The Nokia E63 looks very much like the company’s highly-acclaimed E71, with fewer features and a more affordable price. Like its more expensive predecessor, it fits in a good set of smartphone talents in a good-looking, compact frame. Is the experience just as positive, however?
Armed with a very good QWERTY panel, the E63 offers excellent typing experience, with raised surfaces, soft keys and very good travel. Physical dimensions are thicker than the E71, allowing it to handle much better in one hand.
In terms of the phone’s actual use, it delivers a near-similar quality to the E71, less a few features. Specifically, it ditches the GPS, infrared and 3.5G. Web browsing still remains tolerable and, with Wi-Fi also available, it’s not likely to be that much of an issue, unless you specifically need ultra-high speed access on the road.
As a phone, it offers clear-sounding voice calls, with no noticeable distortion. The loudspeaker is also quite good. It fits in all the basic phone features, along with a complete messaging suite, including emails and IM. Email setup is particularly straightforward and offers Exchange support, along with POP3 and IMAP.
One thing we like better than the E71 is the addition of a 3.5mm audio jack, which makes the E63 much more usable for media playback. It can handle a decent range of media files, along with an onboard FM tuner and support for podcasts, YouTube videos and internet radio.
The onboard 2 megapixel camera is decidedly average. Even with an integrated flash, it doesn’t capture darker areas very well. It’s usable, however, like most low-end camera phones around. Other features include Bluetooth, microSD expansion and USB mass storage.
Overall, we love the Nokia E63 for the E71-like experience it delivers, all while sporting a very affordable price. It’s a compelling smartphone choice and should be very attractive for both professionals and casual users alike.