Nokia 6720 classic review: Up a notch

Ovi Maps and lifetime walk navigation

Nokia 6720 classic has a built-in GPS receiver and comes with a ten-day complimentary voice guided drive navigation license and lifetime pedestrian navigation with Ovi Maps. By the way, the two-year pedestrian navigation license costs 9 (nine) euro. And yes, we know looking at the price tags of gifts is bad manners.

The Ovi Maps application on our 6720 classic is the latest 3.0 version. There are no other differences besides the name - it offers the same functionality and controls. As usual it does an excellent job - especially when you activate the voice guided navigation.

It took the 6720 classic less than a minute to get satellite lock, which is comparable to Nokia N79 or N86 for instance.

Ovi Maps offers four different view modes including satellite and hybrid maps. Those however always need an internet connection and cannot be preloaded on the phone in advance like you can do with the regular map data and the desktop Map loader application.

A 3D view is also available in addition to the regular 2D mode.

The Ovi Maps

Nokia 6720 classic also features a digital compass. It's available in Ovi Maps but in order for it to work, you need the map zoomed on your current GPS position. And don't forget to check if the phone magnetometer is turned on from the Settings menu and activated by swinging your hand around for a minute or two.

If all these requirements are fulfilled you'll see the small compass icon lightning in green and the map will automatically rotate as you change directions - unless of course, you are in active routing mode. In this mode the compass doesn't work.

Additional features like traffic information and city guides can also be activated but they come for a fee.

Finally, in case you are still unhappy with Ovi Maps you can go for a third-party application and there are quite a lot of those available.

Unfortunately, the smallish screen on the 6720 classic can seriously questions the use of the phone as a full-featured in-car SatNav device. Still, it can fill in when you need an occasional location service and thanks to the electronic compass it will be especially handy when you're on foot.

Final words

Nokia 6720 classic is another Symbian powered smartphone in the standard 4-digit product line of the house. It has an orthodox candybar form factor, the homely and familiar Symbian S60 third edition, a wonderful 5 megapixel camera and GPS. If you can live without Wi-Fi or have a sound data plan, you may as well be sold on the Nokia 6720 classic - compact and convincing, hard-working and fun.

At about 220 euro and (hopefully) still dropping, the Nokia 6720 classic is a basic smartphone package, which will do the job for the typical value-for-money user who wants more from their phone. A decent looking entry-level all-rounder can very well be enjoying strong demand. It probably has little to no appeal for long-time Symbian customers but may as well motivate an upgrade from S40 or competing feature phones.

Nokia and Symbian are tightening their grip on the midrange smartphone market to the extent it's near impossible to identify credible competition for the 6720 classic. So, let's look instead at the other viable Symbian offers in this price bracket.

A very timely and relevant reference is the Nokia 5630 XpressMusic. It has a full connectivity pack and we guess Wi-Fi is hard to say no to. The 5630 XpressMusic is a slim and compact package with the same screen size and the low-grade 3.2 megapixel camera is duly reflected in the price tag. It's 60 euro cheaper than the current 6720 classic, so if imaging is not a priority, the 5630 XpressMusic is a must-consider. By the way, the touch-controlled 5800 XpressMusic is very much in the picture too, with its price comfortably settling.

Nokia 5630 XpressMusic

An even older Symbian handset may also have enough left in it to steal some 6720 classic market. The Nokia N79 has looks and Nseries skill against the novelty. Xpress-on smart covers, bigger screen, Wi-Fi, Navi wheel and better video round off quite a bargain at the the 6720 classic's current asking price.

Nokia N79

The Nokia 6710 Navigator simply goes hand in hand with the 6720 classic. It's only fair to assume it will be more expensive but then, the feature set quite deserves it. It's the same platform and processor, but the slider form factor kindly increases screen size while navigation and WLAN do give it a real edge.

Nokia 6710 Navigator

Finally the 6720 classic predecessor - the Nokia 6220 classic has slashed its price in half and boasts pretty much the same specs with a xenon flash and 30 fps VGA video on top. Its looks and build quality are downright inferior, but the veteran is still quite capable in the imaging department.

Nokia 6220 classic

So, such a plentiful supply of Symbian smartphones is more than good news for the user. Not so much for the 6720 classic really, but the phone looks well focused and aware of its rank. Nokia seem to have a credible entry-level smartphone, which will find both its spot in the company's Symbian lineage and its way to the users - once the launch price settles at a more sensible level.