Nokia 2610

Mobile phone users in my experience fall into one of two categories. There are those who absolutely insist on having the best iPhone/Blackberry or similar phone which they can fill with applications and store their entire record collection, as well as watch all of their favourite films. Then there are those in the second category who look at their mobiles as though they are covered in an unpleasant substance and pretend that they have no idea how to use these 'modern gadgets'. The Nokia 2610 is very much for those in the latter category.

The 2610 is a 'candybar' phone which is just about the most basic model that Nokia have made since the late 90's. I bought mine for £20 to use as a cheap phone when doing things that could harm my Blackberry but since breaking my Blackberry I have used the 2610 as my main phone and so here are my thoughts on it.

Look and Feel
The 2610 looks a lot more expensive and impressive than it really is. The keys are set out in the traditional Nokia layout and the screen is behind a semi-mirrored screen. However impressive this mirroring looks, it makes the phone almost impossible to read in anything but near-darkness as it reflects so much. The rear battery cover is semi-rubberised which feels quite good. In summary the phone looks and feels like a luxury phone from 2001.

Durability and Robustness
I break mobiles. I don't mean to but it just happens. Bearing this in mind, the 2610 is doing remarkably well after about 7 months of solid use. Everything still works correctly and the casing is pretty much untouched. Unfortunately I have often put my phone in my pocket next to my keys and so the screen is quite scratched. Still perfectly readable though.

Battery standby time
Pretty much forever. As long as you don't spend your life texting and making calls, the 2610 will remain on standby for days at a time. I recently went over 7 days before having to charge it but this was with barely any use. Even on days when the thing never stops ringing, the notches of the battery meter never seem to decrease. Far better than Blackberries and HTC phones I have used but then again the 2610 doesn't have anything like the number of functions.

Value for money
Twenty pounds for this phone is an absolute bargain. Even if you only use it a few times such as heavy nights out or hiking, it is reliable and costs a fraction of most other handsets.

Range of features
Probably better to list what this phone doesn't have as it sets the scene better. It doesn't have a camera, bluetooth, 3G, wifi, mms (useless without camera anyway) or a clear screen. Other than the above it has pretty much everything that a handset many times more expensive would offer. Reception is very good and the speaker in the handset very clear. Certainly no complaints on using it as a phone or texting machine with the latter being controlled by predictive or non-predictive texting.

Summary
If you hate modern gadgetry and simply want a reliable, tough phone that will send texts and make calls then this is all you need. It is basic but it doesn't pretend to be anything else and it is the kind of item that you won't worry too much about losing when compared to an iPhone or similar which cost many times more than the 2610.