player works very well when it comes to selecting and playing your music files. It also includes an FM radio for tuning into your favorite stations in case your music selection bores you. Video - this phone can record and playback MP4 video clips, which actually look pretty good on the interior screen, which is quite bright. There is a 2MP still camera which takes pretty good pics, though there tends to be a green tint on interior and low-light scenes. With the 3G network connection, you can also upload your videos or pictures to websites you use, like Flickr or YouTube. The camera lens is located on the back of the phone, available with the phone flipped open or close -- just click the button on the right side.
Internet - the Nokia N75 comes with the Nokia web browser, giving you access to "real" webpages online. In our tests, even though this phone can use the Cingular 3G network (and is backward compatible with the EDGE network), we didn't notice a huge difference between 3G and EDGE. Of course, this means that compared to wired broadband, you will notice anything else to be noticable slower, even though 3G is supposed to be several times faster than EDGE, you still find yourself waiting (expect 300-400kbps data rates, not the max of 2Mbs). Nokia Mini Maps is also part of the package, letting you easily find addresses and directions (no GPS though, the phone does NOT know your location). Connectivity - the N75 has USB, infrared, and Bluetooth connectivity, allowing you to connect to your PC for easy syncing in many different ways. Operating System - the phone uses the Symbian S60 operating system, which lets you customize your phone by downloading a number of different applications, like dictionaries, games, and city guides. You can also view all the important email attachments, like .doc, .xls, and .ppt, and .pdf. Syncing with your PC is easy to connect addresses, calendars, etc. The bad - We've heard a few complaints about the vibrate function of the phone -- too weak. It seemed to work OK for us while in pants pockets, though if in a jacket might be tough to feel. We'd say its about average. The other big complaint is about the pop-port for plugging in your headphones or USB cable - awkward, inconvenient, etc. Also, the phone is not the slimmest around -- a little bulky, but bearable in our experience. Nokia N75 Specs
Nokia N75 AccessoriesOne of the most popular accessories for the N75 is probably the Music Headset (HS-28). This combines comfortable earbuds with a nice integrated remote control that lets you take phone calls and navigate through the MP3 music player. It fits into the standard 3.5mm jack. You can also check out the Bluetooth Headset (BH-601). This is a wireless headset with controls built into the earpad. Controls are small, but you can access phone and music functions with the touch of a fingertip. Nokia also offers car charging system for the entire N series line, speakerphone units, FM car transmitters, and mobile holders. If you live in a state that requires handsfree cell phone use, be sure to check out their handsfree accessories.Do you have a quality site or product that belongs in this guide? We are always happy to evaluate or review new products and websites. Feel free to contact us at the email address below and let us know about you. If you have a demo product you'd like us to look at, please contact us before sending anything. Thank you.
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