Nokia 6500 Slide

I like a handset that looks like a traditional mobile. Nothing too fancy in terms of looks; just the relevant features in keeping with its price. Anything extra is just a bonus. The Nokia 6500 Slide just might make the grade if your tastes are in sync with mine, but before you make a purchase decision, allow me to clue you in on the 6500 Slide's features and performance.

Form Factor
The name pretty much gives a clue to the handset's form factor. The Slide is available in two colors – black and steel. Although I prefer the black, the steel is in no way bad-looking. The handset itself is rather simple in design. Nothing fancy, yet it's quite chic.

The display is a 2.2 inch TFT job sporting a 240 x 320 pixel resolution with 16 million colors. The slider is smooth initially, but it'll inevitably get a bit sticky with use. The five way nav-pad, two open keys, and call and end keys are neatly arranged and large enough. The same goes for the keypad; Nokia has made utilized space well. The handset has a scratch-resistant stainless steel shell.

On one side you'll find the dedicated camera key and the volume/zoom keys. All the connectors are located on the top of the handset. It has a 2.5mm earphone socket that also doubles as a TV-out and a microUSB port, along with the charging port and a small key that can be used to pop open the rear panel. Unfortunately there's no exterior hot swap slot for the microSD card; you'll have to open up the rear panel – but no, you won't need to remove the battery.

The 3.2 megapixel autofocus camera with flash is located at the back, and the brushed stainless steel finish makes it look a bit like a sleek digicam. A secondary camera is located in the front in the same area as the earpiece. The handset has a simple rectangular shape with smooth edges, that gives a very stylish feel.