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CNET editors' review
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CNET editors' rating:
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Detailed editors' rating
- Reviewed on: 07/26/2005
Nokia uses the phrase steel appeal when describing the 6170, and for once, a marketing slogan matches reality. Both the front and rear flaps of the mobile are encased in stainless steel, and the material extends to the inside of the phone as well. The steel itself is attractive, but we weren't too impressed with the overall look of the handset. Like the 7270, it's much too boxy, and the oversize hinge is somewhat unsightly. You also have to deal with its hefty stature of 3.5 by 1.8 by 0.9 inches; plus, all that steel gives the 6170 a lot of weight at 4.3 ounces. On the upside, the construction is quite sturdy.
We did like the 1.25-inch-diagonal external display. It supports 4,096 colors, but that was more than adequate for viewing the usual information--the date, the time, battery life, signal strength, and caller ID where available--and you can set the screen to show wallpapers. Below the display are a small speaker and the camera lens. There's no flash, but the external display acts as a viewfinder for self-portraits. On the left side of the phone is a pair of too-small volume buttons, while the infrared port and a voice-tag key are on the right side. The power button has been moved from its usual Nokia position on the top of the handset to the right side. The relocation wasn't a big deal, but we did find the button hard to press.
Inside the 6170, you'll find the attractive 2-inch-diagonal internal display. With 65,536 colors, it's far more vibrant than most Nokia screens, and it's ideal for using the simple menus. It has a couple of drawbacks, however. You can't see the display in direct light, and you can't adjust the font size. The navigation controls are sparse, consisting of a five-way toggle, two soft keys, and the Talk and End buttons; only the left soft key can be set as a shortcut. The toggle and soft keys are adequately spaced, but because they are set flush with the surface of the phone, they aren't the easiest to use. The keypad buttons suffer the same fate. Although they're big enough, it's difficult to dial by feel.
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