Though they both bear the same product code, the Nokia 6500 Slide should not be confused with the 6500 Classic, as the differences are vast between each of these models. It would be safe to say that the only real similarities aside from the name are the finish and build quality of each phone.

The 6500 Slide comes with an array of features to set it apart from its little brother, the 6500 Classic. These range from a 3G video calls camera, a 3.2 Mega Pixel Carl Zeiss Optics main camera, and Bluetooth V2.0 with A2DP profile.

One of the main attractions aside from the features will be the overall build of the 6500 slide. Coming with a brushed stainless-steel finish coupled with an extra layer of clear coating, the Nokia 6500 Slide will be more than capable of withstanding more than the usual bumps & scrapes associated with heavy everyday use. Though the colour scheme of Silver and Black isn't as immediately eye-catching as the 6500 Classic, it would be more than acceptable to class this as one of Nokia's better-looking slider handsets.

Though a 3G-capable sliding cameraphone isn't exactly news in the current market, the Nokia 6500 Slide is one of few non-PDA handsets that allow memory expansion up to 4GB, which is sure to be a main selling point for many potential consumers, especially considering the advent of music phones over the lat few years.

With a clear 2.2” 16M colour TFT display, legibility will certainly not be a problem for the 6500 Slide, definitely building upon the foundations laid out by the 6500 Classic. Overall the screen is commendable and should have very few complaints.

With the 6500 Slide, Nokia are sure to get a slice of the high-spec slider phone market, but only time will tell if it proves to be as popular as its sibling, the 6500 Classic. Combining looks, build quality, and a wide-range of features, this is sure to be a competitor to the dominant force in the slide-phone market, Samsung.