Nokia 8800 Sirocco Dark review

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Dial-a-Phone review of Nokia 8800 Sirocco Dark

All exceptionally expensive versions of relatively mundane items think pens, watches and sunglasses, at the very least do exactly what their cheaper alternatives do, just with more style and flair. A Mont Blanc pen makes more of an impression than a Bic biro when you pull it out to sign a contract, for example. So when an exceptionally expensive mobile phone does less than most other cheaper models, just how good looking does it have to be to still sell?

The answer is, as good looking as the Nokia 8800, which is about as pretty as mobile phones get. Even its suffix name, Sirocco, is gorgeous. Embossed lettering on the chrome box lets you know what awaits the lucky owner and there, underneath a plush carry case and stylish desktop charger sits a masterpiece – a black 8800. It's also available in chrome, but the black looks a little less 'adult product'. Sliding down the super-smooth slider reveals a small keypad and activates the 208x208 screen and anyone with a pulse should already be smitten. So, if all you care about is how the phone looks, stop reading now and order one as you will not be disappointed. However, if you want a few special features for your hefty amount of cash, you may want to hold on.

Using the phone is a similar experience to using many other Nokia's, as it has familiar software keeping things under control. Not that this is a bad thing, as its very user friendly and extremely reliable; it just doesn't feel very special. Inputting messages is as simple as one would expect, but if you have sausages instead of fingers, the tiny keypad may be an annoyance. If the 8800 was a flyweight you would be presume it had been made solely for use by petite superstars, but it's actually a bit porky, tipping the scales at 134 grams. This is thanks to the use of special scratch resistant metals rather than the usual plastics in its casing construction.

The Sirocco Edition of the 8800 has a few upgrades over the standard 8800 to add a little more value, such as a 2MP camera rather than .5MP, an FM radio and a music player. Memory has been increased from 64MB to 128MB, but there is still no option for using a MicroSD card, making the music player more of a token gesture than a serious addition. Of course there is Bluetooth and EDGE support, a hands free speaker and video recording, but really that's it, the Nokia 8800 is something you buy because of how it looks and what it says about you, rather than what it does.

This style over substance approach is confirmed when you look at the battery life. Normal use will see it visiting the flashy charger every couple of days, justifying the inclusion of a spare battery. But, not only does none of this matter, it's not what the 8800 is all about. Purchasers are interested only in the fact that it looks and feels more than its substantial price tag and providing you go into it knowing about the drawbacks, you will have a mobile that will swivel heads for sometime to come.