Nokia 5300 XpressMusic Review - Introduction / Design

Introduction

The durable, easy-to-use Nokia 5300 XpressMusic Phone is ideal for consumers looking for a handheld with music capabilities. Rather than following the slim designs pioneered by Motorola, Nokia crafted the 5300 to put functionality first, over form.
Offered by T-Mobile, the 5300 XpressMusic sports a 2.0-inch TFT screen, 1.3-megapixel camera and camcorder, music player and FM radio; all function without sliding the phone open. For usability, the its screen features buttons on either side; on the left to control the Music Player and on the right turn on the Camera and adjust the zoom and function as the Volume Control.

The side navigation keys also provide easy access to the Music Library, supporting MP3, MIDI, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, and WMA file formats. Music listeners can download songs directly from the Web and/or transfer the songs to the phone with the free Nokia Audio Manager application.

Design

The Nokia 5300 XpressMusic can be slid open with one hand, assisted by a spring mechanism that stand up to heavy usage, and clicks firmly in place both in the open and closed position. With everyday wear-and-tear in mind, the handset can stand up to being dropped multiple times. At 3.76 ounces, it's lightweight but sturdy. Covered in black rubber in the midsection, the same kind of material is used on some sturdier Sprint Nextel walkie-talkie models.
With an LCD display that is one of the most practical on the market, four buttons appear below the screen when the 5300 is closed; along with the Toggle Key with an OK / Menu button in the center. Consumers can use the Camera and Music Player, silence the phone or change the ringtone, receive text messages and access voice mail all without sliding the phone open. Since there are so few buttons around the screen, Nokia manufactured them large enough to easily find without having to look down at the phone. The QVGA, 262K-color display measures 2.0-inches (320 x 240 px resolution).

An inconvenience, users have to remove the back cover to access the microSD slot. The cover also protects the camera lens with a transparent coating, so photographers don't have to remove the back cover to snap a photo. Furthermore, directly to the right of the lens is a small circular mirror to help aim the camera should users take photos with themselves in it. Above the memory card slot, in the top left corner is the Headset Jack, accessible without having to remove any parts.

When the phone is closed the Power Key, Charger Jack and USB Port are all located at the top, but sliding the 5300 open, and those connections shift to the bottom half. For those who exercise, a loop to attach a Hand Strap is positioned on the top right corner.

Functionally simple, the keys are standard - not iPod style scrolls or sticky buttons. Four color coded keys surround the Toggle Key / OK / Menu buttons, making functions easy to remember. The top two buttons (blue), are selection keys, with the top right key also functioning as a back button. The bottom left (green) and right keys are for sending and ending calls respectively. This all takes a bit of getting used to. The menu, however, is standard and easy to follow.

Out of the box, the Nokia 5300 XpressMusic comes with an 820 mAh Li-Ion Battery, Power Cable, Stereo Headphone and Adapter, USB Cable, Quick Start Guide, and User Manual.
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