We’ve had the Nokia 5233 for about 2 days here at ZCJ.
Here are our First Impressions.
What we liked:
It has a nice 3.2″ Resistive touchscreen. It’s nowhere near the most sensitive we’ve used, but it’s “okay“.
It’s really cheap (for a smartphone). Last I heard it was selling for Indian Rs 7850 which is about US $170 (120 Euros).
It has the same Homescreen as the 5530 and 5800 (on v40 firmware). Upto 20 Homescreen Contacts, 4 App shortcuts, etc. Software and UI-wise its basically identical to the 5800 and 5530.
3.5 mm Audio Jack present (no TV-out though).
Has built-in Accelerometer and Proximity Sensor.
Has the sliding screen-lock switch from the 5800.
The White-Silver 5233 comes with White Headphones, while the Black 5233 comes with Black Headphones. A minor, but nice, touch.
What we werent too sure about :
The dedicated Camera key, volume keys, Menu and Green and Red calling buttons all seem to have “okay” feedback to them. Nothing out of the ordinary.
There’s no front facing camera. Ofcourse the 5233 doesnt have Wifi or 3G so you’ll never really need that.
There’s no GPS onboard. Oh wait there is. Oh no there isnt. We’ve been hearing conflicting reports on this ever since we heard of the 5233. Nokia said the 5233 is exactly like the 5230 except that it doesnt have 3G. But both the 5230 and 5233 have “A-GPS” listed in their specs page. Which was the reason I was so surprised to find only “Network based” and “External GPS” listed under the positioning methods. I cant speak for the 5230 but the 5233 does not have real GPS.
Battery life seems pretty okay. The 5233 has a 1320 mAh battery which powers it to about a day and a couple hours worth of heavy usage.
It looks almost exactly like the 5800.
What we didnt like :
The phone actually feels cheap. Lots of plastic all around.
No MicroSD in the retail package.
Has microUSB port, but doesnt charge via microUSB.
No micro-USB-to-USB connecting cable in the retail package.
No PC/Ovi Suite Installation Dvd/CD in the retail package.
Only one Stylus with the device. If you loose the one in the device, you’re pretty much screwed because….
The 5233 has the same insane Sim-lock mechanism that the 5800 had. Y’know where you open the side plastic port cover, stick in your sim card, and then later if/when you need to remove it, need the Stylus to “push” it out with ? Not a big deal if you dont trade Sim Cards too often though.
The 2 Megapixel Standard Nokia lens Camera doesnt even have Auto-Focus. Nor a Flash.
Single Mono-Speaker isnt too loud or clear.
Here’s a video of our First Impressions :
I guess at this price range, you really cant complain about a lack of features as such.
What Nokia has done, is bring out a Touch-smartphone that’s very affordable for a majority of people out there. I can honestly say, I see the 5233 (and 5230) doing very well.
Were you considering a Nokia 5233 (or 5230) ? Have any questions about a feature ? Something we missed ? Do let us know in the comments y’all !
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Author Description
Clinton Jeff
Clinton is currently based in New Delhi, India and is executive editor for UnleashThePhones. He is responsible for all editorial decisions, and covers all forms of Mobile things.
Cj is addicted to caffeine, social media, and technology. Always up for a good conversation, you can reach him through the contact form, his website, on Google Plus or on Facebook or Twitter: Follow @clintonjeff
@Cj, can you get someone from Nokia to clarify GPS/A-GPS issue with 5230, 5233? Also will they sell 5230? is that having "real" GPS? I am suggesting 5230 to many of my friends, so your quick reply will be highly appreciated :) In fact i am going to buy one tomorrow.
Hey Suyog ! Just a quick update. Finally got official confirmation from Nokia. The 5230 does have A-GPS, while the cheaper 5233 doesnt have any sort of GPS at all. No more confusion lol.
Great, finally we know it , heyyyyyyyyyy But funny thing is Retailers are not selling 5230 at all, whether Nokia has told them or not I don't know. If I were to buy , I will definitely pay 600-800 more to get "real" GPS.
Music wise the UI is more or less exactly like the 5800. The Headphone clarity is just a tiny bit below the 5800's quality but not too bad. Loudspeaker isnt as good as the 5800 though.
the nokia people say that 5230 is not available so should i buy 5233 as it is not available in white.. so can i find white 5233 or 5230 from somewhere in India(North)
Hey there ! According to Nokia India both devices should be available at Nokia priority dealers. Have you checked at any in your area ? The 5233 doesnt have GPS or 3G like the 5230 does so it's a bit of a compromise.
I have Nokia 5230. I like it. My previous phone was Nokia 6303C. I miss Flash in this and No recently sent recipient while sending new text message. Is there anyway to make opera mini my default browser.
One thing i forgot, the battery runs out sooner than you expect. You need to keep a spare if you go on a trip. If you keep playing with it, you will need 2 batteries for one day. It should have come with a bigger battery.
what should i chose between Nokia 5233 and samsung star..?? though Star has 3.2 MP, it seems that it doesnt worth it.! is 2MP of Nokia 5233 up to its standards, what brousing speed do you get on nokia 5233.? how does the touchscreen perform.??
Plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz……dont buy Nokia 5233 mobile…I didnt listen to few people's advice & bought it but now I am suffering…Hope u ppl wont do the same mistake
Gr8 mobile,lacking is the only the sound level quality too . ...recommend you all to wait for some time and wait for 5800 to get cheap and that would be a wise choice. ...
hey im thinking of buying a phone within the Rs.8000-9000 range,i require a minimum of 8gb expandable storage,and uncompromising music clarity,im confused between between nokia 5233 and samsung corby plus,but im open to suggestions of u have something else in mind
What I would like in phone is : nice sound (from headphones),cost around 7000,smartphone,good battery backup,good looks. Though we don't have scheduler,calender,to-do,notes in N-5233 but can we can install it and other softwares?? Moreover I would appreciate if u tell which one is better Corby or 5233?? I would seriously appreciate early response...Have a nice time :)
5233 is any time better than Corby. Looks are bad, but has all the features you need. Sound is good with the phillips earephone which you get free with phone. You can adjust equilizers in phone. I have synced my gmail account with phone, it works fine. The Screen is pretty cool, for watching videos! I love the phone! The external speaker could have been better and a 3 MP auto focus camera would be cool too. There is no GPS device inside. Its a bit bulky and dosent look great, it looks like a brick.
Friends,i will recommend u to wait for nokia 5235 going to launch in april or may.it has a-gps,3g and free music for 1 year.and all this for rs. 8200/-i.n.r. As i m also waiting for it as nokia 5230 already stopped in india
hey gys i am deciding 2 buy a phone plz can smone suggest to me shal i buy a n-5233 or should i preffer a samsung corby . i jst need is sound quality in both (headphone and phone) and most imp battery backup which cell should i preffer plzzzzzzzzzz tel me guys
i used moto razr v3i n i use to connect it to my pc n browse. similarly can we connect this nokia 5233 n browse from our pc.? please give me reply. i'm planning to buy this phone in a week.
Hey CJ, I've heard that it only allows you to install apps/themes up to its internal memory which is just 59 MBs or so! Thats not fair! They'd be allowing to installn in MicroSDs! Is this thing true ? Thanks
Hey CJ, I've heard that it only allows you to install apps/themes up to its internal memory which is just 59 MBs or so! Thats not fair! They'd be allowing to installn in MicroSDs! Is this thing true ? Thanks!
i came to know it hangs out every know and then, with very little battery back-up with normal usage, i want to know the honest suggestion from anybody plz........
i buyed a nokia 5233 2 days back n i can see some transparent lines passing from right to left only in default screen/page............ y is that so? or should i complain this to nokia care? pl zreply fast
I have purchased NOKIA 5233 and is quite impressed with it and by going with the revies im not satisfied that it looks cheap..the price that it is coming with is affordable what the features it has..
m using nokia 5233............it's nice phone can u help me in when i connect it to my pc for using internet than pc suit doesnt connect to internet and it showing expiered certificates............can u tell me wt is this ???
BAD ABOUT 5233- BATERY IS BCOMING V.HOT LIKE IRON WHILE ACCESSING PAGES/DOWNLOADING. BATRY BAKUP IS NOT UPTO DA MARK. SIM REMOVAL IS NOT GOOD. NO PC SUITE CD IS BUNDLED. NOKIA CHARGING RS.300 EXTRA IF U WANT TO BUY BLACK COLOR. SIZE OF CELL IS NOT CONVENINT 4 POCKET. FOR MORE DETAILS CONTACT ME - ji_roshan@yahoo.com
What you have missed in the nice review are :- 1. Document reader - Does it allow to open MS Office files? 2. Touchscreen allows right-left movement with finger touch, just like up & down movement? 3. Can multiple contacts from Contact List be selected for sending SMS (not "group SMS")?
Hey there Tridiv! I'm going to try to answer your questions then :) 1. Yes provided you've installed QuickOffice 2. You can but only in some apps, like Gallery. 3. Yes you can :)
Three things I would like to know further to what you have told so far:- 1. Right-Left movement is allowed on touchscreen in which menu (except in gallery) like main menu, large sms etc. 2. How difficult is to get the keypad when I am in an interactive call ( like calls to helpline numbers of card, airline, bank etc.) which require many keypresses. 3. Ditto in case I am in Net for some online transcations (like bank, ebay etc.) where keypresses are required to enter user id and other informations.
Hey there Tridiv. The Swipe movement is only in the Gallery at the moment. Getting back to the Dial pad is no problem since that option is always available when you're on a call :) Ditto for your last scenario, since there is an onscreen keyboard for this.
This is a Classy Phone, can be used explored customised better than Corby. Performance , touch response is much better than 5800. the speaker quality is good but too low even to hear while driving. while driving the head phone can be used to listen music but the high volume is even less to listen on call ( that's the worst). the FM plays in MONO sound, should been stereo. Unable to get many software for 5233 , can some one please help with the links:
Hey CJ.. I likd ur review about Nokia 5233.N i would lik you 2 help me clear out my doubts. I am planning 2 buy a phone n i am confused between Nokia 5230 and Samsung Corby. Basically what i wan in a phone is "gud n clear picture quality of pictures clicked from d camera of d phone" , "loud n "gud quality sound when played through speakers n on headphones" n lastly, "that i can 3rd party or any application with ease". Keep these 3 priority demands in mind which phone would u suggest within d budget of INR.8000.If you have any other options its most welcome. N i would also like to know what issues majority of the people those using Nokia5230 n Corby r facing.
i am planning to buy a 5233 after selling my 5310....so can anyone plx tell me that is the headphone quality of Nokia 5310 and 5233 same??? if i am using a good headphone...need a quick reply...
Can anyone plz tell me if the headphone quality of 5310 and 5233 the same?? if i am using a excellent a4tech headphone...???? Dont care about loud speaker but do care a lot about headphone sound quality...i love bass sound..
DONT BUY ANY EXPENSIVE NOKIA PHONES!! Because under in case if you loose it or it gets stolen (as it happend to me yesterday) They dont provide any service to track/block it based on IMEI number !! there is no way other then contacting the police (we all know how efficient is our police in india). The services provider says that you have to contact you mobile vendor's customer service. Nokia customer service give an AUTOMATED reply saying that contack police, we can't do anything regarding this.
My only frustration is - its so easy for them to do it, why can't they provide this service if I provide proper documentation ?? I can provide a Police FIR also based on that why can't they provide this service ???
"DONT BUY ANY EXPENSIVE NOKIA PHONES!!" Because - in case you loose it or it gets stolen (as it happend to me yesterday) They dont provide any service to track/block it based on IMEI number (in India) !! there is no other way but to contact police (we all know how efficient is our police in India). The service provider says that you have to contact you mobile vendor's customer service. Nokia customer service gives an AUTOMATED reply saying that file and FIR and ask them to track, we can't do anything regarding this.
My only frustration is - its so easy for them to do it, why can't they provide this service if I provide proper documentation ?? I can provide a Police FIR also based on that why can't they provide this service ???
thanks for this review. i really wanted to have a touch screen phone for an affordable price. i bought it yesterday and for me it is already better than okay. for its price, i think it is really good. :)
This is really a good phone in this price range. Battery is not that bad(its 1320mAh). Camera is also good. video recording is outstanding.(vga resolution at 30fps).Class 32 Edge is also good enough for a phone of this range. Can anyone confirm whether it can open office 2007 format files or not.
easily better than corby and pep.(its smart phone with around 500Mhz processor and 128mb ram. Has anyone tried 32 gb card on it?
i am having problem with music player in nokia 5233. the same volume key works for real player and camera zooming but doesn't work for the music player. also the touch screen mute doesn't work. the volume is constant for any level of volume and the music library cannot add anymore songs. the refresh library will go on and on but never complete. any sugessions???????????
Nokia 5233 is really cool mobile phones, but to afford it is not posible for every one so you can buy second hand nokia 5233 mobile from http://www.khojle.in/q/nokia-5233-mobile-price.html
which one will be better select tion???
lg coockie or nokia 5233
i cant make a choice but resolution ,high quality picture and sound clarity really i do matter
I bought nokia 5233 10 days ago n its gud but little dissapointed with sound clarity n when i m playin games r readin docs screen automatically gettin lockd n even screen lock settings has max 60 sec hold.....is there any solution 2 this...?
Hey CJ.....i am looking for a fone priced between 5000-7000...i am really confused between nokia 5233,nokia x2 and nokia c3....please tell me which is the best of all....nd 1 more thing i m 15 years old...so i dont want a hi-fi fone...just a normal fone....so plz tell which is the best of these three....thnx in advance...
Hey CJ...one more thing...i heard that nokia x2 has many hanging problems...bt wid the new update...everything is fine now...with the updated version i.e. v4.9.....nd how is its battery backup....plz tel asap...
ihv bought 5233 in dec,cell has some problem in battery..the mobile goes swithoff automatically and battery goes very hot is there any solution to ok it..or should i go to nokia care center..
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Comments (129)
Also will they sell 5230? is that having "real" GPS? I am suggesting 5230 to many of my friends, so your quick reply will be highly appreciated :)
In fact i am going to buy one tomorrow.
But funny thing is Retailers are not selling 5230 at all, whether Nokia has told them or not I don't know.
If I were to buy , I will definitely pay 600-800 more to get "real" GPS.
n is better or worse from 5130xpress music or samsung's corby
n is it comparable to 5800
m confused..??!!
plz mail me at gala_vaibhav@yahoo.co.in..
can any one help me how to add a smiley in the messages using 5233 model
It should have come with a bigger battery.
how does the touchscreen perform.??
nice sound (from headphones),cost around 7000,smartphone,good battery backup,good looks.
Though we don't have scheduler,calender,to-do,notes in N-5233 but can we can install it and other softwares??
Moreover I would appreciate if u tell which one is better Corby or 5233??
I would seriously appreciate early response...Have a nice time :)
Looks are bad, but has all the features you need.
Sound is good with the phillips earephone which you get free with phone. You can adjust equilizers in phone.
I have synced my gmail account with phone, it works fine.
The Screen is pretty cool, for watching videos!
I love the phone!
The external speaker could have been better and a 3 MP auto focus camera would be cool too.
There is no GPS device inside.
Its a bit bulky and dosent look great, it looks like a brick.
please give me reply.
i'm planning to buy this phone in a week.
1. Document reader - Does it allow to open MS Office files?
2. Touchscreen allows right-left movement with finger touch, just like up & down movement?
3. Can multiple contacts from Contact List be selected for sending SMS (not "group SMS")?
1. Yes provided you've installed QuickOffice
2. You can but only in some apps, like Gallery.
3. Yes you can :)
Hope that helps!
1. Right-Left movement is allowed on touchscreen in which menu (except in gallery) like main menu, large sms etc.
2. How difficult is to get the keypad when I am in an interactive call ( like calls to helpline numbers of card, airline, bank etc.) which require many keypresses.
3. Ditto in case I am in Net for some online transcations (like bank, ebay etc.) where keypresses are required to enter user id and other informations.
Ditto for your last scenario, since there is an onscreen keyboard for this.
please let me know ?
I didnt find it in east delhi.
I likd ur review about Nokia 5233.N i would lik you 2 help me clear out my doubts.
I am planning 2 buy a phone n i am confused between Nokia 5230 and Samsung Corby.
Basically what i wan in a phone is "gud n clear picture quality of pictures clicked from d camera of d phone" , "loud n "gud quality sound when played through speakers n on headphones" n lastly, "that i can 3rd party or any application with ease".
Keep these 3 priority demands in mind which phone would u suggest within d budget of INR.8000.If you have any other options its most welcome.
N i would also like to know what issues majority of the people those using Nokia5230 n Corby r facing.
Thanks.
http://www.fullDLL.webs.com
http://www.himkannu.blogspot.com
Because under in case if you loose it or it gets stolen (as it happend to me yesterday) They dont provide any service to track/block it based on IMEI number !! there is no way other then contacting the police (we all know how efficient is our police in india). The services provider says that you have to contact you mobile vendor's customer service. Nokia customer service give an AUTOMATED reply saying that contack police, we can't do anything regarding this.
My only frustration is - its so easy for them to do it, why can't they provide this service if I provide proper documentation ?? I can provide a Police FIR also based on that why can't they provide this service ???
"DONT BUY ANY EXPENSIVE NOKIA PHONES!!"
Because - in case you loose it or it gets stolen (as it happend to me yesterday) They dont provide any service to track/block it based on IMEI number (in India) !! there is no other way but to contact police (we all know how efficient is our police in India). The service provider says that you have to contact you mobile vendor's customer service. Nokia customer service gives an AUTOMATED reply saying that file and FIR and ask them to track, we can't do anything regarding this.
My only frustration is - its so easy for them to do it, why can't they provide this service if I provide proper documentation ?? I can provide a Police FIR also based on that why can't they provide this service ???