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The Nokia E71 had a successful run as the thinnest hardware-QWERTY smartphone ever released by the manufacturer. The time has come for the E72 to take over and as the successor the device has improved in several categories including processor power, memory and optics. Jump up to 600MHz and a 5-megapixel camera is in itself enough to warrant an upgrade, but get a better understanding of the differences between the two devices I have compiled a breakdown of their respective features.
| Nokia E71 |
Nokia E72 |
|
| Size and Weight | 4.49 x 2.24 x 0.39 inches and 4.5oz | 4.48 x 2.34 x 0.40 inches and 4.5 oz |
| Processor | 369 MHz ARM11 Freescale processor | 600 MHz ARM11 processor |
| Memory | 256MB ROM / 128MB SDRAM. microSD card slot up to 8GB (SDHC) | 512MB ROM / 128MB SDRAM. microSD card slot up to 32GB (SDHC) |
| Display | 320×240 px, 2.36 in, up to 16 million colors | 320×240 px, 2.36 in, up to 16.7 million colors |
| Connectivity | Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE, dual-band HSDPA/UMTS, WiFi b/g | Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE, dual-band HSDPA/UMTS, WiFi b/g |
| Battery | BP-4L 3.7 V 1,500 mAh lithium-polymer | BP-4L, 3.7V 1,500 mAh lithium-polymer |
| Built-in Camera | 3.2 megapixel with auto focus and flash | 5 megapixel (2592 x 1944 pixels) with autofocus and flash |
| Input Methods | full QWERTY keyboard, directional pad | full QWERTY keyboard, directional pad + optical trackpad |
| OS | S60 v3.1 (3rd Edition, Feature Pack 1) UI on Symbian OS v9.2 | S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 2 UI on Symbian OS v9.3 |
Size/Weight
The E71 and E72 are nearly identical in both size and weight. The major difference here is the design which I feel gives the E72 a slight edge. The orientation of the keys and the smoother edges delivers an improved look and feel. Both devices are worthy of their E-series branding as business smartphones.
Processor / Memory
Often times when using the E71 I found the device to be a bit sluggish when switching between applications. When using the E72 the device is extremely fast, but this is to be expected from the improved processing speed. The added bonus of being able to use 32GB SDHC microSD cards gives the E72 a distinct advantage for those trying to carry their music library on the go. It would have been nice to see the E72 increase SDRAM to 256MB, but the processor seems to deliver the speed I was looking for in the updated device.
Display
They say if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. Nokia took this approach with the screen on the E72, leaving the size and resolution unchanged. With the N97 and N900 offering significantly higher resolution screens I can only hope the next E-series device brings a higher-resolution screen.
Connectivity and Battery
Quadband GSM and dual-band HSDPA have become standards for Nokia handsets. This is another area where the E71 and E72 are identical and whether you live in Asia, Europe or the US, there is a E71 or E72 to take advantage of your specific data network.
Camera
I loved the camera on the Nokia N95 and finally the E-series has received the 5-megapixel upgrade. The boost in 1.8 megapixels is very noticeable when comparing shots between the E71 and E72. The images are not quite as good the 5-megapixel camera on the N97, but for a business device the E72 is among the best in image quality.
Input Methods / OS
The E72 brings a new input method to Symbian, the optical trackpad. The trackpad is very similar to what RIM is doing on their latest lineup of smartphones, but even better. Rather than replacing the 4-way navigation, Nokia has kept that functionality while allowing the center portion of the navigation key to act as trackpad. The trackpad does take a bit of adjustment before you become comfortable, but most will find this a welcomed addition.
Final Thoughts
The E72 builds upon the success of the E71 by delivering a top-notch business smartphone. The boost in processing power, camera quality, and design make it an attractive upgrade. If you currently use the E71 and are looking to upgrade I would not hesitate to recommend the E72. Nokia has refined an excellent product and paid close attention to customer input with the E72. Now that the device is now widely available throughout the US and Europe it is time to put up your E71 on eBay and start hunting for a deal on the E72.
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i have seen e-72 is the best phone now
The E72 is a great phone and a worthy upgrade from the E71. The problem is that Symbian needs to be updated, the entire interface feels a bit dated compared to the alternatives on the market- the exception being the Bold 9700.
E71 was easily one of the best phones i’ve ever had. E72 literally is just an updated version.
(havn’t acctually used the E72) one thing i don’t like about it, the back battery cover is silver no matter what colour you get the E72 in however the silver line around the border on the front of the phone adds a really nice and elegent design.
any one know of any software differeneces betwen the two? i.e. apps and easy to use menu’s or any additional programs that the E72 offers?
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