Reviewed by: Allen Tsai - Feb 11, 2004
Introduction
Unique. Probably the best word to describe the Nokia 3200. From its
bold vivid colors to its strikingly distinctive keypad, this phone is
not for the tame. One might think that the 3200 is all looks, but underneath
the exterior lies a robust set of features such as high speed EDGE technology,
a built-in FM radio, loudspeaker, camera, voice recorder, and much much
more.
Perhaps the most appealing quality of the 3200 is neither the radical
looks nor the functions. The 3200 is geared towards the highly profitable
youth market. Therefore, it is also very affordable.
But does that mean that Nokia left out certain items? Don't worry,
from the 3200's wonderful traits, to its disappointing drawbacks, we'll
cover all aspects of Nokia's latest chameleon-like phone in our in-depth
review.
Design
The market for teenage youths is a lucrative segment. Budget conscious
consumers want great looks, full sounds, and above all customizability
to make it reflect their own unique style. Nokia's newest phone, the 3200,
is nothing short of unique. The radical look and curves will surely either
attract or repel consumers. There seems to be no middle ground with such
bold and vivid colors.
What
users may not realize is the incredible versatility and customizability
of the 3200. The outer casing of the phone is made of two transparent
plastic halves. The front and back plates separate to reveal colored templates.
This is what gives the phone its design and color. Each phone contains
three interchangeable template images for users to change depending on
their moods.
But if consumers are particularly creative, 3200 users have the ability
to apply their own distinctive flare. The templates are just pieces of
paper with colors and patterns. To create their own, simply take any photo,
picture, paper, etc., and cut it to the template size. The Nokia 3200
has ten sheets with templates that can be placed in the printer. A cutter
accessory can be purchased to cut the print outs to the exact size or
just do it yourself with scissors.
Just because the 3200 is for younger consumers doesn't mean it doesn't
have all the great features found on high end phones. The 3200 comes with
a built-in camera with the ability to take photos in two resolutions:
352 x 288 px and 80 x 96 px. While, not necessarily high enough quality
to print out photos, the picture size is fairly good after viewing it
on a PC.
For those mundane days, the 3200 can keep people entertained with its
built-in FM radio. Users can tune into their favorite station and listen
to music wherever they go with the included stereo headphones. The 3200
allows people to tune manually or automatically and save up to 20 radio
channels.
A relatively new concept is included on the phone as well. A handy
flashlight tool on the bottom of the 3200 where the charger port is. To
help out in the dark nights when fumbling around for keys, the flashlight
is activated by pressing the 7 / * key.
The 3200 is also Java 2 Micro Edition (J2ME) compatible. This means
it can download and install J2ME games. Currently it is the most popular
standard among cellular phone platforms with hundreds of games available
for download. Some for free, others for a fee.
Next >
This article is Copyright 2002-2012 Mobiledia Corp. and the review in
part or in whole may NOT be reproduced in any electronic or printed
medium without prior permission from Mobiledia. For information on
reproducing any part of this review (or any images) please
contact us. |