The entry-level, pre-paid flip phone boasts Bluetooth, a speakerphone and conference calling. Is the flexibility of this contract-free handset worth the extra girth?
Review summary of the Nokia 2366i:
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 If all you care about is making calls, tapping out the occasional text message -- all without signing a contract -- the pre-paid Nokia 2366i makes for a solid choice. Arriving with a comfortable keypad, Bluetooth, a speakerphone, conference calling and voice tagging, the 2366i boasts impressive call quality and stellar talk time. However, the phone's low-resolution internal display looks surprisingly primitive, and the lack of a mobile Web browser will be a turnoff for on-the-go surfing fans. Release: November 2006. Price: $10.
Pros: Lots of calling features such as Bluetooth, a speakerphone and conference calling; messaging interface fits a surprising amount of characters; solid talk time.
Cons: Shifty reception; call and message options require a lot of menu drilling; no dedicated back key; poor displays; no WAP browser.
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Full Nokia 2366i Review:
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Design
Nearly an inch thick and weighing in at 3 ounces, the Nokia 2366i (offered in Verizon Wireless' pre-paid lineup) makes for a hefty little clamshell, but this entry-level handset regains some ground with its glossy black shell, which isn't as prone to fingerprints as other flashy phones we've tested. The flip phone also dons an attractive textured front that surrounds a rather plain external blue monochrome display. We were also disappointed by the low-resolution internal display, which suffers from a distracting screen-door effect and comes saddled with a primitive menu.
Calling - Good
Call quality on the 2366i was decent, but reception during our tests in Northern New Jersey was a bit spotty, resulting in a little static from time to time. We squeezed more than 3.5 hours of talk time out of the 2633i, which impressed us, as did the inclusion of Bluetooth, voice tagging, a speakerphone and conference calling – not bad for a low-end phone. However, setting up conference calls was a bit confusing and required more menu-digging than we prefer. And while the 2366i supports MP3, polyphonic tones and vibration, you won't be able to buy any from the Verizon Wireless storefront, seeing as the phone doesn't even have a WAP browser. The contact list was also a mixed bag; we appreciated the while-you-type searching, but we were annoyed by the number of steps required for entering a new contact.
Messaging - Good
The clamshell boasts solid messaging capabilities. While the interface is bland and bare-bones, we were able to fit a whopping 191 characters on the screen; far exceeding our preferred 160, and the font size wasn't too hard on the eyes. However, we wish the phone's wallpaper didn't show through the message editing interface -- sure, it looks pretty, but our eyes quickly tired of trying to discern our characters from the distracting background. Typing on the handset was mostly an easy, pleasurable experience with backlit keys that are nicely spaced. That said, we were annoyed by the lack of a dedicated back key, which slowed down our texting speed as well as our navigation of the phone's menus.
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Read » Gallery »
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Price and availability
The Nokia 2366i is available immediately on Verizon Wireless' InPulse pre-paid lineup for about $10, plus a $20 setup fee.
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