Nokia X3 review

Compact and media-centric for under £100

The definitive Nokia X3 review
The definitive Nokia X3 review

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A routine set of Nokia Series 40 organiser tools and applications are ready for action on the X3. These functional tools, which are standard fare, include alarm clocks, calendar, to-do lists, notes, calculator, stopwatch and timer apps.

Nokia x3 xpressmusic

A couple of convertor apps and a world clock function are also slotted into the phone's application folder.

Nokia X3: Connectivity

The Nokia X3 is a quad band handset, capable of running on GSM 850/900/1800/1900 networks. Without 3G or Wi-Fi the X3's data connectivity relies on lower speed EDGE or GPRS, which limits its online prowess.

USB 2.0 connectivity is supported, via a microUSB port on top of the phone and a supplied data cable.

Nokia x3 xpressmusic

The X3 has Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity too, with stereo audio profiles (A2DP and AVRCP) enabling streaming to wireless headphones, speakers and other suitably enabled Bluetooth gadgets.

Also included in-box is a Nokia Music software CD. This PC software (there's no Mac support) enables users to manage and synchronise music between the phone PC and other devices.

Nokia X3: Other

Although the X3 isn't kitted out with internal GPS gadgetry, Nokia does include its Maps software onboard the phone.

It can be used with a separate optional Bluetooth GPS receiver module, although we'd guess anyone that keen for satellite location finding is likely to choose a phone with GPS inside in the first place.

Although it doesn't use GPS – or the cellsite-based location approximation system of Google Maps – users can do searches for addresses, locations, businesses and services, get routing information and maps over the air.

Nokia x3 xpressmusic

Without GPS, the setup can feel a bit clunky as some menu options aren't available, as the Nokia X3 firmware appears to have been ported from a more generic version of the OS.

Mapping downloads can take a while too if you're in marginal coverage, and generally in its GPS-less truncated state, and without fast map updates, it's a far from compelling proposition.

Among its other features, the X3 also has support for over the air software updates, with 10 games included too.

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