Nokia 5130 Xpress Music

Status: 🟢 Fully functional

After Sony Ericsson’s Walkman phones took the market by storm, it was clear that music-centric phones were the next big thing. Nokia, known for its high-end, reliable devices, couldn’t afford to sit out of this growing trend. They were late to the budget music-enabled phones competition, but when they finally entered with the Nokia 5130 Xpress Music, they didn’t just catch up — they outdid most of the competition. At a price of $200, this phone offered more features than rivals in the same range, instantly making it a hit.

The 5130 Xpress Music was packed with standout specs for money. It had a bright QVGA display, a step up from the usual 176x220 pixels most phones in its class offered. The MicroSD slot supported up to 32 GB of storage, which meant a massive music library could be stored right on your phone. Dedicated music control buttons made it easy to navigate your tracks without having to dive into the menu. And, of course, it had a 3.5mm headphone jack—something that became standard but was still a huge convenience at the time.

To hit that sweet price point, though, Nokia had to make a few compromises. The production was moved from Finland to Romania, the body plastics were cheaper, and the box was so small that it barely fit the phone and accessories. Even the MicroUSB cable they included was a joke—it was just 10 cm long. But for all the corners they cut, it didn’t matter much to the buyers. The phone was affordable, reliable, and did exactly what it promised.

In the end, the Nokia 5130 Xpress Music crushed its main rival, the Motorola ROKR EM30. It was cheaper, more durable, and had a recognizable design that made it a favorite. Even with its budget build, Nokia managed to deliver a music phone that was a joy to use, making it one of the most iconic Xpress Music models in their lineup.