About a year ago, Nokia’s GPS phone, the 6110 Navigator, ruled the road with its sharp sat nav skills. Today, with seemingly every Tom, Dick and Harry high end handset rocking up with built-in GPS and clogging up the highways, it’s lost some of its navigation lustre. So, has its successor, the 6210, got enough in its tank to reclaim pole position?
On the face of it the 6210 is nothing but a mid-level Symbian S60 smartie with a nose for sat nav. That said, it’s a big improvement on the 6110, flaunting a slicker, more attractive look and a feature boost that includes a autofocus-led 3.2-megapixel snapper, superior VGA video capturing skills, swift HSDPA download speeds, and a slightly more spacious 2.4-inch screen.
However, the most important revamp is the sat nav software. With Nokia fully embracing the cartography game, the 6110’s Route 66 set-up has been usurped by the Finnish company’s own and very capable Maps 2.0 package. And with stand out enhancements such as pedestrian mode and a new look satellite view, along with general fine tune, this software and map combo will get you from A to B to C without a hitch.
Similarly, support for A-GPS means locking onto a sputnik signal is super fast while if you’re lucky enough to bag a six months trial, you’ll receive turn-by-turn voice instructions for nada. If you still want the commands barked through crystal clear over the built-in speakers once the gratis probationary period runs out then you’ll have to pay, with subscription fees and licenses ranging from £4.50 for a week through to £52.80 for three years.
Verdict
The 6210 delivers a convincing sat nav performance but in a strong field of GPS-enabled phones, it may struggle to stand out without more powerful features.
Best features
Strong sat nav performance
Quick satellite fix
Fast HSDPA download speeds
Not so good
Lack of Wi-Fi
Closest rivals
Nokia 6220
You could argue this Nokia smartie is a more compelling proposition with a similar sat nav set up, complimented by a five-megapixel camera.
Nokia N95
Another superb Nokia Symbian S60 smartphone with top sat nav credentials, not least a spacious 2.6-inch display to view the maps.
Sony Ericsson W580
It doesn’t pack GPS or sat nav but this nifty mid-range slider has motion sensor that transforms it into a pedometer to monitor your fitness regimes.
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