Nokia 6790 Surge
Key specs
Critic consensus
“Some might say that the phone you're peering at above is the most un-Nokia-like Nokia device produced in quite some time (if not ever), but remember, this one was custom made for US consumers and AT&T's audience -- something that's not true for too many Espoo-sourced handsets. Once known as the Mako, Nokia's Surge (or 6790 in international speak) is certainly unorthodox in design, though the actual specs list is fairly familiar. We get the feeling that Nokia was aiming to hit a very specific niche with this device, somewhere in-between the text-happy handsets adored by tweens and the smartphone desired by Mr. Suit. Care to see if we think Nokia accomplished said goal? Then head on past the break, vaquero.”
“The Nokia Surge packs in a lot of features--a full HTML browser with Flash Lite support, 3G support, GPS--for an affordable price. The smartphone also provides access to social networking sites. The Nokia Surge offers AT&T's younger customers an affordable, feature-rich smartphone, but it has a number of design and interface issues.”
“At first glance with it’s slide-out keyboard and black plastic casing, you might think the Nokia Surge is intended to be a high-end messaging phone and perhaps that was the case. However, this Nokia is a smartphone and includes all the features expected to be found on one: office apps, the ability to send/receive corporate e-mail, Bluetooth, and even flash support. It also offers impressive call quality, we just wish the Surge was a bit more phone friendly. That said, if you want a messaging centric phone with all the functionality of a smartphone, but not the form factor, check out the Nokia Surge.”
“The Nokia Surge is a messaging phone. The full QWERTY keyboard gives it away as such. As with many lower-cost messaging phones, the Surge makes a few concessions in order to remain affordable. Some of them may be enough to give potential buyers cause. Still, there are plenty of positives to consider.”
Watch before you decide
What people say
Only a few ratings so far, not enough to show a trend yet.
8 ratings so far
I bought this phone because i thought it was a touch phone. I paid $200 for it when I bought it and today its only $99. It starting coming apart a few months ago. When I slide it up, the top nearly comes off. I am not one who's hard on phones, durability just isn't there when it comes to this phone.
This is my first phone, so I don't know any different and I have a 3 year contract so I'm stuck with it... I'm not too sure if I bought a lemon, but my phone screws up almost every day. I've done multiple major resets, and nothing seems to get better. I think that there aren't a lot of personaliz...
I had this phone for about, 6 months. I liked it, but there were also some things i didnt like. Here is my personal thoughts: Pros: -sleek feel, -cool built in ringers -built in photo editing capabilities -the talk and end button backlight flash for 30 mins when you have a new notification -keypa...
In Depth
The prolific cell phone manufacturer Nokia produces such a high volume of models that surely one will fit your needs. The Nokia 6790 Surge, however, while a competent phone, may not be the best choice.
The reason I say it may not be your best choice is because nothing about this model jumps out as being unique, or uniquely useful. On the other hand, it does fall squarely into a cluttered tier of phones that get the job done, but doesn’t move the ball up the field where it concerns breakthrough technology, simplicity of use or some other attribute that sets it clearly apart from the myriad of devices now available. That doesn’t make it a bad phone; it makes it a forgettable phone.
Let’s take a closer look:
The Nokia 6790 Surge is a side-sliding GSM phone capable of global roaming. It runs on a S60 Symbian OS, with 128 MB of onboard RAM, has a 2.4” 240 x 320 pixel resolution display, QWERTY keypad, and a full complement of mid-tier features including a 2 megapixel camera, 2.0 Stereo Bluetooth, microSD/microSDHC expandable memory, 2.5mm jack, speakerphone, voice commands and a solid phonebook with plenty of capacity.
If you are in the market for a new phone, in this price point, you can, frankly, find a strong OS, a better screen and more current features. When studying this phone I get the sense that leftovers where smashed together to produce a phone we’ve already seen.
Competent and capable, sure. But that is the barest of baselines nowadays. If you are looking for a phone that is fun and functional, new and clever, minimizes keystrokes, etc., you may want to look at other Nokia’s or the field in general.
It’s a definite 7 on a scale of 1-10. You won’t get ripped off, but you won’t be overwhelmed either.
What people actually want to know
When was the Nokia 6790 Surge released?
The Nokia 6790 Surge was released on July 13, 2009.
How long does the battery last on the Nokia 6790 Surge?
The Nokia 6790 Surge has a 1,500 mAh battery.
Does the Nokia 6790 Surge have a headphone jack?
Yes, the Nokia 6790 Surge has a 2.5mm headphone jack.
Where can I download the Nokia 6790 Surge manual?
You can view and download the Nokia 6790 Surge manual on our dedicated manual page.
Questions & answers
Have a question about the Nokia 6790 Surge? Ask it here and we'll email you as soon as someone answers. Readers have answered 5,000 questions across PhoneCompass.
Finish the security check above to post your question.
Your name shows with your question.
✓ Question submitted. We'll notify you when someone answers.
We sent a verification link to . Click it to publish your question.
Can't find it? Check your spam folder.
How it compares
New phones, honest scores.
One email when something worth knowing changes. No deal spam, no filler.