Nokia's 6288 is an upgrade to the 6280. The device performs phone functions admirably and has a display that is a joy to use. Nevertheless, like the previous model the design and construction of the slider are disappointing.

Improvements

Although the 6288 looks almost identical to the 6280, there are a few small changes. A larger capacity battery (upgraded from 970 mAh to 1100 mAh) and an included 512MB miniSD memory card (upgraded from 64MB) are the main differences. Apart from this though, the 6288 is almost exactly the same handset as its predecessor. And once again the top half of the slider doesn't sit well, regularly jiggling from side to side when opened.

As a phone, we had no complaints with the 6288's call quality and reception. Volume was loud, clear and consistent across our test calls. Also impressive was the menu system offering both functionality and an attractive design. It is easy to navigate, using a standard 3 x 3 grid with animated icons. The keypad is quite good, although the buttons could have been a little bigger; those with large fingers may struggle with accuracy.

The 6288 includes the same 2.0 megapixel camera seen on the 6280, and we were once again disappointed. Writing photos to the phone or memory card and starting the camera application both take longer than they should. Images are too dark and the flash didn't really help. The 6288 camera offers plenty of image options though, with greyscale, sepia and negative effects.

Other features of the 6280 include PTT (Push To Talk), an MP3 player with AAC support, a second integrated camera for video calling and email with attachment support. If you're looking to use email frequently though, we'd probably recommend a more business oriented handset rather than this one. The 6288 music player was surprisingly efficient and the sound was better than we expected. Unfortunately, a standard set of headphones cannot be used with the 6288 due to the proprietary jack. The included earbuds are uncomfortable and the quality of their audio is below average.

Design

Distinguished by a gloss black finish the 6288 looks a class above its predecessor, although it is prone to excessive fingerprints. The phone measures 100mm x 46mm x 21mm and weighs 115g so it's far from the smallest phone on the market. For a 3G model though, it fits nicely into the palm of your hand.

The 6288 has a vivid, bright and clear 262 thousand colour display. It is a joy to use, particularly when viewing photos or browsing the phone's Series 40 user interface. The controls - two selection buttons, answer and End Call keys and a five-way navigational pad - are excellent. A volume control is conveniently located on the right hand side of the unit and a PTT (Push To Talk) button on the other. A dedicated camera button means the 6288 is able to be held as a normal camera with the phone on its side and the camera button acting as the shutter key.

According to Nokia's figures battery life is rated at up to 4.5 hours of talk time and 280 hours of standby time on a standard GSM network. Using a 3G network will give you about an hour less of talk time. Combined with use of the 6288's multimedia features, such as the music player or digital camera, you'll find yourself recharging the battery every two days.