Nokia Surge 6790 - Design

The design of the Nokia Surge 6790 from AT&T is not quite up to par with its features. Physically, the phone weighs 4.3 ounces and measures 3.8 inches tall by 2.2 inches wide by 0.6 inches thick. Its smallish size allows it to fit neatly in your pocket. The phone is pretty much all black on the exterior with the exception of a silver border that becomes more visible once you slide the phone open to reveal its keyboard. The 6790 has a plastic feel to it that is a bit on the cheap side, and tends to acquire fingerprints quite easily.

The front of the Surge 6790 is dominated by a 2.4 inch QVGA screen with 320x240 resolution that generates 16 million colors. The screen is smaller than other smartphones out there, but then again, so is the overall phone. The picture produced is decent but definitely not of the highest clarity compared to other competitors. There is a built-in accelerometer in the phone which automatically switches the display to landscape mode when you rotate the phone. Due to the smaller screen, you will most likely use landscape mode more often, as it is easier to catch a wider point of view this way without having to scroll as much.

The full QWERTY keyboard on the Surge 6790 is revealed when you slide the phone open. The keyboard feels responsive to the touch and is big enough for comfortable typing. The keyboard definitely lends itself to the 6790 being considered a messaging phone. Navigating the phone's interface is done via various buttons that surround the display.

Performance-wise, the Nokia Surge 6790 is serviceable although not outstanding. Call quality is decent, although interference can come through at times both regularly and while on speakerphone. Browsing the Internet and media online works well thanks to the 3G support -- when in range, that is. The Surge 6790's battery provides users with 4.7 hours of talk time and 16 days of standby time.

For the features and price alone, the Nokia Surge 6790 from AT&T is a worthy purchase. Its design and exterior quality isn't top notch, but the features more than make up for it. No Wi-Fi is disappointing, but there is 3G support at least. The Surge 6790 is a great fit for teenagers or college students thanks to its messaging capabilities and affordability.