While the thin-phone trend has been going on for quite a while now (first with the Motorola RAZR V3, then with the Ultra Edition series from Samsung), Nokia has been slow to adopt this form factor in its phones. It chose only to introduce the 6300 late last year as one of its slim offerings. However, the success of the 6300 seems to have prompted the Finnish mobile phone giant to introduce more thin phones, such as the recently launched 2630 and upcoming E51. One of the most promising and perhaps slimmest phones to date is the 6500 classic, a candy-bar mobile with a 2-megapixel camera, 1GB onboard memory and 3G connectivity.

Pros

What really strikes you about the 6500 classic is its lean form factor. Measuring just 9.5mm, it is the slimmest Nokia phone we've come across so far, even thinner than the 2630 (9.9mm) we reviewed recently. While it may not be as anorexic as the Samsung Ultra Edition 5.9, the prototype sample of the 6500 classic looks sleek and rests comfortably in the hand. We like that the anodized aluminum frame in the top-half of the phone gives it a solid feel, though some people may find the lower-half cover (that slides out for the battery and SIM card) a tad too plasticky. Like most sub-10mm cellulars, it should also fit easily in shirt pockets and small bags.

The 6500 classic should not be confused with the 6500 slide. While both versions are based on the same Series 40 (5th edition) user interface, the 6500 slide is relatively more bulky but offers better features. These include a 3.2-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss lens, FM radio and a microSD expansion slot. The 6500 classic, on the other hand, features a 2-megapixel camera with no memory expansion slot. What you get instead is 1GB of onboard memory which will probably suffice for storing over 1,000 snapshots or a decent 250-song (4MB each) music collection.

One of the key enhancements of the 6500 classic over the 6300 is the addition of 3G which now allows users to roam in places like Korea and Japan. The mobile sports an onboard music and video player for mobile entertainment and is equipped with a 24bit (16-million)-color QVGA (320 x 240-pixel) display. The 6500 classic also packs a handsfree speakerphone, Bluetooth, dual LED lights and is available in two colors (black and bronze).

Cons

Aside from not having a memory card slot, one of the gripes we have with the 6500 classic is the lack of a front-facing camera. As we don't as yet have an actual review unit, we're not sure if the main 2-megapixel camera can be used for video calls. In any case, not having a front-facing sensor means it will not be possible to conduct proper 3G video calls with another party.

While we like the idea of a standard microUSB port on the 6500 classic, providing just one port for charging, data connectivity and audio makes it impossible to multitask. You won't be able to charge a phone while listening to music. Nor can you synchronize the data on the phone while using the wired handsfree headset.

We also found the keypad hard to press at times, but this being a prototype unit, we'll reserve our final comments when we get hold of the commercial unit.

Bottomline

Despite its shortcomings, the 6500 classic is admittedly sleek and fairly well-equipped for such a slim phone. As to whether it can repeat the same success Nokia enjoyed with the 6300, we'll have to wait and see. Look out for our full review.