Nokia 8260 Phone, Red Pepper (AT&T)

• Striking design
• E-mail and 2-way paging capabilities
• Full set of PIM functions
• Up to 3.5 hours of digital talk time and 8 days of digital standby time with standard battery
• Weighs 3.1 ounces with battery; includes Lithium-ion battery, charger, and Nokia hands-free headset

Great looks by themselves don't make a phone, but the 8260's style does not come at the expense of substance. We were impressed with its robust construction, nice fit and finish, and easy-to-navigate controls. The 8260 also boasts dual-band/trimode electronics, a newly designed internal antenna, excellent talk and standby times, and a host of sophisticated functions including e-mail and two-way SMS capabilities. The only real missing feature is Web-browsing support.

Where did this tiny phone come from? Essentially, Nokia updated the electronics and boosted the antenna power of its high-end classic, the 8860; put the new design in a sleek, tiny package; and significantly lowered the price. The 8260 also borrows the easy navigation and ease of use that is a hallmark of its popular 5100-series phones.

Although many of the 8260's features are available in other premium phone models, its design is like nothing you've ever held. Weighing a mere 3.4 ounces and measuring 4.1 by 1.75 by 0.75 inches, the 8260 literally fits in the palm of your hand.

The side-mounted volume-control keys were easy to operate while on a call, and we hooked up a hands-free kit to the headphone jack so we could stow the phone in our pocket while having conversations. One caveat: the tiny power button, located on top of the phone, is almost flush with the casing and hard to find. You won't be likely to turn the phone on inadvertently, but at times it was a challenge to turn the phone on at all. Other than this quibble, the 8260 is a joy to use.

Three buttons handle most of the menu navigation: a roller-bar navigation key lets you scroll through menu options, and two additional buttons let you select menu options as they appear. The right prompt button also provides one-touch access to your phonebook. The top-level menu choices are: Messages (SMS and voicemail alerts), Call Log, Profiles (so you can choose how your phone behaves in different environments), Settings (for calls, phone, and security), System (so you can select a service provider or opt for automatic selection), Games (Rotation, Memory, Snake, and Logic), Calculator, Calendar and Keyguard Lock. The backlit, three-line display works well with the control keys, and we found it easy to locate menus and make selections. Despite the phone's small size, the keypad is well spaced, and we had no problems dialing with one hand.

The Nokia 8260 has a full roster of call and messaging features. If offered by your service plan, it supports caller ID, call waiting, two-way SMS, voicemail, numeric paging, multiparty calling, and e-mail. Three different call logs maintain the last 10 dialed numbers, 10 most recently received calls, and 10 missed calls. PIM functions include a clock, currency converter, calculator, calendar with room for 50 appointments and reminders, and a 250-entry phonebook. There is no standard method of connecting the 8260 to a PC or other device.

A few more cool things worth noting: The 8260 has three-NAM capability, so you can route three different numbers to the phone. Its built-in vibrating alert guarantees you will get your calls without annoying the people sitting next to you. And we have to mention Nokia's new game, Rotation. Most phone games are pretty lame, but this organizational puzzle can actually raise your pulse.

The 8260 offers four basic security features: An initial security code, keypad lock, call restriction modes, and a lock code that can activate or deactivate memory and menu options. One nice thing about the lock-code feature is you can store numbers in a secret unlocked location, which will allow you to make calls even if the phone is locked.

The 8260's lithium-ion battery is rated to last for a maximum of 210 minutes of digital talk time and 192 hours of digital standby time. In our battery testing (using the 8260 with AT&T service), it came impressively close. We held an open call for just over three hours, and the phone lasted for nearly eight days in standby mode. These are impressive numbers for any phone, but especially for one of this size and weight.

In sum, the 8260 is one of the lightest, smallest, most stylish phones around, and it backs up its cool appearance with solid construction and functions. Unless you need a phone with a minibrowser, this unit is an excellent match for almost any personal or professional communications need.--Thom Arno, edited by Tom Mace

Pros:

• Tiny size, stylish case
• Solid construction, intuitive use
• E-mail and 2-way SMS capable, built-in PIM
• Impressive battery life

Cons:

• No browser capability
• Hard-to-locate power button

How We Tested Battery-Talk/Standby Time

When reading our reviews, you should view the test results of mobile-phone battery talk time and standby time as relative information only. Many variables, including carrier signal strength at your location, signal consistency (including incoming and outgoing calls), display and ringer settings, and battery charging methods and history, will affect performance. When handset manufacturers and mobile phone carriers list talk-time and standby-time ratings, they usually include disclaimers about variable performance and often refer to the times they publish as maximum times. Some quote expected battery life ranges, and in this case you're probably safe to assume you'll experience at least the minimum rated range. Note that manufacturers of dual-mode digital and analog handsets publish battery-life rates for both digital and analog modes, as analog mode consumes much more power than digital mode.

Our Tests: We tested digital-mode talk and standby times with each phone. Prior to each test, we fully charged the phone's battery according to the manufacturer's directions. To test digital-phone talk time, we turned the phone on, established a digital carrier signal, dialed a number in our test lab, and, when the call rang through, took the receiving phone's handset off the hook. When all went well, we didn't do anything else except record the time when the phone died. In a couple of cases, the phones lost the signal and dropped the calls. If we were right there and could redial, we did so immediately and continued running the test. Otherwise, we halted the test, recharged the battery, and started the test over. Assuming consistent carrier-signal strength, this test should represent best-case talk time. And it's worth noting that several phones' talk-time performance significantly exceeded the manufacturers' ratings.

To test digital-phone standby time, we turned the phone on, established a carrier signal, and left the phone in standby mode. We checked the phone every few hours (for what was often days on end) until the phone finally cut out. Since no outgoing or incoming calls occurred during testing and because the phone was not moved, this method should represent best-case standby time, again assuming consistent carrier signal strength.