Imagine a Nokia N95, but smaller. Nosmaller than that. Yeah, that's small enough. We're talking a device that weighs only 90 grams, is about the size of the 8600 Luna, but is packing everything that makes the N95 so impressive. That is the Nokia 6220 Classic, which even improves on the N-Series phones in some ways.

Then what is the deal with the 6000 name? Why does a 5-megapixel, xenon flash, GPS-enabled uberphone have such a low-key reception? It is Nokia's stealth attack on the market. Making such a well-stacked phone so approachable, so mid-range will certainly turn the industry upside down.

Already launched on the major networks, this handset can be acquired, for free, on tariffs as low as 23 a month (on 3). With a phone that is head and shoulders above it's competitors, combined with the marketing push that it is getting in stores, means that the 6220 will deservedly take the lion's share of attention in this challenging sector. Is it well deserved?

In a word, yes. The unassuming, 'classic' design belies the cutting edge features the 6220 is full of.  The 2.2-inch screen is clean, as is the keypad laid out in familiar Nokia fashion, and the concessions in making a 90g phone that is only 47 x 108 x 15 mm are most apparent here. Much smaller and lighter than the N95, the simple candybar design allows for easy access to the majority of functionality, with a surprisingly responsive D-pad in the centre. This is a phone that looks wise offends none and appeals to many, probably the exact idea.

The handset itself feels a little basic, but that could be as much being spoiled by ornate luxury phones like the LG Secret and Samsung Tocco.  The keys are a fine size for texting and making calls, and the software is just as quick to boot anything needed as soon as it is pressed. The screen is a little cramped when comparing it to a behemoth like the N95, and using Nokia Maps with the GPS is a fine example which illustrates this point.

It certainly won't replace a TomTom, but to get around areas in town which are unfamiliar, this is great to have for gathering bearings. Turn-by-turn is extra however, and after the trial period, you will have to shell out for Nokia Maps. Some other phones manage it without the monthly fees, but the service is good.

Let's address the big one, the 5 megapixel Carl Zeiss camera with Xenon flash.  The fact that they have managed to keep the weight down whilst adding such a rich feature is little short of miraculous. The screen switches to the camera display as soon as the cover is opened, accelerometer-free unfortunately

All the techy features like exposure settings and the like have been removed, leaving a highly capable, visually impressive camera. Jury is still out on whether it is in fact better than the N95's, but images tended to come out a little grainy in comparison

The user interface is 3rd edition Symbian 60 software with a place for everything, and everything in it's place. What it does have is a slightly slicker version of Nokia's usual setup, with a few graphical flourishes and submenus which manage to make navigation fresh and even easier. They are optional, so if you aren't a fan they can be easily benched. User interface updates, more of them please!

The multimedia functionality is still a Nokia strong suit, and the 6220 maintains this hard-fought reputation with a bevy of features. Micro USB ports, audio ports, a TV and Stereo output ports, everything. Why they go for the more rare 2.5mm mono port is unsure. It still embarrasses phones that are supposedly far more feature-packed, and the media playback is equally surprising.

MicroSD cards are the order of the day when beefing up the 120MB that the 6220 rolls with, and Nokia Maps is included on a 1GB one to get people started. The options are clear and simple, and it is happy to play the majority of audio and video formats. No N-Gage games support though, but whether that is a blessing or a curse is purely subjective

As a phone, it does not disappoint. Someone who ignored all the above features and had this as their pure call and text machine, would be entirely happy. Call quality and, more importantly, volume is very good, and the reception when using this phone in renowned call 'drop-out' zones is impressive. Texting is no big problem either, Nokia excel at remembering their devices are a phone first.

It has all of the 3G connectivity needed for things like GPS, as well as HSDPA support. The web browsing experience shows just how far Nokia has come in this department, with the proprietary software doing a good job of siphoning all the good stuff from the web into a nice layout. So, why no wi-fi? Are we asking for too much from a mid-range handset? Perhaps. But it would have rounded out the complete set of features, and we would have recommended it without reservation. As it stands, the 6220 has a slight drawback there.

That is the only thing keeping this handset from getting into the mobile phone Hall of Fame with the RAZR, the N95, the Chocolate It is difficult when a phone comes this close to being so great, yet stops short in little ways.  The lack of wi-fi and the slightly busy screen are minor negative points, but there is little to complain about besides. Yes, it is a bit cheap, but then the phone is a bit cheap! Something had to give, and to have a burgeoning feature set in a phone of this size and at this price point is not to be ignored.

This phone may be small, but it's going to be huge.