The prolific cell phone manufacturer Nokia produces such a high volume of models that surely one will fit your needs. The Nokia 6790 Surge, however, while a competent phone, may not be the best choice.
The reason I say it may not be your best choice is because nothing about this model jumps out as being unique, or uniquely useful. On the other hand, it does fall squarely into a cluttered tier of phones that get the job done, but doesn’t move the ball up the field where it concerns breakthrough technology, simplicity of use or some other attribute that sets it clearly apart from the myriad of devices now available. That doesn’t make it a bad phone; it makes it a forgettable phone.
Let’s take a closer look:
The Nokia 6790 Surge is a side-sliding GSM phone capable of global roaming. It runs on a S60 Symbian OS, with 128 MB of onboard RAM, has a 2.4” 240 x 320 pixel resolution display, QWERTY keypad, and a full complement of mid-tier features including a 2 megapixel camera, 2.0 Stereo Bluetooth, microSD/microSDHC expandable memory, 2.5mm jack, speakerphone, voice commands and a solid phonebook with plenty of capacity.
If you are in the market for a new phone, in this price point, you can, frankly, find a strong OS, a better screen and more current features. When studying this phone I get the sense that leftovers where smashed together to produce a phone we’ve already seen.
Competent and capable, sure. But that is the barest of baselines nowadays. If you are looking for a phone that is fun and functional, new and clever, minimizes keystrokes, etc., you may want to look at other Nokia’s or the field in general.
It’s a definite 7 on a scale of 1-10. You won’t get ripped off, but you won’t be overwhelmed either.
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Ian Hardy , Mobile SyrupRogers recently launched the Nokia Surge 6790 last week, a unique messaging device that’s part of their Smartphone lineup.We know that Nokia takes great pride in creating and testing their products. The Nokia Surge 6790 is so far stretched from all the other Nokia devices we’ve seen, it...
- Ricky Cadden, MobileBurnThe Nokia 6790 Surge from AT&T is a small smartphone that sports a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and is advertised as the phone for social networking fanatics. While the build materials feel slightly flimsy, the overall device is actually built well, with an awesome slide mechanism that definitely f...
- Eric M. Zeman, Phone ScoopThe Nokia Surge is a messaging phone. The full QWERTY keyboard gives it away as such. As with many lower-cost messaging phones, the Surge makes a few concessions in order to remain affordable. Some of them may be enough to give potential buyers cause. Still, there are plenty of positives to consider...
- Darren Murph, EngadgetSome might say that the phone you're peering at above is the most un-Nokia-like Nokia device produced in quite some time (if not ever), but remember, this one was custom made for US consumers and AT&T's audience -- something that's not true for too many Espoo-sourced handsets. Once known as the...
- Bonnie Cha, CNETThe Nokia Surge definitely fills a gap in AT&T's lineup for its younger customers who are looking for something a little more full-featured than a basic messaging cell phone for a more affordable price.
Prices (Where to Buy)
Common Questions
We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Nokia 6790 Surge user manual here.
Nokia backs up the 6790 Surge with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.
If your 6790 Surge has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Nokia support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Nokia's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.
Resources
Manuals / User Guides
- Nokia 6790 Surge Manual (PDF)
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