The Nokia 6220 is a mid range phone that has some of the best features from some of the top N-series devices. The now infamous 5MP Carl Zeiss lens, xenon flash , GPS, are all standard features of this unit. So you might be asking what makes this different? Why should you choose the 6220 over say a N82 or N95? Well lets find out.
Design:
The 6220 is a mid sized phone that is light and contructed from durable plastic. The face of the phone has a gloss black finish that is common amongst current N-series releases. The bezel of the phone is graced with a light silver color that transitions to the back cover which is comprised of a matte black plastic with silver aluminum accents. To add a little fun to the overall design of the phone Nokia has colored the numberpad with an aqua blue, this gives the phone a great contrast to the black number pad and matches the blue illumination from d-pad. It is interesting to note that the 6220 Classic is a midrange device yet the design elements of the phone far exceed something that would find in any current N-series device. The memory card door for example is actually a door! with a hinge. I love this feature because I can actually for the first time feel confident about removing and installing the memory card as many times as I want without fear of having the flap break off (I would love to have a door like this on my N95 or E71). Another nice feature is the inclusion of a GPS LED indicator that above the dedicated maps button. This star shaped LED indicator flashes when trying to find a GPS signal and when locked gos solid. A nice touch considering that the none of the previous Nokia phones with GPS have had such a great visual indicator.
Screen:
The 6220 Classic houses a 2.2 inch 16 million color screen that has a resolution of 320×240. Not much of a surprise here since Nokia has been using the same resolution and color output screen for most of their current devices. The screen to body size ratio is great and looks perfect on this phone. The real estate is used well and looks very even. Under sunlight the colors fade out and the relection from the plastic which sits above the screen makes it hard for the user to see, but overall it is expected and acceptable. I dont think that anything will ever be able to match or compensate from becoming washed out under direct sunlight. The screen also does not have the ability to auto rotate as the phone is not equipped with a accelerometer. There is a method for rotating the screen manually that allows the user for a landscape mode.
Camera:
The 6220 Classic features two cameras. One is the front facing which is primarily used for video conferencing. Unfortunately, in the United States this feature is not supported. It has a lower resultion for capturing pictures and video that can be used to send over MMS or the internet. The second which is located on the back is the 5MP with Carl Zeiss lens, not only does the camera support a high resolution but also has the coveted xenon flash. This is one of the more unique features of this phone. The pictures come out bright and clear, in dark areas the xenon flash is a saviour. Location based GPS photo cablility works fast and automatically.
Sample photos from 6220 Classic:
GPS: Although the 6220 Classic is a mid range phone it still manages to have GPS. One of the more interesting points of the phone is the dedicated maps button with a visual LED star. This star will start to blink blue when trying to find a signal for GPS and turn solid when a signal is locked. The visual indicator is a great tool and definetly a nice added touch. I dont know how much of a necessity it is, but if well fitted I wouldnt mind this feature to be adopted into some of the N-series handsets. Last but not least the 6220 Classic comes with Nokia Maps 2.0 loaded and runs very well. The maps are smooth and the new features are welcome.
No WIFI: The 6220 Classic has only one means of accessing internet features and that is through EDGE/3G. Which means that people who do not have unlimited data plans (flat rate unlimited) might want to think twice when picking up this device. I have never had an issue with just using EDGE/3G but then again I pay a flat rate for unlimited access. I did miss the wifi access when I was home but never to the point where I saw it as a hinderance. Mainly this missing feature will impact people with carriers that dont offer unlimited data plans.
Software: The software for this device is one of the first to have Feature Pack 2. Although I found it a treat to experience, I really didnt find it all that different. I found the transitions were a nice addition, but the additon of showing the active applications within the menu screen annoying. The S60 software is firm and reliable, minor tweaks to the UI and little additions here and there. One feature was the addition of Nokia Maps 2.0 standard. Although FP2 is suppose to increase battery life, I wasnt aware of what I was saving or missing since my other S60 devices are on the other ends of the spectrums (N95-horrible battery life, E71-superb battery life).
Loose Ends & Gripes: It is understandable that some of the better features of the N-series devices might not be integrated into the 6220 Classic. The single speaker that rests atop the 6220 Classic is loud, but I prefer the clarity that a stereo speaker system can provide. Another issue I found was the keypad. Although it was a standard number pad design the keys felt squishy. I used the 6220 Classic daily and even by the end of the two weeks I still wasnt convinced that it was a solid numberpad. I prefer the individual unique design of the N82 over the 6220. Lastly the device has a 2.5mm headphone port, so using your own high quality headphones will not be possible without an adapter.
Conclusion: The 6220 Classic is a great phone that packs many features into a tight, small, light package. The only thing that the 6220 is lacking compared to the current N-series devices is Wi-Fi. The overall construction of the phone is acceptable, I personally didnt like the feel of the keys, but again thats preference. Comparing it to current offerings from Nokia I think its a better bet to buy the N82 over the 6220, simple for the added features of Wi-Fi, accelerometer, and better keypad.
