The new Nokia X3 has now been launched in its red and black colorway on the T-Mobile network, originally launched as a SIM-free phone and more recently on the Orange network on pay-monthly contract deals, the Nokia X3 is the second model which comes from Nokia’s new X range of music phones.
Joining the existing Nokia X6 in blue and silver, the X3 takes the same great Nokia music player software and packs it into a new, more affordable slider case with a few ‘lighter’ features to keep the cost down.
Rather than offer a full touchscreen like the one found on the X6 model, the Nokia X3 opts for a pocketable slide-out keyboard that keeps keys protected when not in use. (Don’t worry about scratching a touch screen here!)
The black and red edition of the Nokia X3 also offers a 3.2 megapixel camera for sharp shots at your friends before letting you upload directly to your favorite social network or send to others via Bluetooth, SMS or email.
Also included is a 3.5mm audio jack that lets you use your own standard pair of headphones, access to Ovi Store for downloading new content and applications, Nokia Maps for satellite navigation, and expandable memory of up to 16GB for store thousands of music tracks. , photos and videos using a MicroSD card.
Although there aren’t a huge variety of music-oriented devices available on the market and many people opt for a separate iPod or similar standalone MP3 player, there is stiff competition from some of the more well-known manufacturers.
The Nokia X3 faces competition from Sony Ericsson’s Walkman range of music-oriented phones, notably the Sony Ericsson W995, although this is a more expensive model, and the Sony W705, which is more similar in features.
Samsung also has a couple of standout music phones, including the Samsung Beat DJ, which offers added functionality for users to really interact with their music through DJ settings and a unique scratch feature. LG has just released its budget LG GM205, which features a handy stereo speaker. bass-boosted system, while Nokia’s own Nokia 5230, which has recently launched in pink and purple color schemes, also offers competition for those on a tight budget.
The Nokia X3 is now available in contract packages from Orange and T-Mobile, as well as a SIM-free phone with no additional ongoing line rental costs, this latest Nokia music phone will also launch as a Pay As You phone Go in the coming days that will please many who struggle to pass network credit checks and do not want to pay the higher price of the SIM Free version.