A journey with Nokia E52

Un-boxing done, few pros and cons done, now it must be time for detailing things a little and time to share my journey experience with Nokia E52.

Nokia E52, the latest member of E-Series might surprise to many because in now days, when everyone seems to running behind the QWERTY keypads, Nokia decided to come up with a T9 Keypad. The reason … as I think sometimes business people like to use cell phones more with one hand only rather than using both the hands as QWERTY keypads might be forcing them to do. Definitely it feels solid in your hands with its metallic finish and compact looks.

The official specification page reveals all the details one might wish to take a look up on but I am listing here the things I liked most about the device and taken the decision to buy the same for my youngest brother. Feeling same about this device as once I felt about Nokia N82, a decision that I would never regret.

The best points about the device …

• The Monoblock form factor with dimensions 116 x 49 x 9.9 mm. A lightest package, just 98 gm (54 cc) to hold such powerful features.
• Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900, HSDPA 900 / 2100, HSDPA maximum speed: up to 10.2 Mbps, HSUPA maximum speed: up to 2 Mbps
• Powerful ARM 11 600 MHz processor (same as Nokia  E72 or Nokia N900 has)
• A-GPS Support with free lifetime voice navigation for walk & drive on Ovi Maps 3.04 that too surprising with Digital Compass built in.
• Same E Series Wi-Fi support, Bluetooth 2.0, MicroUSB 2.0 and Accelerometer sensor for auto-rotate.
• Symbian 9.3, Series 60 v3.2 UI, Same Operating System as Nokia E72, means same home screen switching, same panorama mode available in camera UI, same Chat application supporting Gtalk, Yahoo, MSN and Ovi Chat and same browser capabilities.
• Nokia Messaging (not sure but two years subscription probably) Though Indian version seems not having the support for Lotus traveller thing, but for rest all kind of email services it works like just a charm.
• Same Full Office support with PDF.
• Dedicated Camera keys and without the useless cover on MicroUSB port.
• Indian package now days contains the Car Holder as well.

• 60 MB memory seems much pathetic decision though it has not penalised the performance in front of my eyes till now, but still if you are providing such a powerful 600 MHz processor and 256 MB NAND flash, then it doesn’t make sense in any case to have only 60 MB available user memory. Unfortunately that’s something beyond repair now.
• 3.2 MP camera with standard Nokia lens has no Auto-Focus, which counts as second biggest failure about this device. Though business series phones before Nokia E72 never been branded as best of camera phones, but still no auto focus makes it difficult to snap docs in clear print for sending that might be pretty handy for business users in some cases. Though I must say in rest all use cases I found it performing much better than Nokia 5800.
• Nokia removed the camera cover and provided camera key as an improvement but noticeable late in opening of Camera seems to wasting the effort in design. Hoping that next firmware update might improve it.
• Considering earlier T9 keypads people might be used to of, it will be troublesome in start understanding the Call and End Call keys, provided the fact they are not coloured in traditional green and red (inherited exactly from Nokia E72).

I wanted to repeat again, mention of only 60 MB ‘available’ user memory (even if it doesn’t affect the performance that badly as it might sound) will keep potential buyers thinking many times before buying the same otherwise, it must have been a great news for people waiting desperately for Nokia E5.

In all, this is a superb device for the real users, who want their work done at best rather than just showing off and want to keep it economical at best. I could assure you that in current date no one is providing such a power packed device in this price (Rs. 11, 900/-). For demanding users who can’t live with only one device, if earlier Nokia 5310 XpressMusic was my best bet for a backup phone, then now I will recommend this only.

Nitish Kumar
https://nitishkumar.wordpress.com
http://scifireviews.wordpress.com
http://nitishkumarsays.blogspot.com

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