Nokia E63 Review
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The Nokia E63 is the little brother of the superb E71. In this review, I will discuss with you what are the changes in the device and other things concerning the device. Thanks to WOM World for the device.
Advantages
- 3.5mm Audio Jack
- Good Build Quality
- Fingerprint Proof
- Good Keypad
- Decent Audio Quality
- Good Battery Life
Disadvantages
- Average Camera Quality
- No Auto-focus
- No Volume Keys
- 3.5mm Jack Cover Not Attached to Body
Design, Materials and Build Quality
The E63 follows the same form factor of the E71 i.e. QWERTY candybar. The E63 measures at 113*59*13mm whereas the E71 measures at only 114*57*10mm. Yes the E63 is bigger than the E71 in both width and thickness but is a tad bit shorter. However the main difference is noticed in the thickness of the device. The weight of the device still remains almost the same i.e. 127 grams in E71 and 126 grams in E63. This is one of the things that surprised me the most since the E63 does not contain all the metal body parts of the E71/E-Series and yet is still heavy. The E63 has mostly plastic components and even the battery cover is made of plastic.
The back cover is fingerprint proof due to the matte finish. The front face is also less prone to fingerprints but has a glossy finish. The only region which attracts some fingerprints is the screen. The battery cover removal process is different, you have to unlock it and remove the cover, when your done, fit it back and lock it again. The face of the E63 has the QWERTY keypad, D-Pad, soft keys, light sensor and earpiece. On the top of the device are the loudspeaker and the 3.5mm audio jack. The right side of the device is plain. On the left are the micro-SD slot and micro-USB connector. Since all the connectors are sealed, it prevents dirt/damage. On the bottom are the charger connector, microphone and the lanyard eyelet. The camera module is on the back.
The device fells quite strong and does not creak. But it feels a bit weaker in comparison to the E71. I think the increase in thickness is the factor that makes it feel more solid. The phone is available in two colours-Ruby Red and Ultramarine Blue (The one I’m trialling). Both the colours look good and have good paint-jobs on the device. But the red feels more feminine and blue appeals to the men.
Keys
The E63 QWERTY keypad remains the same in terms of size but it has a better feeling to it. So it is still very comfortable to type on and even better as I think. The E63 has some more keys on the bottom of the keypad and the space key has become smaller to accommodate the extras. The soft keys, shortcut keys and D-Pad remain the same. The Call End key now acts as the Power Key too. This makes it easier to switch off but it also makes accidental switching on/off more possible. The E63 lacks the presence of voice command and volume keys. I feel the lack of volume keys is a disadvantage. Most users are likely to go to the side to increase/decrease the volume before realising the absence and seeking to other means to achieve so.
Call Quality
The earpiece on the E63 looks better than the one on the E71. Sound quality is identical to the E71. There are no hisses/disturbances. The loudness is the same through the earpiece but through the loudspeaker; the volume is a bit lower compared to the E71. There is a feature in which, if you type a certain number/letter, the phone searches in the call records and phonebook and gives you an easier way to call since you don’t have to dial the entire number or enter the contacts.
Screen
The E63 comes with the same 2.36” landscape oriented screen as on the E71. It displays 16 million colours at QVGA resolution and has good sunlight legibility. Since this model is a minor to the E71, having the same screen size can be treated as a good thing.
Messaging
The QWERTY keypad enables quick texting/emailing which is an advantage to most business users. The 4 types of message supported are-SMS, MMS, Audio and E-Mail. The messages can be stored onto the phone memory or onto a memory card.
Connectivity
Everything is in there including 3G, HSDPA, Wi-Fi, GPRS, HSCSD, EDGE, micro-USB and Bluetooth. Data transfer speeds are similar to the E71. The E63 lacks a GPS receiver.
Memory and Performance
The E63 comes equipped with the same 128MB Ram and 369MHz processor as in the E71. But it has an additional 10 MB of internal memory i.e. 120MB in total. There is a micro-SD card slot which supports upto 8GB. I think higher capacities should work considering the fact that most other phone from Nokia with 128MB of Ram managed to get it working. The E63 runs on the S60 V3 Feature Pack 1 and it delivers the same performance as the E71.
Camera
The E63 camera has been downgraded from the 3.2MP AF camera on the E71 to the 2MP fixed focus camera. The camera quality is below average. The lack of autofocus makes the situation worse. The pictures taken appear greenish and have high noise levels. There is an LED flash which can be used as a flashlight and I believe this is the first time in a Nokia that the camera flash can be used as a flashlight. Other companies have had this for many years and its good to see Nokia heading in the right direction.
The lens also lacks protection and thus scratches and smudges appear easily if not taken care of properly. A self-portrait mirror is also there for self-shot assist. The video recording is also bad with maximum of 15fps at QVGA resolution.
Music
The E63 has a decent audio quality through the speakers and the headphones. The audio quality isn’t exceptional but for a business minded handset, it is quite a good performer. A 3.5mm jack is provided for all headphones. The 3.5mm jack is protected by a plastic cover. However this cover is easy to lose as it is not connected with the body. The loudspeaker isn’t as loud as the E71’s.The various formats of audio supported include MP3, AAC, eAAC+ and WMA. Equalizer, stereo-widening and loudness options are available. E63 also supports A2DP Bluetooth profile.
Video
The video/movie experience is also very similar to the E71’s. Videos are playable in fullscreen. Clarity, colours and contrast is good. Real Player supports mp4 and 3gp formats. You can play other formats using 3rd Party Applications. Long videos/movies may not be watchable due to the small screen size. A 2.6” screen would have made a big difference.
Battery Life
The E63 is equipped with the same 1500mAH battery found in the Nokia E71 and it does offer very good battery life as the E71. Nokia claims a standby time of 432 hours and talktime of 11 hours. The battery lasts longer than on the Nokia E71.
Conclusion
The E63 was released as a younger brother to the Nokia E71 and it is indeed one in terms of features too. There are improvements in some areas and flaws in other areas. But overall this comes sufficient for those business users who are looking for a more affordable and multimedia friendly version of the E71.
Check out the E63 specs and E71 specs and our E71 vs E63 Comparison with Photos
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great review of all the time!i am observing the E series of nokia, not the n series!but…replication…blackberry models…
I am shocked to read that E63 does not support GPS feature. My phone features GPS as it came loaded with Nokia maps.
@shadow what phone are u referring to ?
varun
hi . is nokia e63 a quadband
sorry that i did’n get your descriptions
my friends recommends e63 or 71 for me
to change my lowly palm treo650
but since travel is a must for me they said i should also get a quadband
thanks
@akira
E63 and E71 support quad band GSM Networks
The E63 is lacking GPS.
varun
thanks a lot
still cant decide which one of the two
akira
@akira
my suggestion then would be to get the e63 first , try it for a week.
keep it if ur happy or sell it and get e71
i cant adjust the sounds of the camera when used. Everytime i take pictures, the sound of click is always there. is there a way to remove the sound? i cant find that in the settings. Then when taking pictures, its always in automatic. The flash of the camera is so bright. I cant find a way on how to set the camera using without flash. do you have to still set it first to have no light?
thanks a lot.
bri magno:
Turn on camera of E63 then select options -> flash -> select off.
hi pl. sum1 help me to choose b/w e71 n samsung star………which1 of d 2 is bttr!!!!considering as a status symbol n d touch screen feature in star!!!
E63 is a lovely and mindblowing handset with all features and a stylish look for all…………
hi i am confused
i am getting the nokia e63 for only $150 from america in comparison to $260 from india
but my question is will the nokia e63 from america(which is a quad band ) work in india ???
plzzz reply
ishaan,
i doubt 3g wont work in india as the bands are different.
but GSM should work fine
Here are the 3 models of nokia e63 in the market .
notice the various 3g frequencies
E63-1 Quad-band EGSM 850/900/1800/1900, WCDMA 900/2100
E63-2 Quad-band EGSM 850/900/1800/1900, WCDMA 850/1900
E63-3 Quad-band EGSM 850/900/1800/1900, WCDMA 850/2100
i am fond of song&music . Photography doesnot inerests me much. surfing net and seeing TV is myhobby.pl guide me which noe of NokiaE63 and Nokia 71 will suite me keeing the price in view. I am economical person.
Hi, I just got myself an E63 Nokia. I hope I made the right decision compared to E71 which cost much more and with only better camera and GPS options.
can u tel me is the clarity of e63 is good
i m shaikh boyz i wanna b sale my e63 handset 6 month wrrenty ”
by contect 03335322225
hi! does anyone know how to turn the sound off when taking the picture? please..
@ Varun and Sandeep,
Hi, have u compared the Nokia E63 with Samsung’s latest C6625 (a very similar phone with a Windows 6.1 mobile op. sys.). The c6625 is also mush more lighter in weight & comes with GPS & games.
Can u pls. clarify whether a new word doc or a new excel sheet can be created on office mobile of both handsets (since i use these extensively while travelling). Have been told that softwares are avlbl. that can be loaded to get this feature but the Samsung official told me that it is harmful for the device & Nokia revokes the warranty if an external software harms the handset. Nokia official denied this.
Have used bothe Nokia & Samsung phones in the past. Ease of usage is almost similar but Nokia support & downloads avaliability is much better. IS this a good enuff reason to go for Nokia over samsung.
am unable to get too much info. in the public domain on the Samsung c6625 (nor a good review). Can u pl. assist.
Many Thanks in anticipation.
Rgds,
Amar.
I just Purchased a E63 this week and I need to say its simply mind blowing..
Future buyers need to understand one thing about a mobile phone..
Do all the features available match up to the price quoted..
If u feel they do..go for it..screw the reviews..
If u r lucky..u will get a good piece..
E63! simply THE BEST! go for it….
– Go eee’s
elegant
excellent
exceptional
economical
exotic
entertaining…. and more…
Hi all,
I bouht e63 yesterday, i feel its worth for money. but the camera is not that much good
Nikhil
Hi,
I have been using Nokia E63 from about 3 months & found that its the best . U get everything in 12000. If u have decided the price range, jst go for it. It has a wonderful camera for daylight & at night, prefer switch off the flash & switch on the night mode. Music Qualits is gr8 & email setup options & wi-fi are lovely features!
i m not sure but i heard that there is no data cable with this phone…is it right ???
ya dude its rite man we
dont get data cable with the cell ………….
I bought the e63 2 dasy ago for INR 10950. theres a 1GB data card and data cable included. ITs a new black colour
Hi
its been month using this don’t find much difficulty using .But would have appreciated if had 3G & far behind trend of mega pix if compared in competition internal or external. When go professionally i feel its better on economical terms connectivity is really good its worth for 13k i find pple raising point on data cable i got along with it so far i would rate 6/10 would also request pple using rate it to find the better ones on our comforts no better guide solves it than rating
Vamsi
Dear Friends, Nokia E63 Smart Phone is really fantastic.
I am using it for past 7 months, No issues till now, Since it is multi tasking device, Rarely Hang’s & even computers do…
Audio : We may use normal Headphones, Good quality
Video: I didn’t Expect such a clarity in 2 mp, especially in Sepia effect.
Mail: You may configure your office mail box & Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail also Possible.
Applications: overwhelming. Applications can be downloaded & installed to Phone.
Keypad: Wonderful QWERTY Keypad. You have to discover new Shortcuts. I am discovering new shortcuts day by day.
Cheers,
Jagan – engineerclone@yahoo.com
Hi Jagan, Please give some links to download Applications for Nokia e 63.
Thank you.
hey guys ..
does it make a diffrence if i buy e63 from usa …or india …can anybody who bought it suggest me the best price to own this piece …
Thanks
nice phone i hv got dis dmmmm good .. than nokia n81.. its look, its functions are nice.. i had glad to bys dis.. nice work by nokia.
E63 is one of the great phones built by Nokia. It does not allow you simple things ..
1. How to see the number of a person who is already in the address book. e.g. you receive a call in call list . it shows your friends name ‘Ramesh’ now, you click Green button, it will show you Ramesh time when he called.. you can not get to see the number , by using Options, there no tab or feature called Call details or use number or view in settings which will allow you to see Ramesh and his number below.
2. You can NOT ‘map any of the special keys as per your wish..
e.g. RED key takes you to switch off the phone at the first instance. ( meaning press RED little longer , when you do not see and the phone would go dead , while you might think you only ended the call )
2. The top right button mapped for camera function , I want to remap for something else. Can not do anywhere in the settings.
3. ZERO is on right side, making your life go still … while you keep thinking it should be below number ‘8′ as in 100 other nokia phones.
Its one of the most lousy keyboard designs and S-60 must die natural death.
++. many people say while song is played , its mike becomes mute and caller can not hear your voice. This may be a settings issue.
I have not experienced this.
+ Menu in opening screen, why nokia can not add one more Icon to take you where the green caller button takes you.
( called numbers , missed call and dialled numbers ) related shortcut.
A new customer might read the whole manual , but will not find any place where he can see dialled numbers.
Samsung buyer will never be able to find the button in any help manuals.
Hi Can anyone tell me the exact market value for this phone E63 or E71 as I need to buy the same for my bday, but my budget is 11k, will it come under that……. plz plz
Have been using Nokia e63 for quite sometime..
I make decision to purchase the phone after reading this review.
But I am disappointed and planning to change the phone soon.
1. Phone often gets hanged while making/receiving calls.
2. Doesn’t support WMV videos. Many msdn elearning video in in wmv format.
3. In built Media player is not having forward button that means if you are listening to an elearning audio of 2 hours and exit in between, you should start from begining. It’s really furstrating.
4. No software updates available so far
Hi,
Varun i just now bought E63 mobile where i can get software like games, antivirus, themes which will suitable for E63. can you pls refer some website to download…
Best Regards
Saravana.M
love e63…just bought it yesterday for 11000 inr . I would like every1 to buy it…superb cell.also flawless….i dont seem 2 have any probs…
Hi All,
i have almost 6 months old E63, well condition used only 40 days. fully loaded. please contact me on 9999607744