Review: Nokia 6682
Body
For a candybar style phone, the 6682 is rather large, however it is actually small for Nokia smartphone. The phone gets most of its extra bulk from additional width. Due to the width, the phone feels rather large in the hand, but it is still comfortable. All the edges and corners are well rounded, allowing the phone to be comfortably gripped despite the extra bulk. It does not take long to get used to the feel of the phone in your hand.
The 6682 isn't just large, it's hefty too. Although the body is plastic, and there appears to be nothing out of the ordinary that would cause the phone to be heavy, you can really feel the additional weight.
Despite the heft and the size, the 6682 is both comfortable in the hand and in the pocket. It may be wider than your average phone, but it's thinner than your average modern clamshell - even with the thickness added by the sliding lens cover. This slimmer form allows the 6682 to slide pretty easily in and out of even tight pants pockets. It does however prevent the phone from fitting into change pockets.
Keypad
Nokia has finally stopped trying to design unique (or as we call them, "goofy") keypads for their Series 60 smartphones, and has started to concentrate on making the keypads more usable. The 6682 is an excellent first step in the direction, but it is far from perfect. The left and right softkeys are each very large but the numeric keypad keys are still tiny and scrunched at the bottom of the phone. To enhance usability, Nokia used a more standardized keypad layout , and also beveled each key, creating rows you can physically feel - making it a bit easier to use the cramped keypad. Those with large hands will still find the keypad difficult to use, though.
In order to use the keypad, you have to hold the phone with the top 2/3rds of the handset hanging off your hand in midair. Balancing a heavier phone while texting on tiny keys is uncomfortable and takes a bit of getting used to.
Series 60 requires a number of extra keys, and these are placed vertically down each side of the keypad. They are not any larger than the keypad keys, but they stand out higher than the rest of the keys, making them fairly easy to press, even without looking, which is especially nice for the send and end keys.