Nokia 5100 Phone Review

Here’s some points (apologies because of the lack of a ‘fluid’ review – but I have had this phone for a month, which seems to be longer than the main reviewer seemed to have theirs…

The flashlight is useful. I’ve got a photon microlight on my keychain, but once it’s stuffed in a pocket with keys and wallet, it’s not handy to get to.

The phone, in it’s own pocket is just great for that.

The soundmeter, and calorie counter: i’ve never used. They are just toys. I don’t bother with them.

The FM radio is a godsend. I used to have a 5510 – the mp3 player, but the software to copy mp3s was so bad that i only used to listen to the radio on it. The radio is brilliant for bus journeys, or just ‘tuning out’ for a bit between university lectures. Although the propriatary ‘pop port’ connection leaves a lot to be desired due to the inability to use your own headphones, and the ease in disconnecting the headset from the phone – the connection is not very secure at all.

The picture messaging is a novelty. I don’t use it, because not enough of my friends use it either.

GPRS sucks, frankly – it very much feels like it’s the same speed as WAP, and there’s no real advantage. But the java games and applications are great (especially with a little searching on wap sites, you can download them for free)

Bluetooth connectivity would be nice, but I honestly wouldn’t buy a phone on that point alone.

What’s more disappointing is the lack of USB Data cable, which costs £50 (UKP) as a seperate item! I see that as more of a disappointment than the missing bluetooth.

But the phone is light, strong, with good battery life, reliable signal strength for where i live, and while it may not look as flashy as the camera phones, or have the technology of the third generation mobiles currently available, I like it a lot, and I really don’t see why people are so negative about it, unless they’ve actually used it.

[And the IR port on the 5510 is on the right hand side (with the screen facing you) in the break between the rubber 'ribs' - if you take the shell off, it's fairly obvious to see - obviously this wasn't done for the main review.]

Rating: 9 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful.

Andrew no offense but you gotta be crazy for being mad at a site for not discecting a phone to find the Ir port…think most people would do that? Hell no.

This phone sucks and for $399 it better be worth it.

Rating: 7 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful.

… just because YOU won’t use it!

The decibel meter is one of the smartest features I’ve seen in a while. Who’d use it, you ask? People who go clubbing. How long you can safely (i.e. without causing ear damage) stay in a loud club depends directly on the volume of the music. With a decibel meter, you can actually find out.

Nobody except for the authorities would buy a separate dB meter. But if I had one in my phone, would I use it? Heck yeah.

Rating: 8 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful.

I see that there are atill a lot of ignoramuses here who still can’t control their spending habits. No Bluetooth? Come on, people. First of all, the Nokia 5100 is supposed to be an OUTDOOR phone (read: people with active lifestyles). It’s not meant for couch potatoes. Besides, Bluetooth is for people who are too lazy to haul their asses just to turn on their computers.

Secondly, if a phone doesn’t have the features that you’re looking for, why buy it in the first place? Read the reviews first, THEN DECIDE when to buy it or not. At least one reviewer here called the flashlight feature ‘stupid’. Well, I know one thing more stupid than that: someone who actually buys the thing and then complains afterward. Obviously this phone wasn’t meant for your market. The 5100 has been featured on the Nokia website since last year; I suggest you get to READ IT now before you dig your head any deeper into your ass. If you think this phone’s not for you, then don’t even give it a second thought. Look someplace else. Is it really that hard to exercise your free will?

Considering all the reviews, descriptions and references I’ve read about the 5100, I’m more than ever convinced that this is the phone for me. Do the rest of us a favor and resaerch the product first before you decide to rant how terrible it is (after you’ve made the purchase! Sheeeeesh!). Now that’s SMART BUYING, ladies and gentlemen. Grow up.

Rating: 10 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful.

I’m having difficulty between this, the 6100 and 6610 but a few things compel me to consider this:

Added Thermometer

Added Decibel meter

Added calorie software – not taking java space

drop resistent

Rain resistent

But…. it’s ugly…. really ugly. But then it’s only a damned phone! which like my current 8310 is sure to suffer falling out of the pocket when on my bike/rollerblades or on the rockface, and yes I do climb from time to time.

Rating: 9 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful.

This phone is Great!. It is for the active people, it can be straped to you for jogging etc.

It is the same phone as the 7210. But different case and some more gadget.

Verry good reception, strong IR, GREAT battery life. J2ME Enabled make it expandable, it is rugged.

The con are the expensive USB cable (you can use IR instead), a bit hard to press key (you get used to it)

Rating: 8 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful.

I have had this phone for well over a month and i have realised that so far this must have been the best decision on mobile fone purchasing i have ever made. i have owned plenty of different fones before including the Ericsson T68i, Motorola T720, Nokia 3330, etc. This fone, however, seems to have it all, from and those extras. The light is very handy especially if u need find a key hole in the middle of the night. The automatic volume adjuster is also very handy, and of course the bump/dust/splash proof cover facilitates for the main reasons why i keep needin to purchase new fones. the radio can be put on loud speaker which i thought was interstin and the decibil counter, though may not be used on a day to day basis, is still required for the fone to automatically adjust the volume. The battery life can last upto a week if charged properly and even with regular use lasts for a good 3 days. this fone seems to have it all, whether it needs to be used for a business type or a labourer it will do the job, i would recommend it to all people as it is the fone which will last for a long long long time.

Rating: 10 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful.

I’m not exactly a dedicated follower of mobile fashion when it comes to upgrading – but I liked the functionality of this phone (I fly hot air balloons for fun and dust/water resistance, strong signal reception, long battery life, a flashlight and a thermometer are all useful features for that sort of outdoor activity). I bought one this weekend second-hand in Bangkok, where I live, for the equivalent of US$180 (boxed, 2 months old, 10-month warranty left). It seems pretty good but I’ve got to agree that the on/off button is stupidly difficult to operate. The guy at the shop where I bought the phone said that “it wasn’t popular with girls” because of this. I would think that, in Asia (and probably elsewhere), Nokia will lose sales just because of this basic but important design flaw.

Rating: 7 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful.

The nokia 5100 has an auto keylock, just like most new phones (can be disabled) which means the power button should not be difficult to press seeing as once the keylock is on it isnt able to turn off.

Rating: 5 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful.

Holy crap! It IS possible! Nokia announced it’ll be releasing the new 5140 next year! It has all the features of the 5100 PLUS an integrated digital camera AND a splash-proof headset, among other neat features! Heck, if anything can topple the 5100 off my list, this is THE phone!

Rating: 10 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful.

The power button is IMPOSSIBLE to use unless you’ve got tiny fingers…. Mine broke within 2 months due to using the car key to turn it on and off. NOKIA refuse to accept this is due to design fault. That’s a total waste of

£240 then….

Rating: 1 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful.

As other reviewers, the power button broke due to it being impossible to turn on/off. Brand new it takes 5-10 attempts & as the phone goes through more use tyhis escalates until it breaks altogether. Other than that a great phone but if you can’t turn it on it’s useless.

Rating: 2 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful.

The battery life on this phone is so good I never need to power the phone off and on so the power button is a non issue. I’ve had mine since December 03. I only paid $239 for the phone shipped to my door in Texas and included an additional cover. That price was reasonable for the features it offers. I also drop this phone as with any phone I’ve owned on a daily bases. It has held up well. The phone is sold unlocked in the US and has yet to be picked up be any major wireless carrier. Be ware, if a repair is needed Nokia’s warranty is mail-in and unless you have another working GSM phone you are screwed until you get your phone back from their repair centre in Florida. Reception varries by carrier. Since the phone is unlocked I have been able to pop friends SIM cards into the phone and bring it up on different networks. My own is AT&T and has terrible service at best. I’ve found that Cingular provides supperior service and reception. If my cell service was not paid for by my office I would not be with AT&T. This phone is great. I would recomend it to anyone that uses and abuses their cell:)

Rating: 10 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful.

i’ve read all posts and decided to buy this phone

Rating: 10 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful.