Last year, Nokia launched the ultra slim 5310 and we at Mobileburn.com were smitten with its form factor and excellent sound quality. This year, the Nokia 5220 takes over the 5310's place with a funky asymmetrical shape and hip lighting effects. Lacking 3G and WiFi connectivity, the 5220 is clearly an entry-level music phone aimed at those looking for a no-frills device to play their music collection while on the go.
Physical Aspects
Our review unit came in an odd green, white, and black color scheme. The front of the phone consisted of a glossy black finish. Although it looks very nice, it shows fingerprints and grime so that the front of the phone needs to be cleaned frequently. The sides of the device are metallic green in color, and the white back panel has a ribbed texture that offers good grip for handling. Overall, the build quality is pretty average as the plastics used felt a bit cheap. However, the fitting was good and there were no creaks or squeaks to be heard. The battery cover is tightly secured, with a release button to open it.
The d-pad has a green rim around it, and is flanked by both the left and right softkeys along with the Call and End keys. The white backlit keypad with tic tac sized keys is pretty easy to use and gives good tactile feedback. The End key doubles as the Power button and there is a lanyard fixing located just below the * key. The screen is a [QVGA] (320 x 240 pixel) display capable of displaying 256K colors. I didn't really like the screen as I felt that the colors were a little uneven and not as sharp as I am used to. This could be related to the glossy plastic covering the screen, and the fact that the screen is recessed quite deeply.
As with the 5310, the 5220 also has music playback keys on its left side. However, they are now flush mounted, making them slightly more difficult to press. The playback symbols light up in yellowish green when the lighting effects are turned on. The charging jack is located just above the music playback buttons. On the right side, the volume keys and [microSD] slot sits flush against the side. The 3.5mm audio jack is located in the centre of the top of the phone. If you look closely, the centre of the phone is actually thicker than the sides. The tapering sides give the illusion that the 5220 is slimmer than it actually is. The [micro-USB] port and the battery cover release button are located on the top of the phone as well. The back of the phone houses the 2-[megapixel] camera and a loudspeaker at the bottom. There is a small LED located just below the camera lens, which lights up as part of the lighting effects.
Measuring 108mm x 43.5mm x 10.5mm and weighing a mere 78 grams, the 5220 may be slightly thicker than its predecessor, the 5310, but its asymmetrical shape does make it stand out amongst the crowd. It is comfortable to hold and doesn't weigh down your jeans pocket or handbag. If you don't mind the odd color combinations and fingerprint-loving front, the Nokia 5220 is a pretty solidly designed mobile phone.
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