When you talk about legendary phones that defined mobile productivity, the Nokia E90 Communicator almost always tops the list. Launched in 2007 as part of Nokia’s famous Communicator series, the E90 wasn’t just a phone—it was a mobile workstation, a premium device built for professionals, executives, and serious business users who demanded more than calls and texts. It represented the peak of Nokia’s dominance in the smartphone market, combining innovation, durability, and professional tools in a package that was truly ahead of its time.
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Design and Build Quality
The Nokia E90 Communicator carried the DNA of its predecessors but elevated it to new heights. At first glance, it looked like a rugged, oversized bar phone, but its magic was revealed when you flipped it open. Inside, you were greeted with a wide 4-inch TFT display paired with a full QWERTY keyboard, essentially transforming it into a compact laptop.
The build quality was unmistakably premium—solid, heavy in the hand, with a professional aesthetic that signaled this was no toy. Business executives loved it for its seriousness. While slim and stylish phones were making waves, the E90 stayed true to being functional first.
Dual Display Advantage
One of the E90’s most iconic features was its dual-screen setup. The external 2-inch screen allowed for quick actions like making calls, reading SMS, or checking the time. But the real powerhouse was the internal 800 × 352 display, which delivered a true desktop-like experience. For professionals, this was a game-changer. Reading long emails, editing documents, browsing the web, and even GPS navigation became much more practical compared to other smartphones of that era.
Performance and Operating System
Powered by a 330 MHz ARM processor and running Symbian S60 3rd Edition, the Nokia E90 was a multitasking beast for its time. It handled email syncing, office applications, web browsing, and even video playback with confidence.
The device came with built-in business apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint viewers, and full email support, making it one of the first true business smartphones. Features like 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and infrared made it incredibly versatile. For professionals on the go, the E90 wasn’t just a phone—it was their portable office.
Camera and Multimedia
While business was the focus, Nokia didn’t completely ignore multimedia. The 3.2 MP rear camera with autofocus and LED flash was respectable at the time, producing decent photos and even recording video. It also included a front-facing VGA camera, which meant you could make 3G video calls—a futuristic feature in 2007. Add in the built-in music player, FM radio, and expandable memory, and you had a business phone that could also entertain.
Battery Life
Equipped with a 1500 mAh Li-Ion battery, the Nokia E90 delivered reliable performance. While heavy use of the big internal screen and connectivity features could drain it faster, it still managed to last a full workday for most users. For the business professional, that was essential.
Legacy and Verdict
The Nokia E90 Communicator wasn’t designed for the average consumer—it was built for executives, entrepreneurs, and business leaders. At launch, it came with a hefty price tag, but those who owned it knew they had one of the most powerful smartphones in the world.
It was bulky, yes. It was expensive, yes. But it was also groundbreaking, reliable, and incredibly capable. The E90 stood as a true status symbol—a device that represented power and productivity in your pocket.
Even today, collectors and retro phone enthusiasts consider the Nokia E90 Communicator one of the greatest business phones ever made. It perfectly captured an era when Nokia was at the peak of its innovation, and when the word “smartphone” meant something very different from today.