Web browsing is helped by the large screen, which automatically flips into landscape mode when you turn it on its side thanks to the onboard accelerometer. However we're not sure that the options icon bar in the Symbian browser had to take up quite so much of the available real estate. You can remove it, but you'll only find yourself dragging it back all too often to insert a URL or navigate your history.

Responsive on-line, but the browser could be better

Page zooms are performed by holding your finger on the screen until the zoom icon appears, then either brush up or down, but it's a frustratingly slow option. We were also disappointed that there was no dedicated YouTube app, like most smart phones seem to have these days, though we had no problem viewing the site in standard browsing mode.

Still, the connectivity is quick using HSDPA 3G or Wi-Fi, and the landscape Qwerty keyboard option is pretty good, offering raised letter icons when you hit the keys, as well as haptic feedback to aid accuracy.

The music player can handle MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA and RA Dual files and offers six equaliser settings and a selection of six sound effects, including a virtual surround setting which we preferred to leave off, since it tended to stifle the dynamic range of the music.

The supplied headphones/handsfree set look okay, with little isolating grommets to help block out any ambient noise, but they do make music sound overly compressed, muddy and shut in – you'll thank yourself for upgrading them to a better pair.

Slim enough to slide into a pocket

The FM radio has room for up to 50 presets, you can search for stations automatically or manually. With the latter, you'll need to input the precise frequency for this rather than having the ability to browse with a dial, which is a bit daft. You can also play the radio back through the phone's loudspeaker, however, you'll need the headphones plumbed in to act as an aerial. The speaker goes plenty loud, but does have a tendency to distort at higher levels.