While the 7650 is for the tech elite, the 3510i is the phone that’s bringing colour and “the internet” to the rest of us. Launched in late 2002, it’s a brilliant mid-range worker that replaces the monochrome 3510. It’s got a 4,096-colour display that makes the menus look vibrant, even if the 96 x 65 resolution means the pixels are large enough to see from across the room. The real draw here is polyphonic ringtones and Java support; you can finally download a version of Sega Rally or a midi file of “Sound of the Underground” that doesn’t sound like it’s being played on a tinny kazoo.
Technically, it’s a dual-band GSM workhorse that feels incredibly sturdy in the hand, weighing 106g and featuring those famous “active” covers that glow orange on the sides when you get a call. It features GPRS for “high-speed” WAP browsing and a massive 1,000-entry phonebook, which is overkill for most people but nice to have. The battery life from the 950 mAh Li-Ion pack is fantastic, giving you nearly two weeks of standby time, provided you aren’t spending six hours a day playing Karting. It doesn’t have a camera, and the keyboard feels a bit “mushy” compared to the 3310, but for a reliable, fun, and affordable entry into the world of colour screens, the 3510i is an absolute cracker.