Design and Looks
Nokia basic phones get more stylish with each passing model. They are yet to catch up with Motorola or Sony Ericsson in this regard but since basic phones are all about functionality, most people forgive Nokia. From a distance, the curvy Nokia 1661 looks unmistakably like a mid- to high-end model, but if you look closely you will notice the distinct cheap plastic look of the phone. Don't get carried away though, the Nokia 1661 is sufficiently robust and can withstand some serious punishment. The smooth back of the phone creaks under pressure and is probably the only chink in the armour.
The front sports a 1.8-inch 65K colour screen that dishes out a resolution of 128 x 160 pixels. Unfortunately the screen shares none of the wide-viewing angles or excellent sunlight legibility of mid or high end Nokia phones. The images are grainy on account of the low pixel count and the screen quality is generally poor. But since this is a basic phone, this is the best users can hope for. The D-pad below the screen has a four way nav-pad but it does not have a confirming centre- it's about high time that Nokia basic phones incorporated this.
Moving along, the alphanumeric keypad below the D-pad is flush with the phone's surface. It is beautiful to look at but hard to work with. Each row of keys becomes progressively droopier at the centre where there is a bump to help with touch orientation. The rows themselves are narrow and the short keystroke translates into poor feedback. It's suitable if users use it only when dialing numbers but if you happen to dash a frequent text every now and then, we suggest you stay away from this phone.
The phone sports the basic Series 30 UI and has many basic Java apps like calculator, convertor, budget spreadsheet, countdown timer, calendar, stopwatch, alarm clock, ringtone composer, voice/audio recorder, FM radio and some personal information management features. The phone also features a flash light at the top which has always been a Nokia basic handset specialty. The phone's telephony is decent for basic phone standards but there is still a definite hiss in the background even when connectivity is good. Thankfully, the person at the other end will hear clear sounds which mean the phone's microphone is alright.
There you have it- the Nokia 1661. It's another basic phone from Nokia but with improved functionality and better looks. The phone is also the recipient of a mid-to-high end technology which is the FM radio- definitely the most loaded phone for its price.
Features
- 1.8-inch 65K colour TFT display with 128 x 160 screen resolution
- FM radio with dedicated radio launch button
- Built-in Speakerphone
- 2.5mm audio jack
- Built-in flashlight
- S30 user interface
Accessories
- Nokia Stereo Headset WH-101
- Nokia Extra Power DC-8
- Nokia Universal Holder CR-39
