Features such as 3G, 2 Megapixel cameras and Walkman players are all to be found in mid-range phones these days; we've spent time with six fully-featured mid-range phones that won't break the bank.
2 Megapixels and more
Not long ago, handsets with 2 Megapixel cameras were reserved for early adopters with excess spending money - yet are now commonplace. Take the 6280, for instance, which both shoots stills and records video in addition to offering 3G and a high-resolution display. Then there's the W700i with its Walkman features and 256 MB of memory out-of-box; enough for a healthy dose of music as well as plenty of pictures. Lastly, let's not forget Samsung's SGH-D600E; a compact slider with a hi-res display and EDGE for snappy data transfers.
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Nokia 6280
Score: 67% When: February 2006 Worth: €200 - €400 What: 3G phones, Camera phones
Nokia’s 6280 is the most capable Nokia Series 40 handset to date, however fails to impress in light of its fierce competition. Its battery life, browsing and video calling capabilities are all of mediocre quality, resulting in an average overall impression as a 3G handset. On the other hand, the upgraded Series 40 user interface and decent 2 Megapixel camera with VGA video recording could very well render the 6280 this year’s ultimate handset for those who favour Nokia handsets. €500 EUR, available throughout Europe. More...
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Sony Ericsson W700i
Score: 65% When: May 2006 Worth: €350 What: Music phones, Sony Ericsson phones
With 256 MB of bundled memory and a 2 Megapixel camera sans autofocus, the W700i is, in essence, a W800i light - although with speedy USB 2.0 as a welcome addition. Numerous software installs present something of a hassle, but the handset itself offers the Sony Ericsson interface we've come to know and love - background music playback included. Sound, screen and overall performance all qualify for the mid-range, as does battery life with approximately 3.5 hours of talk, 6 days of standby and 15 hours of music playback in its Walkman mode. Its €350 price tag renders the maker's own W550/W600i slightly cheaper, but the W700i remains our preferred choice due to a better overall score.
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Samsung SGH-D600E
Score: 70% When: March 2006 Worth: €400 What: Camera phones, Samsung phones
Whilst not the best camera phone we've seen, Samsung's SGH-D600E takes decent images under favourable conditions and also provides a good selection of options through which images can be shared with others - including, unusually, TV out. Furthermore, its superb high-resolution display excels as a viewfinder as well as under all other circumstances, while a solid amount of onboard memory and microSD expansion enable copious storage. The inclusion of EDGE is also noteworthy, as is the handset's excellent reception. More...
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Cranking it down a notch
If you're not in need of high-end features but simply want to call - perhaps even in style, there's still plenty of choice to be had. Nokia's 6131 clamshell is one option, sporting a 1.3 Megapixel camera and a hi-res display. Its sibling, the 6125, also offers a 1.3 Megapixel camera but cranks the display resolution down a notch. Then there's LG's M6100, which might not be as stylish as its KG800 big brother yet offers a more sensible alternative to the Nokia 7380 - also this with a 1 .3 Megapixel camera.
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Nokia 6131
Score: 80% When: June 2006 Worth: €300 What: Clamshell phones, Nokia phones
Probably the sleekest Nokia handset to date and obviously inspired by the Motorla RAZR series, the Nokia 6131 springs open at the push of a button to reveal a top-notch, 2.2 inch hi-res display which doubles as a user friendly interface for the decent-quality 1.3 Megapixel camera. Snappy user interface performance as well as a comfortable keypad and navigation layout take the 6131 to mid-range heights, but music lovers should look elsewhere due to the so-so music player, lack of dedicated music controls and an absolute minimum of onboard memory. A microSD card slot is hidden underneath the battery, yet we crave for a bundled USB 2.0 cable and decently-sized memory card for transferring and storing music; battery life is average for a mid-range phone at approximately 2.5 hours of talk time and 5 days of standby. Although sadly lacking 3G, the inclusion of EDGE adds to a highly recommended total for the average Joe at a price tag of €300.
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Nokia 6125
Score: 76% When: June 2006 Worth: €250 What: Clamshell phones, Nokia phones
Stuffing a pair of able displays and a well-performing 1.3 MP camera into a light and sleek clamshell design, Nokia's 6125 takes square aim at Samsung's successful line-up of similarly styled handsets. With only 11 MB of onboard memory (holding 30-40 pictures) out-of-box, we yearn for a bundled USB cable or a memory card for the microSD card slot - but alas, no such luck. On the other hand, the 6125 does sport a comfortable keyboard and user friendly interface, as well as an FM radio and MP3 player; music lovers would do wise to look elsewhere, though. Voice quality proved very good, and a 3.5 hour talk time and 6 days of standby is nothing to sneeze at for €250.
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LG M6100
Score: 55% When: June 2006 Worth: €200 What: Fashion phones, LG phones
It's not that the tri-band LG M6100 is particularly bad; it's just not distinctive, which goes both for its feature set and design. Modestly attractive, the handset's biggest advantage is its compact size and light weight (88 g), while 128 MB of onboard memory provides roomy storage for a decent 1.3 Megapixel camera. Lacking memory expansion renders the music player somewhat useless, but the handset does provide excellent voice quality for calls - for as long as they last, with talk time clocking in at 2 hours and standby at 6 days. Hosted on a cramped screen, the user interface proved mostly intuitive, although slightly lagging during text input from the backlit keypad.
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