| With the 6300, Nokia made their first | | | | with either a flash or autofocus. The |
| proper entry into the burgeoning | | | | lack of flash in particular reduces its |
| slim-phone market and it has been very | | | | effectiveness somewhat, meaning you'll |
| well-received. Its attractive, yet | | | | only likely to get decent photos indoors |
| conservative design, makes it the ideal | | | | with plenty of light, or outside during |
| successor to the incredibly popular | | | | the daytime. |
| 6230i, which will go a long way to | | | | Surprisingly, the music features merit a |
| justifying its existence. With a minor | | | | mention in this article. The music |
| upgrade (the 6301) on the way, it's | | | | player is the same as the excellent |
| perhaps time to see how the 6300 stands | | | | version we saw in the 5300 Xpress Music |
| up to its current rivals. | | | | phone and if you decide to use this |
| The first thing worth mentioning is the | | | | phone on that basis you will not be |
| build-quality, which is very good due to | | | | disappointed. Memory is also expandable |
| the solid materials used in | | | | up to 2GB as well, so the 6300 can |
| construction. Stainless-steel coats the | | | | realistically be used as a basic music |
| back cover and the whole of the keypad | | | | phone. Useful for long journeys, which |
| making it an eye-catching mobile, though | | | | as this phone was designed for the |
| the (inevitable?) use of glossy | | | | business market, was probably the |
| materials mean that fingerprints are | | | | intention. |
| unavoidable. The glossy plastics on the | | | | Unfortunately one flaw that needs |
| screen and the back of the phone by the | | | | mentioning is the quality of the |
| camera lens recess are by far the worst | | | | earpiece. There have been a number of |
| culprits. | | | | reports of users noticing rapid |
| One aspect that Nokia mobiles are known | | | | deterioration on the earpiece over a few |
| for is the quality of their keypads, | | | | months after purchase and some new |
| which in the case of the 6300 doesn't | | | | models have been known to experience the |
| waver. Though the keys are possibly a | | | | same issue as well. |
| little too flat, in practise they're as | | | | Even though it may be usurped by the |
| easy to use as its not-so-distant | | | | imminent release of the Wi-Fi enabled |
| relative the 6230i. A slight degree of | | | | 6301, the Nokia 6300 shows itself to be |
| elevation on the keys would have been | | | | a capable handset with a good |
| welcome to make the feedback even | | | | combination of build-quality and looks, |
| better, but this surely would have | | | | at a very reasonable price. The low |
| spoiled the streamlined look of the | | | | price is sure to mean that the 6300 will |
| phone, so you can forgive it for that. | | | | continue to sell in the same numbers it |
| Above the main keypad, you get the usual | | | | has managed so far. Though the |
| 4-way D-pad with a central 'confirm' | | | | susceptibility to fingerprints, common |
| button, two soft-keys and the 2 call | | | | issues with the earpiece and mediocre |
| buttons. | | | | camera may put off some, remember that |
| Though the 6300 never aspires to be an | | | | the 6300 isn't meant to be perfect; it's |
| all-in-one solution, the features | | | | just a capable product that offers good |
| available make it very competitive in | | | | value for money. If you simply want a |
| its price-sector. The connectivity | | | | good quality phone, with no particular |
| options are basic, as you only get EGDE, | | | | bells or whistles, then this is a very |
| Bluetooth and a Mini USB connector. | | | | good option. The fact that multiple |
| The 2MP camera also strives to be | | | | colours are now available should only |
| ordinary as well, as it doesn't come | | | | add to its appeal. |