Nokia C1-00 deals & review

In a word or two

The Nokia C1-00 has the longest battery of any Nokia to-date and sports a dual SIM design.

The Design

The first device of its kind to feature a dual SIM – together with the Nokia C2 handset, that is – the Nokia C1-00 is the most affordable of the trio of C1 phones recently launched by Nokia. Aimed firmly at users in the developing world, the look of the C1-00 is simple with a 1.8 inch display, big navigation key and user-friendly keypad.

To glance at the Nokia C1-00, you may think it is the Nokia 1616 as these two phones share virtually the same design. However, the C1-00 has the edge as it can house two SIM cards. The C1-01 and C1-02 phones are a little more advanced than this handset in terms of features but don’t have the dual SIM design.

Colour wise, you can choose to have the Nokia C1-00’s case in medium blue, red, light grey or sea green. Whichever colour you select, the phone is two-tonal with a black front and different coloured sides. The screen is also full colour so viewing images may not be the same experience as on the Samsung Wave’s Super AMOLED screen, but it is nevertheless pleasant.

Specifications

The Nokia C1-00 has the Series 30 interface and lets you communicate via text as well as conversations. The phonebook supports up to 500 entries and the memory can keep up to 250 text messages at one time. There are games onboard the C1-00 so you can keep yourself entertained during those quiet times – and the battery life is just incredible, lasting up to 6 weeks on standby in between charges.

While this phone is designed for developing countries given its focus on low cost and functionality, the battery life makes it appealing for users worldwide. As well as taking your power-hungry Google Nexus One or iPhone 4 on a camping trip with you, you could throw in the Nokia C1-00 as you know its battery won’t let you down when you need it most.

You can enjoy music on the Nokia C1-00, adding your own songs or tuning into the FM radio. And listening is through your own earphones thanks to the inclusion of a 3.5mm audio jack.

The stand-out feature of the Nokia C1-00, though, is the dual SIM. This means you have one handset but can have two SIMs, and by just holding down a key you switch effortlessly between the two cards. This is a great feature especially in such a low-end device because it gives you the freedom to maximise low call rates or use the phone when travelling through different countries – or you can share the phone with family and still retain your own number.

Considerations

The Nokia C1-00 is a 2G handset with no support for 3G, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity.

Verdict

Simple and cheap, the Nokia C1-00 is intended to give you a means to communicate on the move. While basic, the C1-00 benefits from an exceptionally long-lasting battery and dual SIM option.