Phone Scoop - Nokia 5165 Info

User Review: good phone!

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 21:46:36 GMT

Jami.T submitted this review of the Nokia 5165:

Overall rating: 3.5 (out of 5)

This was the first phone i ever got in life and i liked it! never had any problems!

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User Review: Old School

Fri, 06 Oct 2006 17:01:42 GMT

crxtreme89 submitted this review of the Nokia 5165:

Overall rating: 5 (out of 5)

Although this phone is old and doesn't have any of the features of today, this was an excellent phone for service and battery life. Paired with an extended life lithium ion battery you were good to go for awhile in even the most remote areas with AT&T wireless back in the day. You must remember that this phone was made prior to the color screen craze that hit in 2001 or 2002. The funny thing is that you could download ringtones over the air at www.2thumbswap.com. I used to have the chicken dance song, Super Mario Brothers, etc for ringtones. This phone style had many model #'s depending on which carrier it was on. Nokia 5160, 5160i, 5165 were the few that AT&T carried. For it's day this was a great phone. Don't knock it, back then people weren't ready for everything that is offered today in phones.

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User Review: Wow

Mon, 28 Aug 2006 20:15:29 GMT

katrina submitted this review of the Nokia 5165:

Overall rating: 5 (out of 5)

Is there anyone on the planet (over the age of 20) that didn't have this as their first phone? This is probably one of the sturdiest phones ever built... my dad dropped his into a bucket of tar and just took it out, washed it and let it dry out and it was fine!
When I worked for SunCom Wireless we had customers that still had this phone from 5 years ago (they generally had to replace the battery a couple of times in that time frame, though)
I do not know the model number, but there is a GSM version of this phone also... might be fun to get one, I think I still have a couple 5160 faceplates somewhere ;-)

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User Review: Simply simple

Mon, 28 Aug 2006 02:38:25 GMT

witesamurai submitted this review of the Nokia 5165:

Overall rating: 3.5 (out of 5)

This phone has bare minimum features, is big, and easy to use. It might have been a good phone 5 years ago but is just way too obsolete now.

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User Review: You cant front on nokia with this one yall

Sun, 23 Jul 2006 03:47:27 GMT

Cingularmami submitted this review of the Nokia 5165:

Overall rating: 5 (out of 5)

This phone was
"it" when it came out i mean if you aint have this phone you aint have nothin, i remember being so happy to get a text. I loved this phone as a matter of fact it was my second phone i loved this phone

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User Review: First phone that made me interested with the phone world!

Tue, 11 Jul 2006 17:53:49 GMT

AwpdsR submitted this review of the Nokia 5165:

Overall rating: 4.5 (out of 5)

This was my first phone. I got it on AT&T Wireless (i miss them...)

For some reason though, the Model # under the battery says 5160i but i searched for that model and it isnt even listed in Nokia's database... but the 5165 model is identical so i figured this is it.

This was a great phone! It was simple (and thats what made it great!) so it made a great first phone. I got it in 2002. It had excellent battery life (I used it for 2 and a half years and the battery still will last for a day with calls)

PROS:
~ Simplicity made this phone outstanding!!
~ Great battery life
~ Faceplates
~ Bar phone (preferred to flips/clamshells)
~ Nokia UI

CONS:
- Yellow backlight (i like Blue)
- Clunky and heavy, even back in 2002
- Antenna weak (broke off) but did'nt affect signal

This was a great first phone that got me interested in cell phones.

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User Review: oldie but goodie

Thu, 19 Jan 2006 16:00:35 GMT

motoman12345 submitted this review of the Nokia 5165:

Overall rating: 4 (out of 5)

i kept this phone for about 1 1/2 years and it was great so it didnt have many features but it always had great service and good sound so over all if you dont mind not having features then this phone is for you!!!!!

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User Review: Not bad... as a temporary phone

Sat, 07 Jan 2006 03:02:43 GMT

ShadowScorpion submitted this review of the Nokia 5165:

Overall rating: 2.5 (out of 5)

I bought this phone after my Versio plunged towards it's death, and I've had it for a few weeks, and heck, why not, let's write a review.

This phone isn't bad, but it's inferior to my Versio. There is a small, constant hiss sound in the background when placing a call, which can get very annoying (Using Rogers Wireless in Quebec, Canada). The battery life is respectable, but nothing extraordinary. I terribly miss the choice of backlight color, but it's counterbalanced by the changeable faceplates.

I am moving on to GSM soon, because I have been disappointed by this phone, and ordered a BlackBerry 5810 off eBay.

Pros:
- Respectable battery life
- Changeable faceplates
- Analog capability

Cons:
- Small, constant hissing sound in the background when talking
- Ringtones are seriously boring

To sum it up, it's not a bad phone, but it certainly wouldn't be my first choice for long-term, especially considering TDMA is doomed to slowly fade away.

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User Review: good phone

Sat, 10 Dec 2005 17:26:11 GMT

got_it submitted this review of the Nokia 5165:

Overall rating: 4.5 (out of 5)

for what it does it does it good. It doesnt have ay fancy screens or anything thing. I had this phone back when I was in 5th grade so thats like 4 years ago. I am now on verizonwireless which I hate. they have good phones but there service is alot of money and doesnt always work good anyway aout this phone its good for what it does

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User Review: EXCELENT STARTER PHONE

Sun, 11 Sep 2005 23:24:17 GMT

evildefectivefurby submitted this review of the Nokia 5165:

Overall rating: 3.5 (out of 5)

VERY GOOD FOR FIRST TIME BUYERS...ESPECIALLY FOR TEENS VERY AFFORDABLE AND VERY SIMPLE AND USER FRIENDLY!!

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User Review: Very reliable and simple

Wed, 29 Jun 2005 23:09:14 GMT

heyinway submitted this review of the Nokia 5165:

Overall rating: 5 (out of 5)

I am a long haul trucker and have owned my 5165 for several years with AT&T (hated to see the Cingular deal).
My phone has performed reliably for several hundred thousand miles and countless hours...I never shut it off.

The 5165 is nothing more than a workhorse, not a flashy show horse.

Long live TDMA ! (hey, I can dream, can't I ?)

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User Review: Not A Bad Starter Phone

Wed, 29 Jun 2005 13:18:47 GMT

thereddragon submitted this review of the Nokia 5165:

Overall rating: 3.5 (out of 5)

PROS:
- Ringer is nice and loud
- Reception is really good most of the time
- Is easy to use
- Has SMS capabilities and can send Email
- Is a really good phone for beginners

CONS:

- The text messaging feature on mine is malfunctioning. It says I have around 11 text messages in my inbox, when in fact, I have none. The problem started by saying I had 3 in there and the number gradually increased over time
- The battery pack keeps sliding off
- It feels cheap
- The ring tones suck
- No capabilities for MMS messaging
- The battery doesn't hold a charge for very long, I have to charge it everyday
- I will sometimes hear an echo when I place calls, the problem usually goes away when I hang up and place another call
- It's an older phone

Overall, I really recommend this phone for beginners. This was my first phone, and it was free. It still does the trick for me, but, I'll be upgrading as soon as I'm able.

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User Review: If only it could do GSM . . .

Wed, 22 Jun 2005 19:50:05 GMT

Alex A submitted this review of the Nokia 5165:

Overall rating: 5 (out of 5)

I don't believe that there are any negative reviews about this great, classic phone. If not for needing to move on to GSM (under Cingular), I would never get rid of it. It does everything I need in a phone; that is, being a PHONE - and nothing else. I have a 4000 mah battery, which gives me a MONTH of stand-by time (on about 16 hours per day, PLUS 200-300 minutes of talking). As far as size - again - perfect! Just big enough to cradle between your head & shoulder w/o use of hands.

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User Review: Oh thoes were the days...

Tue, 17 May 2005 19:06:56 GMT

lil_lara submitted this review of the Nokia 5165:

Overall rating: 4.5 (out of 5)

Okay we all had this phone. It got the job done. And to this day I still love playing snake, not that I can find it any where! I got really good at that game too :) Nokia was the innovator of phones, at the time. And man could that thing take a beating. I'd take it as a loaner phone any day, just for old times sake!

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User Review: Don't lie... you had this phone (once)

Wed, 02 Mar 2005 21:23:25 GMT

Late Adopter submitted this review of the Nokia 5165:

Overall rating: 2 (out of 5)

This was the first "on my person" phone I ever owned. All previous cell phones were either bag phones or permanently mounted in my car. It was an exciting time, I guess. I think almost everyone at one time or another used this phone. I still know many people who rely on it daily.

Being able to carry a phone with me was really cool. I had the swivel belt clip with the phone dangling at my side. This was a serious mistake for an active professional working in an industrial environment. The phone would snag on equipment and break away from my belt, tumbling to the ground. It broke after two such falls and I moved on to an 8620 in a Body Glove Ion case (awesome combo - see that review).

Of course, it's unfair to compare this phone to current models. At the time, the StarTac/MicroTac was all the rage and it was expensive. The Nokia was more affordable and had a fixed stub antenna instead of a pull out antenna. Now, Nokia is praised for having internal antennas and Motorola has the fixed stub. How times change.

As a phone, the 5165 did what it was supposed to do. It was basic, but it worked. Didn't have it long strictly because of the logistics of carrying it. But it was my first carry phone and it will be remembered.

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User Review: How far can i throw it!!! Only good for starters!!!

Tue, 01 Mar 2005 20:48:29 GMT

blaise1015 submitted this review of the Nokia 5165:

Overall rating: 1 (out of 5)

this phone is my first phone ever and i got it like back in 2000 so that tells you how old this phones is so dont EVER BUY THIS!!!!! you will regret so heres the pro and cons

PROS:
1.loud ringtones (but they suck)
2.good reception

CONS:
1.for one this phone dose not even have a color screen!!!!!
2.Ringtones are sooooooooooo crapy
3.NO FEATURES, no Aim, no wireless internet almost no nothing
4.the crapyest games EVER
5.The list could just keep going on and on
so dont buy this phone!!! but you probably cant because cingular took them off the market like years ago

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User Review: decent starter phone.

Wed, 12 Jan 2005 22:05:14 GMT

ImBoden submitted this review of the Nokia 5165:

Overall rating: 4.5 (out of 5)

And this is what I look for in a phone. A decently sized phone, with large, easy to press buttons, and just the basics. When I go looking for a phone, all I need is the the ability to make and recieve calls on the device. I am not concerned with cameras, and internet, and whatever else is being included on the phone. If this phone was still being manufactured, I would recomend it to anyone for a starter phone.

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User Review: ok........

Sat, 09 Oct 2004 23:43:45 GMT

TheCellFreak submitted this review of the Nokia 5165:

Overall rating: 3 (out of 5)

This phone isnt that bad. I dont have (My friend does), and we always hang out, so I see this phone alot. My friend doesn't think Its a cool phone, But I think its...not a bad phone. (The only bad part was that I got it with TRACFONE (Prepaid))

PROS:
Cool ringtones
OK Games
Good Reception
Easy to use buttons

CONS:
Kinda got that old look

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User Review: Excellent Oldie

Wed, 29 Sep 2004 01:29:42 GMT

Jesterace submitted this review of the Nokia 5165:

Overall rating: 2.5 (out of 5)

this phone I have had for quite sometime. I've never seen such a tougher phone. i've threw it against the wall. I've dropped it. it's has about 500 hours of talk on it. It just doesn't give up. It has sms and email which is handy who needs the internet on a phone I sure as heck don't I prefer to use a computer for hte internet. I give this phone the highest rating because hey Nokia makes one tough phone. Although these phones cease to function in a glass of rum :p

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User Review: A darn good phone

Tue, 17 Aug 2004 17:03:16 GMT

Klingon_Rooster submitted this review of the Nokia 5165:

Overall rating: 4.5 (out of 5)

This phone, and it's sister the 5160, do what you basically need a phone to do: Make and receive phone calls and do that job very well. No, they do not have all the latest bells and whistles like taking pictures, surfing the web, or starting your car engine remotely (just kidding). However, if that's your #1 reason for getting a "phone", maybe you have your priorities out of whack.

I guess I like this phone as I'm a bigger fan of TDMA versus GSM. Friends have GSM and can move 3 feet one direction and lose signal, plus you don't have analog capability with GSM. TDMA has digital plus analog, which if you're in a rural area means you might get signal on a TDMA phone whereas a GSM phone could leave you saying "hello...hello??"

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