The device continued Nokia’s tradition of using high-quality materials. The back cover typically featured a brushed metal finish or a high-quality textured metal battery cover, giving the phone a premium heft and rigidity. The front fascia was dominated by the screen and the keyboard, framed by a metallic bezel.

The Nokia E69 had a removable Li-ion battery with a capacity of 1000 mAh. According to Nokia, the device had a talk time of up to 5 hours and 30 minutes, and a standby time of up to 18 hours.

The Nokia E69 was a well-connected device, supporting a range of networking options, including:

The heart of any QWERTY device is the keyboard. The E69 featured a narrowed, rigid QWERTY keyboard that was a significant improvement over its predecessors. While the keys were small, the distinct "click" and the slight curvature of the keys allowed for rapid typing. For users accustomed to BlackBerry devices, the transition to the E69 was seamless, and many argued that the tactile response of Nokia’s keys was superior to the rubbery feel of the competition.