Nokia 5140i Review

The Nokia 5140i is an uprated version of the 5140, and goes some way to addressing the shortcomings of the 5140. It's marketed as an outdoor phone, with its main feature being that it is tough and resistant to wear & tear. The outer shell is tougher than most, and being changeable it can be replaced if it gets scratched or scuffed. The bottom flap helps to protect against water damage, and there is an inner module to provide additional protection against water damage.

The 5140i comes with a range of sports-inspired features, including a torch, electronic compass and thermometer. The "Fitness Coach" application enables planning and recording of activities, as well as sharing of training data with training partners. There are also sports-related wallpapers, animated screensavers and MP3 ringtones.

As well as the outdoor-related stuff, the 5140i comes with useful features like an integrated camera & video camera, a stereo FM radio, and an integrated handsfree speaker.

The two biggest problems that the 5140i shares with its predecessor are the keypad and the display. The keys are located close together and are not very responsive. This helps to protect the phone from water damage, but is not very user-friendly. The STN (passive matrix) technology used for the screen means that the display is difficult to see when outdoors - a real problem when you consider the target market for this phone. Neither of these key issues have been addressed in the 5140i. The replacement for the Nokia 5140i is the Nokia 5500 Sport.

Features of the Nokia 5140i include:

  • VGA camera (640 x 480 pixels)
  • Video recorder and player
  • Display: passive matrix, 65,536 colours, 128 x 128 pixels
  • Stereo FM radio
  • 24-voice polyphonic ringtones / MP3 ringtones
  • Integrated handsfree speaker
  • Voice features: voice commands, voice recorder
  • Speed dialing
  • Messaging: SMS, MMS, Flash Messaging, Instant Messaging
  • Push To Talk
  • Games: Bowling, Adventure Race
  • Downloadable Java games and applications
  • Wallpaper & screensavers
  • Special features: Standby light to locate the phone, flashlight, compass, thermometer, alarm clock
  • Personal organiser functions
  • Caller ID with image
  • Connectivity: Infra-red, Pop-Port™
  • Data transfer: GPRS class 10, EDGE (download speed up to 177.6 kbps)
  • Triband
  • Size: 107 x 47 x 24 mm
  • Weight: 101g
  • Talktime: 2 - 5 hours
  • Battery standby: up to 300 hours