As a late adopter of handset designs that stray from a classic candybar-style, Nokia has so far this year shown us two of its slider phones, the small and bulbous 6111, and the bulky 3G 6280. Perhaps we're just getting familiar with ultra-thin phones like the Samsung Z510 and Motorola's SLVR, but with the 6280 measuring 100 x 46 x 21mm, we didn't have room for much else in our pocket and there was no way of hiding this oversized device. If you're looking for a more inconspicuous slider, you'd be better off with Samsung's D820, which shaves a couple of millimetres off the Nokia's thickness.
With the slider closed on the 6820, Nokia still gives you access to functions such as push-to-talk and camera mode, with dedicated buttons for each on the side. You can also browse the menu with the navigation key to read messages and make calls from your phone book. Sending a text message requires you to slide up the display to access the keypad, which is a decent size and fairly well spaced out for the fat fingered amongst us.
Similar to Sony Ericsson's K750i, the Nokia 6280's viewfinder and shortcut key are orientated for landscape mode when taking pictures, so it feels somewhat like using a regular digital camera when you're taking snapshots.
Features
One of the star features of the 6280 is the 2-megapixel camera on the back with a tiny flash and self-portrait mirror built-in next to it. There's also a secondary VGA camera on the front for video calls.
Nokia allows you to assign video ringtones to profiles for incoming calls, either a master video for all incoming calls or one for individual contacts, which you can add at the same time as you enter a new phonebook entry.
Navigating around the new Nokia Series 40 interface shows off the 6280's snazzy high-resolution QVGA screen (320 x 240 pixels), which can display up to 262,144 colours. We had no problems reading text messages outside on sunny days, nor did we ever struggle to hear calls as the volume of the speaker can be set quite high.
Using the built-in music player, we were able to listen to MP3s and unprotected AACs (sorry, no WMAs), either stored on the 6280's meagre 10MB of internal memory or on the hot-swappable 64MB miniSD card Nokia provides in the box. Although we managed to squeeze about 16 songs on the memory card, 64MB is hardly enough to use the handset as a portable video player, even though it supports 3GP with H.263 or MPEG video files (QCIF resolution), has the same resolution and can display more colours than the video-capable iPod. There's also an FM radio tuner onboard, but this requires the supplied headset to be connected to act as an antenna.
Other applications pre-loaded on the 6280 include a Web browser, voice recorder, organiser, world clock, unit converter and three games -- Golf Tour, Rally 3D and Snake IIII. Fans of the classic time-passing game Snake will be delighted to see Nokia has developed it into a 3D cartoon-like animated game that remains true to the original.
PC connectivity is possible via or Bluetooth 2.0 or USB (cable provided) and Nokia includes a CD with synchronisation tools and drivers. Unfortunately, this software suite doesn't run on Mac OS X but now that Apple has released Boot Camp, Intel-based Mac owners can dual-boot into Windows XP if the need arises to use Nokia's software, which includes applications for backing up, synchronising Outlook or Lotus contacts, installing add-ons, transferring music, creating wallpapers and ringtones, sending SMS via your PC, and connecting to the Internet. Mac users can still access the phone as a storage device using Bluetooth.
Performance
Sending a six-minute MP3 from a MacBook Pro to the 6280 via Bluetooth took under a minute (at an average of 120KB), after which we could set the song as a ring tone or listen to it through the built-in media player.
The stereo headset Nokia supplies in the box is average in sound quality and its tangle-prone lanyard design won't be to everyone's tastes. Unfortunately, the 6280 uses Nokia's proprietary Pop-Port connector for the headset so you're stuck with the fairly low-end supplied set for music. There is, however, an inline remote control with a volume switch, a single button for changing the song, radio station and answering the phone, and a microphone for voice calls.
A thoughtful addition Nokia bundles is an adapter to use standard Nokia chargers with the 6280, although it's sad to see the number one phone manufacturer changing its signature power plug after all this time.
Battery-wise, we consistently got three full days use out of the 6280, but much less with frequent use of the radio and MP3 player.
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bob
23/12/2008, 05:22 PM
rating
10/10
good phone
Pros: photos are really good out side. good for parts on ebay ive smashed the lcd display. and i broke the front case screen but i landed on it to do that
Cons: starts to lag when over 420 songs on 2gb memory card it freezes
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megan
23/12/2008, 02:26 AM
rating
8/10
i have had this phone for nearly two years and it just wont break! i have dropped it numerous times and it continues to work. however my down button stopped working and i got the phone replaced.
Pros: battery life, 3g, screen, big keys
Cons: won't break hehe and its bulky
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joseph
04/12/2008, 05:26 PM
rating
9/10
a pretty good phone even after 2 yrs
Pros: no worries
Cons: no cons
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paul
02/12/2008, 12:22 AM
rating
2/10
This phone is terrible, thank god i accidentally dropped it in water!
It completely fell apart with a couple of bangs and drops, it kept turning itself off, it's really bulky, camera stopped working, couldn't receive calls after just a year of use
Pros: big clear screen
Cons: really slow
so many bugs
It completely fell apart with a couple of bangs and drops
it kept turning itself off
it's really bulky
camera stopped working
couldn't receive calls after just a year of use
kept showing this "restricted" enter in a code thing so had to turn it on and off all the time
annoying keys 1 2 3 too close to bottom of slide- hard to type
not enough space
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twilight
24/11/2008, 01:57 AM
rating
3/10
I've had my Nokia 6280 for about 18 months. In the beginning it was really gwd, but now: my camera doesnt work, i cant answer any calls what-so-ever without the whole screen flashing to white and the phone re-booting-so i have to call everyone back costs a fortune!, slow, internet cuts out,etc
I would definetely advise against buying this phone such a disaster!
Pros: ok at first
big screen
slide function remains alright even after time
Cons: Camera won't work
Can't answer any calls
slow
reboots
internet cuts out
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Kingo64
16/11/2008, 01:08 PM
rating
10/10
I have had this phone since it came out and I have never encountered a problem! It is a great phone!
Pros: Large Screen
Camera
Radio
Java apps work great
Cons: Can't turn on Phone Access for apps (Maybe due to old fireware)
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don't see the problem
31/10/2008, 11:25 AM
rating
8/10
I have had my 6280 for 2years now and i can honestly say it has been no trouble for me at all. Except maybe for the odd screen freeze which happens rarely. I have dropped my phone many times and the only problems has been the slider when i hit it against a hard surface but that was my fault. My brother has had the 6280 for 2 years as well and the only problems he's come across is a crack screen from sitting on it etc. I intend to keep this phone until i finish high-school because it is a very good simple phone.
Pros: camera and video not so bad
simplistic menu
loudspeaker
games
internet etc
Cons: a little chunky
small phone memory
64mb memory card =[
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lamahbug
21/10/2008, 12:01 AM
rating
1/10
DID not give it a 10/10 with last comment, sorry.
Pros: -
Cons: -
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lamahbug
20/10/2008, 11:59 PM
rating
10/10
Worst phone I have ever owned. It turns itself off by itself, randomly fades to a black screen, which then resets my phone settings, comes up with error message about phone restrictions, has told me numerous times to enter security PIN (even though i didnt set one up!), has came up with "sim invalid" plenty of times (i even bought 3 new sims to try to fix the problem!). I have had two of these phones, and would not recommend them to anyone!
Pros: Large screen.
Cons: Slider stops working, buttons get sticky, poor quality camera (VERY grainy results), horrible sound quality, bugged, bulky, a menace!
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jayjay187
22/08/2008, 08:18 PM
rating
10/10
I would just like to know if anyone else managed to text for free using the 6280? I found a way and ended up with endless free texting.
Pros: If your with the company 3. It is possible to text for free.
Cons: This PHONE GIVES U ENDLESS AMOUNT OF SMS"S THERE ARE NO CONS!!!
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