Nokia E63 review
23rd February 2009
The new Nokia E63. When Nokia first announced the release of this Messaging device, everyone's first reactions revolved around how closely similar it was to the current Nokia E71. Thinking that it was probably just another ploy by Nokia, the E63 has received a less than appealing welcome into the markets. Until that is, people realized the specs that the E63 had within its possession. It turned out though, that the E63 indeed holds its own against its more showy sibling, the E71, and really comes down to this; its perfect for those who prefer a more affordable alternative but still want that Messaging prowess.
It is inevitable though that the E63's fate will always be in the shadow of her older sibling, the E71. After spending some time with the E63, what I have found however, is that once you really get to know the E63, she might just surprise you with her own personality. Read on...
Inbox
1 x Nokia E63 unit
1 x travel charger
1 x stereo headset with built-in microphone
1 x 1Gb microSD
Assorted manuals
Physical Aspects
- The E63 comes in two colour variants: Ultramarine Blue (as per the review unit) and Ruby Red.
- On the front, you will find the full array of the QWERTY keypad, the function buttons for Calls, Home/Menu button, Calendar, D-pad, Contacts and Call End / Power button (this is perhaps the first difference which you will notice compared to the E71 with the red power button on the top). It does take some minor adjustment having this power button here.
- With regards to the QWERTY keyboard, on first sight one would assume that it is similar to the E71's layout. This is a misconception. If you study the phones side by side, you will notice that the E63 is somewhat "wider" than the E71. There has also been a slight reshuffle for certain buttons on the E63 too for e.g. the space bar button has shrunk, and it also doubles up as a "flashlight button" (a new very handy feature on the E63). Another observation is the material of the buttons, which follows the rubbery feel of the entire device, has a nice feedback to it. The wider stance also provides a nice messaging feel for the E63; some saying that its better than the E71. I would agree here.
- On the left, you will find the concealed USB cable jack and microSD slots.
- On the right, there are no buttons/slots at all. Just sheer simplicity.
- On the top, all you will see is the 3.5mm jack for your earphones (this is a big step up from the E71, with only a 2.5mm jack). There is also a little rubber "nub" covering this.
- At the bottom, only the slot for the charger can be seen.
- At the back, you'll see the "2.0 megapixel" camera lens, the Nokia Eseries logo and a "flip-switch" style cover for the battery. Obviously a change from the metal clad E71 older sibling.
Overall, the thing that would strike you most is how simple the device actually looks. No fancy buttons anywhere or any high quality steel materials; the E63 just simply does what it is required to do and that is; to function. Of course, the plastic materials used account also for the very light-weight for the phone. A very nice touch I admit, additionally with a rubbery feel on the body, which is great for holding the phone. There are no squeaks or loose components at all, although some other sites have reported that you can actually hear the battery hitting the cover if you shake the E63. I did not find that with my review unit.
Display
- The landscape 2.36" 16M colour QVGA display is nothing short of excellent, which is a good thing really, considering the lower quality of materials and lack of other functions comparing (again) to the E71.
Call quality
- The call quality from both the handset and loudspeakers were clear and excellent, even in noisy environments. No major complaints here.
- A major difference with the E71 is the lack of the front facing camera for 3G video calls. This can be considered a deal breaker for some.
- The battery life on the E63 is very decent with 2 -3 days worth of power before needing another recharge. Do note, that the battery is also the same as the one found in the E71. And given the lack of certain connectivity features, the battery does last a "little" longer.
Connectivity
- The Nokia E63 is a quad-band GSM phone, with 3G support. No HSDPA however. Again, comparing to the E71, we have to accept that not everyone wants HSDPA so having the standard 3G is suffice for most.
- Surfing on Web on the E63 using 3G speeds (or wifi) was acceptable. No issues here.
Camera / multimedia performance
- Camera wise, the 2.0 megapixel shooter is nothing to write home about. Although there is a built-in flash, the qualities of photos are somewhat mediocre. For outdoor shots, as expected, results proved slightly better, but only just. But again, given the quality of the Nokia E63, you should not demand too much from the camera. It will work as its supposed to and that's it. I've included some shots taken with various scene modes (below: an outdoor shot, an outdoor flower shot, an indoor shot (no flash), an indoor daytime shot with flash)
- The video camera features are not great, and quite standard with QVGA @ 15fps. (The E71 has 30fps)
- As for the multimedia capabilities, the E63 is very similar to the E71. But the biggest difference is that you will be able to use your own earphones with the E63's 3.5mm jack. Music playback is decent (and loud) and there is also a FM radio included. Overall, as this is under the Eseries range from Nokia, don't expect it to match what the Nseries relatives possess.
Plus points going for the Nokia E63
- The QWERTY keyboard. I really liked the E63's messaging experience. It was enjoyable to use and the rubbery feel of the buttons were just nice. I would rate this better than the keyboard on the E71.
- The width and overall build quality. After using the E71 as my daily workhorse, and suddenly switching to the E63, it was noticeably lighter and (for those with bigger hands) holding the phone in hand felt good too.
- The flashlight. Many would be surprised how under-appreciated a flashlight actually is. Instead of using the device's display (as many often have), this flashlight has proven useful in many a situation (lost your keys? Can't find your way in the cinema?)
- The same features present on the E71 like the Calendar, Switch modes (though, how often one would switch from business to personal is another question altogether) and other Nokia standard features, all available at the touch of your fingertips.
Things you might need to consider (and even this was nit-picking)
- The lack of add-ons like USB cable, pouches, wrist lanyards etc out of the box. Perhaps we have been spoilt by what the E71 offered. Note: Many sites have pointed out that a microSD card was not included in the sales package even, but the good news for us is that all sets from Incomm does come with a 1Gb microSD.
- The little rubber "nub" protecting the 3.5mm jack on the top is not connected to the device itself. So if you lose it, that's it, its gone forever.
- Poor camera and video performance.
Conclusion
Having spent a few weeks with the E63, it has been a tremendous pleasure to use. Before considering the purchase of this device, do remember however, that its primary function is as a Messaging device, following on from its highly successful predecessors like the E61, E61i and E71. It will most certainly not disappoint you, until, that is, you start expecting more from it that what it can offer you. Overall, call the E63 a budget or economy device, its still a very capable Eseries business device at a very affordable price tag.
It is available at all Incomm branches.