Nokia E73 Mode Review

DESIGN & BUILD

One of the thinnest mobile devices today (0.4 in or 10 mm), the Nokia E73 packs a QVGA (320x240) screen and a useful keyboard into a well designed package.

It's been a while since getting my hands on a smartphone with this form factor, and the E73 Mode reminded me instantly what I liked about what Nokia's done here.

The hard plastic and metal casing feels very solid and high quality.

Screen
Given its enterprise-friendly leanings, the 320x240px screen isn't going to win many beauty contests. But, it is more than sufficient for most tasks. This screen is transreflective -- meaning that it fares quite well with indoor and outdoor lighting environments.

One of the pleasures during my time with this device was pulling it out to change the music track while bike riding and a sun beaming pretty heavily overhead. Not only was the screen readable, but all tasks were done easily with one hand.

Keyboard
If not careful, the E73 Mode can be mistaken for a BlackBerry. The front face being dominated by the QWERTY keyboard just tends to do that to people. But putting your fingers on the keys shows there's a different personality to the device.

The E73 Mode uses a similar layout to the E72 (mechanically, these are very similar mobiles) and E63 models. Compared to the previous generation (the E71), the E73 Mode offers slightly more domed keys -- these are easier to press -- and a few additional buttons. The spacebar is made smaller to accommodate these buttons, and aside from going from one device to another, the learning curve for this keyboard is relatively painless.