Before you continue reading this, please read my review of the Nokia E71 first so you’d get a better perspective of where I am coming from and so I don’t have to repeat the sections where the Nokia E63 is similar to the E71.
Nokia dropped some of the features of the E71 when they introduced the cheaper Nokia E63, but with good reasons. Remember that with all the number smartphones going around, consumers will be price sensitive when making their next purchase. Nokia’s price-point for the E63 (expected to be at Php11,000) combines a good set of features with a really attractive price.
What’s missing?
What went missing – GPS, HSDPA and a lower megapixel camera. Not everyone needs GPS and for most people, it’s not that essential anyway. You still get 3G speeds of which maxes out at 384Kbps – a broadband speed not normally achieved in the real world for most mobile 3G networks. And since the E63 is more geared towards productivity, the reducing the camera from a 3.2 MP autofocus down to 2MP might not disappoint a lot of people who are into this segment.
The Nokia E63 also shed off all of the external buttons on the sides – the volume control and the special back button of the E71. Even the dedicated power button at the top is gone as well as the sound volume at the sides.
Keyboard Improvements
There were some minor complaints about the qwerty keyboard of the E71. Some say it’s too cramped and though I don’t agree, those who were comfortable with the E61 will tell you size and spacing matters. It’s not really a design flaw but rather an engineering limitation – the smaller the phone, the smaller the keyboard and harder to type.
Nokia addressed this with the E63 by making the keypads protrude/bulge a bit more and giving each key press better feedback. Likewise, it’s much softer to type. They’ve also slightly increased the keyboard size and the individual keys. It’s not much but it’s fairly noticeable except fot the space key which got shortened.
Construction Changes
Since Nokia dropped the metal construction in favor of plastic, the Nokia E63 feels lighter to the hands. It has a matte finish so you don’t have to worry about fingerprint smudges.
What puzzles me though is why the Nokia E63 is a bit thicker than its predecessor (by more than 2mm). It’s possible that the 3.5mm headphone jack has something to do with it (that’s 1mm). Then, the construction of the back panel that covers the battery was also changed from a clip mechanism to a latch mechanism. Since plastic is not as strong as metal, the latch mechanism works well with it without worrying you’d chip it off. That’s another 1mm.
Value for Money
Don’t think of the Nokia E63 as a downgrade of the E71. Better yet, think of it as an upgrade to the E61 — but much cheaper. That way, you clearly see how much value you are getting with the Nokia E63. You also get the long-lasting 1500mAh battery life. No doubt, I believe the Nokia E63 will be a huge hit to those who bought and loved the E51 and the E61.
I still like my E71 because I am willing to pay premium for those extra features. However, for those who are in a budget (which most people are nowadays) but are looking into a fine qwerty smartphone, the Nokia E63 is the better option because of the bargain price-point.
Update: The Nokia E63 is now shipping with an SRP of Php14,200 (inclusive of 12% tax and foreign exchange adjustment).
I am still using my E61i… which I have had since July of 2007… this is the longest I have kept any cellular phone. I wish Nokia had an updated E61i, and not too comfortable with the E63 keypad.
my mom is planning to buy e63, i just wonder how fast it is?
Anyone?
Im quite satisfied with my 6120c’s speed. Which one do you think is faster?
nice cool stuff,not bad for a companion.
ask ko lang po why is it that some characters in the upper most of the screen are slightly faded? is it factory problem??
im using my N95, and this E63 is just a bonus from my plan retention in postpaid, please give me a feedback on this concern
never had this type of curiousity why would nokia have some alphabetical characters faded on the upper most of the screen
to be specific: its like this
in the word messaging….
messag… is clear while the (ing) is slightly faded
same goes for longer characters, please reply asap. Godbless
I have just bought a N63 and am very happy with it. It is the best phone, better than most higher priced ones with all the bells and whistles that one would ordinarily need even as a power user.
@ryan…
parang flaw ata sya sa design.. I bought an e63 last November 7, 2009 and 10 mins after buying it, na notice ko dun ung mga faded characters sa top.. that usually happens pag mahaba ung entry.. lets say nasa sms inbox ka.. medyo gray ung “g” at “e” ng “textmessage” nagtanong ako sa shop at sinabi nila ganun daw tlga.. natanong din nila un sa nokia care kasi may nag complain din about dun.. ganun din “daw” sa e71 ..
thanks sa reply, oo nga, natanong ko nga sa nokia care, flaw raw ng unit yung faded characters.
I planned to buy the Nokia E63 and then try to compare the features of E71, one thing I interested of the Microsoft Office file-Spreadsheet which I cant open on E63 is this and issue of registry ? please advise,if Im going to purchase do I need to register ? where as the Nokia E71 is fine.
Hello po. I’m currently using Blackberry Pearl serviced by Smart, I’d like to replace it with Nokia E63. Ask ko lang if E63 work like Blackberry in terms of receiving/sending e-mail? Or you have to connect to internet first before you can read and send e-mails?
Mr. Rotogold, did you get a blackberry account for E63 or just regular Plan1200.
Thanks and best regards.
i am sorry , Ms. Maya.. just read this.
i got the regular one. not the blueberry account..
Anu po reasonable price ng E63 as of this date.. December 20, 2009? thanks
my husband told me that he will buy a blackberry phone 4 me but i told him i dont like that phone & i like the E63 bcoz i saw it in my classmate & by keep on asking him about that phone i started to like it thats why i stopped my husband to buy a blackberry 4 me.he told me that if i want him to send it to me thru his friend who is coming on mon.,he will send it but i said no,i will just wait 4 him.he bought 2 E63,1 for me & 1 for him & he said im right it is really a nice phone.so i think as individual we have our own differences esp.our likes & dislikes but dont try to give bad comments to something we doesnt like & just let others enjoy what they want & what they have.
I just got mine – company issued. Not really sure what to do with it as I am super dependent (and in love?) with my iPhone. I am not sure too that I can handle 2 phones – how do other people do it? Well, I guess i will see. More power, Yuga!
i have e63 na
YA TENGO MI E63 ES EXELENTE TEGNOLOGIA MUY PRACTICO FACIL DE USAR PERO LO QUE NO CONSIGO ES COMO ACCESAR A UN ICONO DE SMS. PARA CONECTARME A MI CORREO….. O LO TENGO QUE ABRIR POR LS WEP?
samsung i32 is best.not nokia e63/e71
Twitter: giemartinez328
says:
hi i really need help in deciding which phone to get from smart. i’ve a postpaid plan and i’m due for a new phone. they’re offering the flwg phones for plan 1800:
- blackberry curve
- nokia e63
- htc magic
- samsung s5233 + e1080
which phone would you recommend for a full time grad student like me? in the past, i’ve always chosen nokia phones since they’re the most user friendly. i really like the nokia e72 but i’ve to pay an additional php4k for it and i don’t really want to shell out cash but if it’s worth forking over, will you let me know? the nokia e72 is free for postpaid plan2500 – up. i’ve read your reviews about the above phones except the htc magic and i’m thinking of narrowing my choices between the curve and the e63 but i’ve read a bit about the htc magic as well so..you know it was so much easier to make a choice in the past cos i would just go with the one that looked the nicest but now with all the new techie stuff being included, i’d like to get the best value for my money. thanks much!
Twitter: chingdynasty
says:
I’ve just bought a Nokia E63 today. It’s 9,800php when I bought it at SM Cebu. I’m very happy with Ruby Red design, the wifi, the Adobe (i’m reading some novels from the Adobe instead)and everything else in between.
I just kinda hoped it had a cable included in the box. That’s the bummer part.
yeh,nokia E-63 is really great phone,very staylish,dashing,good looking. . . . .its features are also very good and interesting. . .but m nt satisfied with music player as well as camera. . .camera is only 2 mega pixel. .. that is not quite enough although my mobile is superbe
elow po.. may idea ba keo kung saan makakahanap ng black na e63 within manila or bacolod lang po
i just bought nokia e63 yesterday @ SM San Lazaro for about Php 9,300… all colors are still available Ruby red, ultramarine blue, Black and even white as their limited edition. As of now i am really satisfied with the performance and the features… Love this phone! definitely I wont get another phone for a couple of years tho…
Thanks Nokia for Nokia E63… it rocks!
Can someone tell me how to migrate phonebook contacts from my old Sony Ericsson w200 to my new Nokia e63? Thanks in advance. =)
hey guys, just want to know if may unli surf din for E63 (pre-paid) just like for blackberry phones?
Twitter: omgfreddie
says:
@mheann – I’m actually replacing my LG Cookie with this one. I’d rather have the qwerty keyboard, it’s much easier and faster to type on, and it has some pretty cool features, even if it doesn’t have the touch screen (which I was initially looking for)
Personally, I’d rather have this than the Cookie, but that’s just my opinion. :)
Twitter: omgfreddie
says:
@james
If it works the same as mine have before (and you’re sticking with the same simcard?)
then you could copy all contacts from phone onto simcard.
Even if you’re not keeping the sim, you could do that, then copy from sim to phone.
I’m not sure if there’s a faster way of doing it, but that mght work. :)
[...] phnone with a full qwerty keyboard and could be considered the predecessor of the popular Nokia E63, only [...]