Nokia Lumia 610 review

Nokia needs a hit. The Finnish giant is facing a tough future as its market is eroded at both ends from cheap Android handsets and market-leading devices likes Apple's iPhone 4S and a slew of Samsung devices, including the soon-to-be-launched Galaxy S3.

The Windows Phone powered Lumia 610 is the latest handset rolled out of Nokia's factories to bolster its arsenal. It is due to go on sale in the UK from June. The device is aimed at the lower and mid-markets, areas where the company has previously excelled.

Set to sell for around £150 SIM-free or on contracts from around £15 a month, the device could certainly prove enticing to first-time smartphone buyers, those looking to try out the Windows Phone platform or those who'd just rather not pay through the nose for a telephone.

Dimensions and design
On first impressions the Lumia 610 is a swish device. With dimensions of 119x62x12mm and a 3.7in LCD touchscreen with resolution of 480x800 it's comfortable to hold and information is clear and crisp. The curved lip at the base of the device also makes a pleasing change from the square, angular design aesthetics found on most other smartphones.

It even boasts a few improvements over the Lumia 800 and 900. Firstly you can take the cover off to take the battery out, which is handy for resetting if the phone plays up and you can switch batteries if travelling to increase battery life. Secondly, the SIM insertion method is a click-and-lock slide mechanism housed under the battery. This is far less fiddly and more satisfying to use than the plastic ‘tray' input on the other Lumia devices.

Weighing in at just 131g means the device is lightweight and yet feels sturdy enough that you don't have to worry overly about it being knocked or being bounced around in your pocket.

The device also features four tactile buttons - two for volume controls, one to lock/unlock the device and another to launch camera. The volume buttons worked without issue, but the lock/unlock and camera button did sometimes require a hefty click to get them to behave, but this was only on rare occasions, and mostly they responded instantly to a deft press.