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Review: Nokia 5230 Nuron

The Nuron is one of less than a dozen S60 handsets officially available from network operators in the U.S. It is definitely a lower-end device, and doesn't offer all that the 5800 XpressMusic or N97 do. Still, for a sub-$100 handset, it's not bad.

The biggest negative, in my opinion, is that the Nuron (and S60 5th Edition) continue to lag the competition significantly when it comes to messaging features. It simply doesn't compare. Every other smartphone platform is better. If messaging and social networking are priority numero uno, look elsewhere.

The Nuron's 2 megapixel shooter performs admirably, though it lacks autofocus and flash. The music application is robust, but hasn't been changed in ages. The display looks good, but is narrow and the body of the Nuron is a bit thick for my tastes.

S60 still offers plenty of oomph, but it is aging rapidly. Nokia has said that the first Symbian^3 devices will hit the market at the end of 2010. Handsets running Symbian^3 will offer major changes to the underlying architecture and user interface. I'd seriously consider Nokia fanatics to bide their time and wait for Symbian^3's arrival.

However, if you want a touch phone on the T-Mobile network and aren't interested in Android, WinMo or Samsung's TouchWiz, the Nuron is going to be your best choice. It offers many of the features of a smartphone for a nice low price point.

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Nokia 5230 Nuron

3.2" display 360 x 640 pixels
ARM 11 processor
1,320 mAh battery
Memory Card Slot, Headphone Jack (3.5mm)

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