HUAWEI MatePad 12 X (2026) Review
After a couple of weeks with the Nokia E71, I can certainly say it’s the best and most equipped smartphone coming out of Nokia’s doors for the longest time. The smaller form factor has some drawbacks but is something to be expected due to size constraints.
The Nokia E71 (see unboxing pics here) is the successor of the popular Nokia E61 & E61i but follows the same features from the candybar Nokia E51 (see review here). Click on thumbnail images to see larger pictures.
Nokia has shrunked the E71 to just 57mm (E61i is 70mm) and trimmed it down to an amazingly 10mm (E61i is 13.9mm) thickness. That’s slimmer than the E51 at 12mm and as slim as the Nokia 5310 XpressMusic (9.9mm) and Nokia 6500 Classic (9.5mm). The size of the E61 was the primary reason I chose the Samsung Blackjack over it.
Because of that, the display screen got narrower a bit at 2.36 inches (320×240 pixels) from 2.8″ with the E61. That includes the QWERTY keyboard with the keys a little too crowded. However, I think Nokia made a good trade-off by making the keys more embossed so you don’t accidentally hit neighboring keys. Typing becomes comfortable when you’re fingernail-oriented rather than thumb-oriented. The number keys are all positioned at the center so you can easily type in single-handed.
In the connectivity department, the Nokia E71 offers everything imaginable in its form factor — 3G/HSDPA 3.6Mbps, WiFi 802.11 b/g, built-in GPS receiver and A-GPS function, microUSB, infra-red and Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP. The internal memory of 110MB is a little small considering the E51 has 130MB, but a dedicated 128MB RAM and ARM 11 369 MHz processor makes the phone responsive. Besides, you can add in 8GB of storage via hot-swappable microSD card.
The only disappointing feature with the E71 is the 3.15 megapixel camera (2048×1536 pixels). It’s supposed to be auto-focus but there’s no way I can see it working The autofocus will have to be manually toggled each time you make the shot. You need to press the “t” or “4” key to do this.I made several sample shots here (click on thumbnail) — can’t even make a single decent and on-focus shot had a more decent shot here but if you’re going to take moving pictures with this camera, forget about it.
There’s no dedicated camera button on the side too, so you’ll need to use the middle button to take photos and videos. Video quality is no better as it maxes out at 15fps. There’s secondary front-facing camera for video calls.
I guess Nokia didn’t bother to make improvements in the optics considering that this is mostly a business phone. I once had a chat with the Nokia N78 Product Manager and he told me that the camera is on the top of the list of features that affects the thickness of the phone (so is the cost).
The audio quality is decent and sound volume is good even if the speakers are placed at the top side. There’s support for 3D tones and MPEG4 video playback is smooth.
A bunch of mobile office productivity tools are pre-installed — QuickOffice, Dictionary, Adobe PDF reader, Zip and printer manager. There’s an intranet feature to securely connect to your office network via VPN. You can also enable the built-in encryption feature to secure files in your phone’s memory or external memory card.
Battery life is good and the BP-4L lithium polymer is rated at 1500 mAh. Nokia suggests a talk time of a whooping 10.5 hours! Just make sure to turn off WiFi scanning to conserve more juice. From experience, usage lasts 2.5 to 3 days with normal 3G and WiFi usage.
All-in-all, I’d give the Nokia E71 a good buy for data/connectivity dependent users. This is not for the multimedia fans though. The list price of about Php21,000 to Php23,000 makes it an even attractive purchase.
Note: Updated the part on the camera with newer sample photos.
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webmikey says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
The E71 does have auto-focus but you have to manually invoke it (I know it sounds stupid). To manually invoke Auto-Focus, press the “T” or “2” Button. Once the focus area turns green press the Select button on the D-pad to take the shot.
It’s clunky but that’s the way things are until the next Firmware Update.
Abe Olandres says:
🥉 Rookie🏆3
thanks mikey, got it now. will do another test tomorrow afternoon. yeah, kinda illogical why one has to do the focus manually. by the time you take the shot, it could still go off focus. will update that part of my post/review once i’ve re-done testing.
dapeke says:
🥉 Rookie🏆1
I hope you could feature affordable HSDPA phones. Any brand would do as long as it has HSDPA and worth buying with its features.
Joenel Umal says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
so it’s not “fully” autofocus, but it is autofocus?
Abe Olandres says:
🥉 Rookie🏆3
I guess we can call it manual autofocus. *hehe*
Abe Olandres says:
🥉 Rookie🏆3
@dapeke – that’s coming out soon.
dapeke says:
🥉 Rookie🏆1
Thank you very much sir Abe… I’m really an avid fan of your blog. I really think that your blog is the pinoy version of cnet.
Linux says:
🥉 Rookie🏆1
I want to change my e61i after reading your review. I really like qwerty phones. :)
Linux says:
🥉 Rookie🏆1
BTW, is the HSDPA capability of Nokia e71 is the same with the HSDPA device that globe are selling to connect to the internet?
nayrB says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
i had this phone three weeks ago and i’d say it’s the best phone I had.. though it’s a bit expensive. The good thing I love about this phone is that I do not have to bring my laptop everyday, coz his serves as a laptop for me. it has all the programs i need, word, adobe reader and wifi..
Ipe says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
Can this be synced with Nokia Photos/ Lifeblog?
GlennR says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
I’ve been using the e71 for 3 weeks now and I can also say it’s the best phone I’ve used.
I have been using SE phones since they were still just ‘E’ and I’ve been frustrated to no end at their seemingly endless line of slow, clunky PDA phones.
I jumped ship when I saw and tested the E71. Amazing phone with real multi-tasking functionality (with its own alt-tabbish function). I have a call manager, browser, music player, email synch working at the sime time and the hardware is still more than enough.
Probably the best Nokia business fone out there right now.
Benglued says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
Yes, indeed one the best E Series Phone
Tsong says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
don’t forget to mention the horrible sound coming from the earpiece. i mean you are forced to use the loudspeakers because talking to someone using the conventional earpiece feels like there’s a wooden wall between you and the caller.
also, the damned thing hangs, freezes, and shuts down by itself while you are using the phone. and to top that, nokia is keeping silent and not releasing any patches!
save your money and just buy a 3210.
Jim says:
🥉 Bronze🏆1
Got one about a week now and it’s great!
Trixy says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
hi kuya yuga! long time no hear…
i’m interested to know if i can install blackberry to e71. i know for a fact nokia canceled the blackberry for this particular model… but i read to some forums, its possible. would you know how to do it?
ty
the philippine island says:
🥉 Bronze🏆1
nice!!! i hope i can have that 1….
janus says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
had this unit for more than 3 months and all i can say is wow until now! the switch to QWERTY was a good decision for me.. Speakers are just enough when i play it during office hours with low volume.. The screen is great, camera is just average as this is a business phone..
I will still keep this phone, though i will get an N96 as a back-up phone.. I will get it for only Php2,000 with a plan 1800 on Smart’s retention package!!!
I’m excited to have a business phone and a multimedia phone within the week!!!
Izzard says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
Is it worth it to upgrade from e51? I’m not really business oriented person.
an says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
i bought the Nokia E71 the 1st week it came out at a nokia store and 7days later the bottom part was starting to chip and they told me that the whole phone is stainless steel<———–NOT!! it was only chromed dipped. i returned to the store and they refused to replace it nor return my money… i had to write to the main office about their rudeness and unreasonable refusal of my request and told them i’m going to the proper authoritites because i had it all documented… a week later.. they called me up to change the chipped panel.. so i think this isn’t the best phone nokia ever released..
workingdude says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
Magkano kaya to sa shops is it really 21k? thanks ^_^
workingdude says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
i mean what shop yugn may 21k ^_^ hehe thanks!!!
Roman says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
Dotyczy Noki E71.
Chciałem mieć GPS, bo potrzebuję go czasami i… kupiłem Nokię E71.
W końcu nie za małe pieniądze, gdyż za taką kwotę dostałbym porządną nawigację (i telefon).
W rezultacie mam mało intuicyjną nawigację, z wyłączonym głosem, bo za to muszę znowu parę setek dopłacić i w rezultacie brakuje mi jeno… poroża, bo przerobiono mnie całkiem na jelenia.
Kim says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
Is Nokia E71 US Version the same as the Philippine’s version? … Because I can get the phone on Amazon in a very much cheaper price…
carl says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
anyone selling e71 secondhand? sorry for the budget i’m in 15000
JomadsinCebu says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
Yuga, I love your reviews! No BS! An honest-hands-on-review. I have the E61 & E61i and love them both, but the camera just isn’t good enough and I have trouble opening Youtube on WIFI. I’m looking at the E-75.. can you review the E-75 plz? THANK YOU..
ALEXANDER says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
HELLO THERE..I HAVE AN E61 MOBILE PHONE AND I WILL LOVE TO DOWNLOAD AUTOCAD APPLICATION ON IT I DON’T KNOW IF ANYONE CAN HELP ME OUT PLEASE HELP ME WITH THE SITE I CAN GET IT FROM OR FEEL FREE TO MAIL ME AT faremic****@****.***…
REGARDS..
diane dela cruz says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
kua how can i download themes for E71..i tried the nuskin but ddnt work..pleas help me thank you
Gadget Boy says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
guys,
If you want to check the latest prices of all mobile phones available in the Philippines, check this blog site…
http://pinoygadgetprice.blogspot.com
what’s great about this blog is that there is a comparison of prices between stores in the Philippines, so you will get to know where to find the best deal. Cool!
thanks again abe!
nic says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
When will the red e71 be available in the Philippines? You can see a preview of it in the Nokia Philippines site but it seems to not yet be available in stores. Any news would be great :)
ryan says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
i just bought it yesterday amounting to 21950 @ MOA, white color, fab phone, i decided to shift from n95 to e71 so far the best phone ever had. e71 red also available at MOA
Abu_Gadu says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
does this phone support video calls?
Plakard says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
I bought an E71 and E63 yesterday for business use. Both are excellent phones,minimal difference. The E63 is more comfortable to use though. The E71 is “maporma” but same software with E63. If you’re on a budget get an E63 it’s around 11k nowadays. If you’re willing to spend for a few thousand bucks for a chrome dipped casing (E71’s internal is just plastic dipped in chrome) then get an E71.
Either way, it gets the job done and that makes me happy.
edz says:
🥈 Silver🏆1
I thinks its not autofocus, since it doesn’t automatic focus. manual focus? lol ..sir yuga what is better? n5800 or E71? coz i’ll buy either of those phone.. pls blog if theres already 5800 firmware Version 21..
Abe Olandres says:
🥉 Rookie🏆3
@edz, i have both the 5800 and the E71, go for the E71. I rarely use the 5800.
cobi says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
Great phone, the battery lasts for 3.5 to 5 days… simple but elegant and good price
cobi says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
Great phone, the battery lasts for 3.5 to 5 days… simple but elegant and not too expensive
josh says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
buy it from jeddah for only SR 1,400 (x 12.3 as of today 5/24) Php 17,220. if the the ave market price in manila is Php 22k you’ll save around 4k++ nice deal. talk to someone you know there.
edz says:
🥈 Silver🏆1
@ yuga
sir yuga thanks for the reply…
ok thanks I will go for E71.
Thanks. :)
Edz says:
🥈 Silver🏆1
@ josh
17,000 lang dito sa Nokia Tarlac ang E71 and it comes with 1year limited nokia warranty
Edz says:
🥈 Silver🏆1
will buy this tomorrow …
Payment Issued na!!
gen says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
Man you guys just copied blackberry,.. Nokia is a rip off,.. even copied sidekick,.. stupid so stupid.. ugly ass phone
Living Manila says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
“A bunch of mobile office productivity tools are pre-installed — QuickOffice, Dictionary, Adobe PDF reader, Zip and printer manager. There’s an intranet feature to securely connect to your office network via VPN. You can also enable the built-in encryption feature to secure files in your phone’s memory or external memory card.”
Is this also available in E63?
arianne says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
magkano po ba ngayon ang E71X.. i planned to buy a new phone kasi..
Josh says:
🥉 Bronze🏆1
how do you use video call? :/
contra says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
at nokia’s website, under “Ket Feature” it has a 3.2MP camera plus an additional front camera for video call.
I haven’t seen this model personally but I can’t front camera on the attached pix?
jaja says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
HI HOW MUCH N NOW ANG N E71?? GUS2 K N KC PLITAN LG KP500 KO..TEXT ME @ 092749*****…TNX
jaja says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
KUYA GUS2 KO TLGA N E71 HOW MUCH N XA NOW?
JA says:
🥉 Rookie🏆1
how much is this one cost now in the market?(range)
MJ says:
🌱 Noobs🏆1
Hi there,
Thanks so much for this review. It’s great.
I just came from Greenhills the market price for the E71 is at around 15,000-16,000(at most). Brand New. Don’t know though if they can assure quality, authenticity or warranty.
My question though is whether I can load a blackberry program onto this phone? Anyone know?
Thanks.