CTIA 2006
Nokia's new phones for CTIA are pretty much what one might expect. The emphasis is on CDMA, and like many manufacturers this year, Bluetooth is being added to most mid-range and even entry-level phones.
The 6175 is a mid-range clamshell phone, and the highest-end of the three new CDMA models.
The 6175 is a very stylish phone, with a good solid feel in hand. The internal antenna contributes to the sleek profile, although - as with some past models - carriers have required Nokia to add an extendable whip antenna for maximum reception ability.
Since this is a mid-range phone, there's no EVDO high-speed data or memory card slot. However it does sport a few higher-end features like Bluetooth 2.0 with stereo audio and EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) support. There's also a 1.3 megapixel camera with LED flash, stereo FM radio, and speakerphone.
Moving down the line...
...we have the 2865, a bar-style phone that could almost be considered an upgrade to the 6235 and 6236. Upgrades over that model include a larger display, Bluetooth 2.0, and over-the-network sync of calendar and contact info (like SyncML). However the 2865 does not have the camera that the 6235 and 6236 do, so it's not entirely a fair comparison.*
Like the 6175, the 2865 is sleek and light, yet has a solid feel to it with good ergonomics.
The lowest-end phone of the three is the 2365:
This small and light clamshell model is designed to bring Bluetooth (version 2.0, no less) to a new low price point for CDMA. Other than Bluetooth and FM radio, the features are pretty basic.
The style of the 2365 didn't really appeal to either of us, and it has a cheap feel to it. Not helping the situation is the chrome on the front, which attracts (very visible) fingerprints like nobody's business.
On the GSM side, the only "new" phone was the 6126, which is almost exactly like the 6131 announced at 3GSM last month. The only difference is the 6126 lacks infrared and FM radio, since those features are much less popular here than in Europe.
The 6126 / 6131 (and 6133) is definitely a nice phone. The displays are great, the form factor is near-perfect, and the feature list is extensive. Nokia expects it to be a huge seller worldwide, and we expect the same.
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