I recently purchased a Nokia 7600 and an NEC e616v, both phones are on the 3 network and have quite similar specifications. I have been comparing them, and i must say I havent used the 7600 much, as i only really switched it on to unlock it. The phone is too weird looking for my liking and the keypad isnt conducive to txting, anyway heres a few comparison points i have noticed:
7600 has a full bluetooth implementation, so can connect to any bluetooth device
e616v can only connect to bluetooth headset devices, though it can also act as a modem over bluetooth.
Both phones come with a USB cable, for transferring files such as video, ringtones, and mp3s to and from your pc. You cant transfer java games to the NEC phone, but apparently you can do this with the Nokia.
7600 has a full XHTML web browser, though you cant browse the internet, just 3's website.
e616v has a full xhtml browser too, but you cant make full use of it because you can only browse the content on the 3 website, you cant access the internet at all.
7600 has got a very intuitive user interface - great usability! (talking about the menu system etc, not the fiddly keypad)
e616v user interface is a little bit confusing, but not too bad, doesnt take too long to get used to it.
e616v can do video phone calls, and you can also record short video clips.
7600 cannot do video phone calls, though you can record short video clips.
e616v has 2 cameras! one on the front and one on the back
7600 has just one camera on the back.
7600 has got 32Meg in built ram.
e616v has got just 19Meg in built ram.
7600 has no memory card expansion port
e616v has a memory stick duo memory card expansion port which means you could fit more mp3s, photos and videos on it.
e616v comes with 2 batteries (1 heavy duty and 1 slim one) though i guess this is due to the poor battery performance, the heavy duty battery sticks out a bit and makes the phone look ugly, and the slim battery doesnt last very long at all.
7600 comes with 1 battery, i have heard that the battery lasts longer than the NEC one.
7600 keypad is really fiddly, absolutely rubbish for entering text messages or emails, practically impossible to use with a single hand.
e616v has a standard mobile phone keypad, so easy to enter texts with a single hand, and better for people with big hands, the nokias buttons are a bit on the small side, and really close together.
7600 has an infra red port
e616v doesnt have infra red port
7600 has a full java MIDP implementation, which means you can freely download java applications and games.
e616v has a closed off Java implementation, which means you cant download java apps and games freely, and have to pay to download them.
7600 comes with 2 games built in
e616v doesnt come with any games
e616v has a light on the front for the camera, great for taking pictures in the dark, the light can also be used as a torch, if you hold down one of the volume buttons on the side of the phone for a couple of seconds, the light comes on!
7600 doesnt have a light for the camera, though it is supposed to have a low light camera setting.
7600 has much better sounding ringtones, and uses standard midi files, i believe you can also even use mp3s as ringtones!
e616v you can use midi files as ringtones, there is a limit of 20k on the size of the midi files you can use, you cant use mp3s as ringtones.
7600 is easy to unlock to allow u to use different network's sim cards (you can unlock your 7600 and a whole load of other phones here: http://www.trycktill.com/eng/
e616v isnt so easy to unlock to allow u to use different network's sim cards
7600 comes with some cool stereo earphones, which look quite similar to ipod ones and also double as a handsfree kit
e616v comes with a crappy mono earphone hands free kit.
e616v the quality of video recorded with the camera seems quite good
7600 the quality of video recorded with the camera seems a bit "blocky"
e616v can download a video and save it for playback at a later date, or it can stream the video file in "real time"
7600 can only stream video files, it cannot download and save video files
e616v comes with GPS
7600 doesnt have GPS
7600 flat and open design doesnt give any protection from scratching or damage, or from dialling people when the phones in your pocket,
e616v is a clamshell design (which means you cant accidentally dial people by mistake, when something rubs against the phone), and the phones screen is also protected from damage
anyone else got anything to add?
as to which one is better i cant really decide, i am thinking of selling one of them, but cant make my mind up. really i would like to keep both, as they both have features that i really like, ideally i would like to create a frankenstein machine with the best features from both phones... now where did i put my hacksaw LOL
steeev
*UPDATE* I recently took my trusty NEC e616v on holiday with me to Japan, and was pleased to find out that the phones charger works fine on the japanese power supply, even though its completely different to the UK's. All i needed was a plug adapter which i picked up in the airport for around £3.50.
Whilst on holiday I also noticed one majorly disappointing feature of the phone, and that is that you can only store 100 photos no matter how much memory the phone has remaining, this was extremely annoying. At first i thought i would be able to remedy the problem by buying a memory card for the phone, but alas after installing it I found I still couldnt take any photos as the 100 images limit had been reached on the phone. Talk about crap! I believe there is also a limit on storing only 100 video clips on the phone too. How lame is that? Luckily I havent reached the limit on storing videos yet. It wouldnt have been a problem if I had taken the cdrom with the drivers and transfer program along with me, as i would have been able to transfer all the images onto a pc, and then deleted all the photos off the phone, allowing me to take photos again, but unfortunately i forgot to take it with me, and i had no luck in finding the transfer software online. Oh well, for anyone else looking for the transfer software and drivers for this phone, see my recent blog entry on the subject.
Further Update Someone on the 3g forum has posted a way to get round the 100 image limit on the e616v phone. More info can be found here.
i got the nec e616v, and you can search others phones and send stuff by bluetooth! its quite difficult to find out how to, but i done it!
Posted by: john at November 28, 2004 07:12 PMjohn, thats really interesting, do you mind sharing the details on how you did that? cheers! :D
Posted by: steeev at November 29, 2004 03:25 AMyou can use midi files as ringtones but the phone canb only open files of 20k any files larger cannot be opened. i am searching for midi files the only one i have foundso far is the godfather and use that as a ring tone, still searching though
really helpful, thanks! I want to switch to 3 but wasn't sure about buring the NEC e616v. Now I'm definitely getting the nokia!
Posted by: Matt at December 1, 2004 05:59 PMNo matter what the features, I've just ordered the NEC 616 since I know for a fact I'll not be able to get on with the ridiculous design of the Nokia 7600.
Usually I love Nokias and someone always has a charger for one when you get stuck but those buttons - how could you go into a meeting with a phone that looks like that - they'd think you were a right clown or wide-boy.
Posted by: Rob at December 9, 2004 05:48 PMRob, you are right the 7600 is a clown phone. I dug it out to have a play with it just now, and found the directional rocker switch which is integral to the whole phone is just totally unpredictable which way its going to go, which means the phone is really hard to control. Piece of crap.
You are right too about the 7600 not being suitable for a business person, the NEC is much more business like.
Posted by: steeev at December 10, 2004 05:46 AMUnlocked NEC616 in Pakistan for 10$. Good phone with average battery backup. But i m disappointed because of Ringtones, i m unable to download or use mp3 as ringtones.
Other than ringtones its an excellent mobile.
Posted by: Abid Siddiqui at December 15, 2004 09:42 PMhiya im lindsay well i have'ny got ma phone the noo but whn i get it at christmas i will be happy:)
i got told by loads o folk tha its quite gd likez im ttl lookin forward ti openin it at christmas likez some o ma pals say its asum like im ttl :)
but if i dinny get it then i will be really angry like:@
i dfinny even hink ur meant ti write what i have just wrote bur what the hell eh i have ma comments tae :P
mines is prob the longest lettery thingy here eh :P lol
u hink this is long u should see ma christmas list;):)
Posted by: lindsay at December 23, 2004 07:52 PMHad the Nokia 7600 for about 3 months now. As a phone it's fine as long as you don't want to text too quickly. However, the MP3 ability is somewhat ruined by the headphones - I find them really uncomfortable and because of the sprung wires, the in ear tabs tend to face in different directions rather that both towards your head like most earphones do.
Posted by: Tony at December 29, 2004 08:17 PMplz can some1 tell me how to use bluetooth and can u have sound u download ureself as a ringtone? thnx
Posted by: Emma at January 11, 2005 08:27 PMjohn mentioned that u can send stuff to other phones using bluetooth on the e616v i was just wonderin if he could post it onto this page how you do that. Seeing as i currently do not have a email adress he could send it to .many thanks Rich
Posted by: rich at January 14, 2005 08:59 PMI have a e616v and I love it, but it stopped working when I've left it for a few days without charging. also I have lost my original charger and I was forced to buy a new adapter, a e606 adapter. the other problem is that it doesn't seem to be compatible because it won't charge the phone. now I don't know if the adapter is uncompatible or if the battery is out of juice.
if anyone knows about the problem please help.
Im portuguese and i´m loving nokia 7600.A phone is to make phone calls!I dont need too much memory,i put everything in the computer...and everything in the phone...its what can you do whith a few phones and 7600 is one off that!Its different from others like n-gage!I am faster using both hands,arent you?Think about it!You want to know different people?Write back to me!Dont forgett:I have a 7600!Sorry my english,I AM PORTUGUÊS!
Posted by: Helder at January 25, 2005 07:08 AMi recently bought the nec e616v and i want to put my optus sim-card in it because the 3 network is crappy, but thats just my opinion, i wanna make it so i get all the normal good stuff on optus whilst i use my 3 phone, it would be so much better
Posted by: chris s at January 29, 2005 06:34 AMgot a 7600 and wont charge tryed 5 diffrent nokiachargers wont do anything.
tryed battrie in diffrent nokia phone and the battrie is fine.
What probs would cause this please help!!!!!!
hi
i got the nec e616v off my friend as she bought a new one the problem is she has lost instruction manual and i am not the best when it comes to mobile phones i wonder if any one could e-mail or send me the manual or tell me where i could find one?
thanx kim
Hello Steeve
Your page is very interesting and very informative. i would like to seek some more information about transfering java games from pc to nec e616v mobile. i have downloaded games but i am unable to send those to my mobile by means of usb. Please Guide me because this nec mobile is interesting that i dont want to miss games on this mobile thank u. Khan
I have the nokia 7600 and i think if you use it for a while you get used to the whole layout and its a lot easier to use then it is at first. I prefer the nokia then the nec as it has a lot more things to use.
Posted by: bluefoe at March 21, 2005 09:01 PM I think that te nokia 7600 is perhaps 10 times better than the e616v. many of the comments made in this article are incorrect
1. you can veiw the internet as long as you are not on 3. also it is imposible to ever veiw internet sites other than 3 with the e616v. its settings are locked.
2. if you think that 50 minutes is a short video clip then the 7600 can only make small video clips. the maximum clip length is 20 seconds for the nec.
3. the keypad is easy to adapt to.
4. the video clips are extremely high quality when the high quality option is selected.
5. the nokia 7600 supports both streaming and downloading of videos.
Also the memory card expansion for the e616v fails to work for everyone i know that owns one.
I hope i have enlightened everyone to which is the better fone
Hi , i bought the nec e616v last week , i have to say that it has not come up to my expectations , the camera is a mess , the picture quality is poor , the pictures has green scales , when taken in the dark. My nokia 3650 has a much better camera.
Posted by: pinkoo at April 15, 2005 06:09 PMYeeh u have to sort out the camera options lol.. I really am stuck on how to use the bluetooth on nec e616v .. some1 plssh tell me for sum reason wne i go on bluetooth with ma mate, hers comes up on my fone but i dont come up on her fone?? sum1 tell em wat to do thxx
Posted by: Claire at April 30, 2005 09:49 AMHo do i delete images of the e616v?? have bought it of someone and do not have a clue how to delete images please help
Posted by: Bradley at May 4, 2005 08:33 AMplease can anybody tell me how to access tone downloads and wallpaper downloads
Posted by: amanda at May 31, 2005 08:42 PMI bought the Nec e616v and I am wondering if there is any way to attach normal headphones to it? I'd be grateful for the info...
Posted by: jerry at July 9, 2005 05:05 PMcould anyone tell me how to use bluetooth in nec e616v ??
Posted by: Lupus at December 5, 2005 07:59 PM