
Nokia today announced the E63, the latest addition to its Eseries range on devices. The handset, modeled on the E71 is a QWERTY based S60 with a 2.0 megapixel camera, WiFi and 3G connectivity, and S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 1 on board. It is expected to start shipping in the next few weeks, will be available in two colours, ruby red and ultramarine blue and will cost €199 (INR 12,500) before taxes or subsidies.

Major features/differences with the E71:
- The E63 has also become the first Eseries device to feature a 3.5mm, something usually reserved for the Nseries.
- It will also ship with a 1GB file space subscription to Files on Ovi.
- Unlike the E71 which has a metallic shell, the E63 ships with a front that only has a metallic-finish, while the back cover is rubberised like on the N95.
- It is also about 1.5 times thicker than the E71.
- The side keys (volume rocker etc) are also absent, so is the IR.
- The keypad is gotten a minor revamp and now has two extra keys in the last row and to make room for them the spacebar has been shortened. Ctrl and Chr are now on separate keys as are / and @.
- GPS, a memory card and HSDPA are also absent. However, the card slot exists.
- The E63 will also not ship with the leather case that comes with the E71.
- The camera has been downgraded to 2MP with a fixed focus.
- A nice touch is the ability to use the camera’s LED as a torch. (The space bar acts as the shortcut key)
- Apart from the above, the usual Eseries goodies like stability, speed, encryption, Mail for Exchange, Quick Office are all present. So is the killer 1500 mAh battery.
Nokia is clearly looks to build on the success of the E71, a handset I’m sold on. What the E63 will do is take the E71 to the mass mass market, the focus of the Eseries has been the enterprise market still loads of people on the screen have bought Eseries devices even though they have no use for its business solutions. The reason I think the E63 is do well outside of that market is because it has pretty much the average person needs – A landscape QWERTY, a 3.5mm jack for music, WiFi, killer battery life, speed and stability (I’m hoping it takes cue from the E71). It doesn’t have GPS but then there are still large parts of the world where there are even no maps available, so the lack of a GPS won’t pinch. The E71’s camera was nothing to write home about and with its 2MP shooter the E63 should do just fine.
Bottom Line: Would I buy it? No, because I love metal on my phone. Would I buy it if I couldn’t afford the E71? Yes.
Ben from MIR has had a play with the E63 and check his image gallery out. E71/E63 comparison pic via AAS.