Nokia 3200 review

Nokia confirms itself as the most stylistically innovative cell phone manufacturer thanks to one of its most recent creations, the 3200. Indeed, after having invented the phone with replaceable covers (at first only on the front, with the 5110, then also on the back, starting with the 3210) and the one with game-style covers (central keys arranged like a joystick, see the 3510) or illuminated ones (again the 3510), it now offers us the do-it-yourself cover phone, the 3200.

This is a device with a linear yet at the same time very original design, featuring large drop-shaped rocker keys, made in such a way that each key actually comprises two, and above all with a transparency effect given precisely by these notorious CUT-OUT COVERS, which can be customized with whatever you like: all you need to do is print any image, cut it out following the phone's outline using a special cutter included in the purchase package, and insert it between the body of the 3200 and the plastic cover (this can be done both on the front and on the back), so as to have a unique cell phone capable of reflecting our tastes, but also of reminding us of a person or special event, by using a photograph. The box also includes 10 white covers on which to glue images and 3 already designed ones, moreover matched to the themes (wallpapers, ringtones, etc.) offered by the phone's software.

This is the main feature of the new Nokia, but besides the form we also find substance, enhanced by the ease of use of the by-now classic SERIES 40 interface.

Analyzing the key points of its technical specifications, besides the contained weight and dimensions, we cannot fail to first mention its data transmission capabilities. In addition to triband GSM technology, in fact, the 3200 offers HSCSD (the high-speed circuit-switched system that some foreign operators support), GPRS with 4+1 or 3+2 slots, thus able to automatically adapt, network permitting, to the user's needs in terms of download and upload, but above all EDGE, the evolution of packet-switched transmission which will soon arrive in Italy too thanks to TIM, alongside UMTS. All this abundance is accompanied by PC interfacing via USB cable on the POP-PORT or via INFRARED. There is also the WAP 1.2.1 and XHTML browser, for truly complete mobile connectivity.

But there is also plenty of room for fun, thanks to the 4096-color display, the 4-tone polyphonic ringtones, the games, the downloadable Java midlets, the already mentioned graphic and sound themes, and MMS, but above all thanks to the BUILT-IN CAMERA with 352x288 pixel resolution and the STEREO FM RADIO, which can be listened to through the included stereo earphones.

But let's not forget that the Nokia 3200 is also a phone, and therefore there is room for 256 memory slots for the phonebook, which can moreover be associated with different photos and ringtones for each contact, as well as vibration, BUILT-IN SPEAKERPHONE and SIM-Toolkit, all powered by a 780 mAh lithium battery.

Finally, to round out the overall picture, let us remember that this very interesting little phone also offers some utilities, which make it invaluable on various occasions: alarm clock, stopwatch, calendar, voice memo and even a flashlight!

Without too much originality but with great conviction, we ultimately feel we can recommend it to those looking for a good device, reliable and easy to use like all Nokia phones, capable of meeting both work and entertainment needs, to those who want a phone that is as customizable as possible, and to those who want to be ready for one of the upcoming stages of mobile telephony (EDGE, precisely, which someone has jokingly called 2.75G) while in the meantime enjoying all the potential of current technology, all without necessarily having to spend a fortune.