The Nokia 5230 is the latest not-that-smart smart phone from our Finnish friends, for those of us on a budget.
The 5230 looks like a stripped-down Nokia 5530, where the 5530 is a stripped-down Nokia 5800. It's a budget-priced take on the media-playing smart phone, with a bunch of features: A-GPS navigation and Ovi Maps with aerial images, 3D landmarks and terrain view, an 81mm (3.2-inch) touchscreen, microSD expansion and Bluetooth. Only a 2-megapixel camera, though.
Like the 5530, the 5230 features a contacts bar containing thumbnail images for up to 20 of your closest friends. Tapping on a friend's face gives you the option to call, text or email or take a squizz at their latest Facebook, Twitter and other social-media updates.
The home screen also includes a link to the Ovi Store where you can buy apps, videos and more. You can also connect to YouTube from the home screen. You can connect to the Web via 3G, but not Wi-Fi.
On the music front Nokia claims up to 33 hours of playback time, with a 3.5mm headphone jack, so you can use whichever headphones you want.
The Nokia 5230 will arrive in the last quarter of the year. Pricing is currently set at €150 (£130), while a Comes With Music version is being teased for selected countries at €260 (£230).
Update: An earlier version of this story reported that the 5230 doesn't have 3G. It does include 3G connection, but doesn't feature Wi-Fi.
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Comments 4
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Anonymous 6 August, 2010 19:27
is nokia 5230 has wi-fi function.plz guide me
Anonymous 16 September, 2010 19:44
yer brill phone that y i thourgh it half way across the room sony erricsons are best take it from me
Anonymous 30 January, 2011 19:32
In the first rush of enthusiasm over a virtual QWERTY keyboard for messaging (I'd been using a cheap Chinese phone & txting was a PAIN) I got a 5230 then discovered it didn't have wi-fi so unless I want to pay a fortune in roaming costs I can't use any of its selling points - Skype & Facebook - abroad. Then I realised the 2 bit camera didn't have a flash & that I couldn't make video calls (my very old Sony Ericsson 800i had a 3.2 camera with flash & video calling). Yep, I should have checcked ALL the spec beforehand. Also, since May 2010 it's been back for repair twice (replaced the first time). It may be cheap but it acts cheap as well. Worst phone I ever bought.
anonymous 21 December, 2011 15:30
I want to connect to the internet on my Orange pay-as-you-go Nokia 5230 phone. The only option I have is via Orange World - which is expensive. Can I change the settings to allow me to go direct? Please can anyone explain this to me as I really not technically minded and I have no idea how to do it?
Thank you very much