Plemix

Like its siblings Sapphire and Carbon , the new member of the Nokia 8800 Arte family is christened after the oh-so-precious material that it’s made of: Gold. I guess it is not so difficult to see the reason behind. The material is the selling point. It defines the phone (and its horrendously out-of-this-world price tag!!!!) It glitters for sure, but if it is really good as gold?

The package is one to be envied: the Nokia 8800 Gold Arte phone body, a gold-plated desk stand, a Bluetooth headset, a leather pouch, a battery, a data cable, a charger and a user’s guide.

The gold-plated case of the phone is pretty much where the money goes. It is a real stunner. The luster on the surface can blind one’s eyes. Gold can put up with the erosion from temperature and moisture, which make the phone more durable. It can definitely stand the test of time, but I am skeptical about whether it can stand the test of theft. You may find the 2-inch OLED screen a bit too small, but a smaller screen makes room for more gold. You choose.

The terrace design of the keypad is very pleasing. The keys are large and thumb-friendly. The top row could be arranged with more room so that it’s not that attached to the ridge, but it’s not really a big deal.

The gold-plated desk stand is a delight. It completes the phone as a piece of art. You can appreciate the phone like an exhibit showcasing its beauty upright.

This is the back view. The back and the speaker piece are covered with white leather. Its creamy color does look amazing together with the gold. However, it may easily collect stains and fingerprints.

The BH-803 Bluetooth headset is looking amazing with a touch of gold made especially to match with Gold Arte. (It is silver when the headset is purchased alone)

You can find the battery cover release and loudspeaker piece on either sides of the phone. It is disappointing to find no shutter button for the camera though. (I know the 3 megapixel camera is not really the thing that matters, but still you would want it to be perfect.)

There’s an inbuilt memory of 4GB, without any expandable memory, which is another big letdown.

The menu is the classic Nokia menu. You have seen it all before.

You’ve got all the basic applications that come with a ‘classic’ Nokia phone.

All in all, you have a very clear idea what to expect from such a high maintenance phone, a dazzling design that makes you want to lock the phone in a bulletproof glass safe. If you want HSDPA, WiFi, super effective camera, HD video or any other advanced technology, your money could be more well-spent elsewhere.

Nokia 8800 Gold Arte Video Review

# posted by plemix @ 1:46 AM