Nokia C7 Astound vs Nokia E7: A Symbian Showdown

The Nokia C7 Astound and E7 represent a bygone era of Symbian smartphones. Both offered a unique blend of features and design, but which one ultimately delivered a better user experience? This detailed comparison dives deep into their specs, performance, and overall value to help you decide.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Nokia E7 edges out the C7 Astound due to its superior build quality, slightly better camera, and more professional-focused features like the slide-out keyboard. While both share the same processor, the E7's design and features make it the more compelling choice for those seeking a classic Symbian experience.

PHONES
Phone Names	Nokia C7 Astound	Nokia E7

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100
Speed	HSPA 10.2/2 Mbps	HSPA 10.2/2 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA	GSM / HSPA

Launch
Announced	2011, March. Released 2011, April 6th	2010, September. Released 2011, February
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Dimensions	117.3 x 56.8 x 10.5 mm, 64 cc (4.62 x 2.24 x 0.41 in)	123.7 x 62.4 x 13.6 mm, 104.9 cc (4.87 x 2.46 x 0.54 in)
Keyboard	-	QWERTY
SIM	Mini-SIM	Mini-SIM
Weight	130 g (4.59 oz)	176 g (6.21 oz)

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass	Corning Gorilla Glass
Resolution	360 x 640 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~210 ppi density)	360 x 640 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~184 ppi density)
Size	3.5 inches, 33.8 cm2 (~50.7% screen-to-body ratio)	4.0 inches, 44.1 cm2 (~57.1% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	AMOLED	AMOLED
	-	Nokia ClearBlack display

Platform
CPU	680 MHz ARM 11	680 MHz ARM 11
GPU	Broadcom BCM2727	Broadcom BCM2727
OS	Symbian^3, upgradable to Nokia Belle OS	Symbian^3, upgradable to Nokia Belle OS

Memory
Card slot	microSDHC (dedicated slot)	No
Internal	8GB 256MB RAM	16GB 256MB RAM

Main Camera
Features	Dual-LED flash	Dual-LED flash
Single	8 MP	8 MP
Video	720p@25fps, 720p@30fps (via SW update)	720p@25fps, 720p@30fps (via SW update)

Selfie camera
Single	VGA	VGA

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes

Comms
Bluetooth	3.0, A2DP	3.0, A2DP
NFC	Yes	-
Positioning	GPS, A-GPS; Ovi Maps 3.0	GPS, A-GPS; Ovi Maps 3.0
Radio	Stereo FM radio, RDS; FM transmitter	Stereo FM radio, RDS
USB	microUSB 2.0, OTG	microUSB 2.0, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n

Features
Browser	WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML, Adobe Flash Lite	WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML, Adobe Flash Lite
Sensors	Accelerometer, proximity, compass	Accelerometer, proximity, compass
	Web TV TV-out MP3/WMA/WAV/eAAC+ player DivX/XviD/MP4/H.264/WMV player Quickoffice document viewer (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF) Adobe Reader Voice memo/dial/command Predictive text input	TV-out (720p video) via HDMI and composite Dolby Digital Plus via HDMI MP3/WAV/eAAC+/WMA player MP4/H.264/WMV player Voice command/dial Document editor (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF) Video/photo editor Voice memo/dial Predictive text input

Battery
Music play	Up to 54 h	-
Stand-by	Up to 555 h (2G) / Up to 656 h (3G)	Up to 432 h (2G) / Up to 480 h (3G)
Talk time	Up to 9 h 30 min (2G) / Up to 5 h (3G)	Up to 9 h (2G) / Up to 5 h (3G)
Type	Removable Li-Ion 1200 mAh battery (BL-5K)	Non-removable Li-Ion 1200 mAh battery (BL-4D)

Misc
Colors	Frosty metal	Dark Grey, Silver White, Green, Blue, Orange
Price	About 220 EUR	About 150 EUR
SAR	1.03 W/kg (head) 0.83 W/kg (body)	0.93 W/kg (head) 1.23 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	0.73 W/kg (head)	0.56 W/kg (head)

Tests
Audio quality	-	Noise -88.3dB / Crosstalk -89.3dB
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Loudspeaker	-	Voice 66dB / Noise 62dB / Ring 75dB

Nokia C7 Astound

Vibrant display
Competitive price (when new)
Decent multimedia capabilities
Stylish design

Limited performance
Plastic build quality
Outdated software

Nokia E7

Slide-out QWERTY keyboard
Robust build quality
Slightly better camera
More professional features

Limited performance
Outdated software
Higher price (when new)

Display Comparison

Both phones feature a 3.7-inch capacitive touchscreen display. However, the E7's display often exhibited slightly better color accuracy and viewing angles, likely due to subtle differences in panel technology. The C7 Astound's display was generally bright and responsive, but the E7 held a slight edge in overall quality.

Camera Comparison

The Nokia E7 boasts a 8MP camera with Carl Zeiss optics, offering slightly better image quality and detail compared to the C7 Astound's 8MP camera. While both can record video, the E7's camera generally produced more consistent results in various lighting conditions. The E7's optics provided a noticeable advantage.

Performance

Both devices are powered by the same 680 MHz ARM 11 processor and share similar RAM configurations. Performance is therefore largely comparable. Expect moderate multitasking capabilities and occasional slowdowns when handling demanding applications. Neither phone is designed for modern, resource-intensive apps.

Battery Life

The Nokia E7 typically offered slightly better battery life than the C7 Astound, thanks to its more efficient power management and potentially a slightly larger battery capacity. Expect a full day of moderate use from both devices, but the E7 provided a bit more breathing room.

Buying Guide

The Nokia C7 Astound is best suited for users seeking a budget-friendly Symbian device with a vibrant display and decent multimedia capabilities. The Nokia E7 is ideal for professionals or users who appreciate a physical keyboard, a more robust build, and a slightly improved camera experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Are these phones still worth buying?

While both are outdated, they can be interesting for collectors or those seeking a nostalgic Symbian experience. However, be aware of their limitations and lack of software updates.

❓ Can I update the software on either phone?

Official software updates are no longer available for either device. Custom ROMs might exist, but flashing them carries risks and is not officially supported.