Nokia 5800 XpressMusic review

It's touchscreen o'clock for Nokia and the stage is set for the 5800 XpressMusic. Go ahead and touch it. We did and we've got a story to tell.

Now, it's technically not the first time Nokia get their hands dirty with touch screens, but it sure feels they really mean business this time. For Nokia 5800 is not the only story here. The smart platform with the most influential touch receives its first trial by touch. Being the first device running Series 60 5th alone is enough for the 5800 to be remembered by.

It's a first try and proceeding with caution is only fair. Nokia 5800 is unthreateningly and unobtrusively positioned in the mid-range and the XpressMusic branding helps share some of that first-S60-touchscreen weight. Still, it's way more than an affordable music-centered handset. The 5800 has a strong and unmistakable Nokia identity and delivers multimedia prowess. So, let's touch, shall we?



Key features:

-3.2" 16M-color TFT LCD 16:9 touchscreen display (360 x 640 pixels)
-Symbian S60 5th edition
-ARM 11 369 MHz CPU, 128 MB of SDRAM memory
-3.2 megapixel autofocus camera with dual-LED flash
-VGA video recording at 30fps
-Dual-band 3G with HSDPA support
-Quad-band GSM support
-Wi-Fi
-Capable GPS receiver and Nokia Maps 2.0 Touch
-microSD card memory expansion, ships with an 8GB card
-TV out
-FM radio with RDS
-Bluetooth and USB v2.0
-3.5mm standard audio jack
-Excellent audio quality
-Landscape on-screen virtual QWERTY keyboard
-Proximity sensor for screen auto turn-off
-Accelerometer sensor for automatic UI rotation and motion-based gaming
-Rich retail package
-Affordable price
-Office document viewer
-OVI and MySpace integration (direct image and video uploads)




Main disadvantages:

-Limited 3rd party software availability
-UI is still immature with somewhat dodgy user experience
-Touchscreen sensitivity not the best in the class
-No smart dialing
-Poor image quality and no GPS geotagging
-Touch web browser not quite polished
-No voice-guided navigation license
-No office document editing out-of-the-box
-Doesn't charge off microUSB




Now, you're not the only one waiting for Nokia 5800 XpressMusic. A legion of touchscreen phones have been busy delivering more and better, and owning that market. They sure won't be giving Nokia and S60 5th the warmest of welcomes.

At this point, Nokia 5800 may as well be more of a trespasser than a worthy rival. We mean, stealing even the tiniest bit of market off such formidable competition should be a win to savor for every newcomer. And still, we shouldn't be looking at the actual handset alone. Maybe the 5800 isn't make or break for Nokia, but S60 5th should darn well be.

We're looking at the first S60 touchscreen. A lot less hoping for the best than preparing for the worst may sound like the right kind of attitude. Because a first try will be measured by just anything that lives and breathes, and has a touchscreen. So, let's see what Nokia 5800 XpressMusic is up against. Just mind you that it's more than just the names of a few handsets - it's generations of touchscreen development.