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Unlocked smartphone with a 5-megapixel camera
- Speedy 3G data network
- 5-megapixel camera
- Interchangeable back plates
- Supports Wi-Fi
- Good document support
- Good 2.4-inch display screen
- No QWERTY keyboard
- Cheap plastic body
- Expensive unlocked cost
- Differing assessments of call quality
Some reviewers lump the Nokia N96, Nokia N85 and Nokia N79 into one report because they are all 3G-network-compatible candy-bar smartphones with alphanumeric keypads and similar features (for instance, all of them have 5-megapixel cameras). But the cameras apparently aren't exactly the same -- MobileTechReview.com's Lisa Gade specifies that she tested all three models' cameras and that the Nokia N79's was noticeably the worst, especially on video.
The Nokia N79 also has its own gimmick -- interchangeable back plates of various colors that contain a microchip that will automatically change the display screen's background color as well. If you buy a Nokia N79 with a white body, you get blue, olive and brown plates. The gray body comes with red, white and brown plates, and the black body has two shades of gray and plum. Some owner and professional reviews say the plastic body feels cheap and squeaks, and some wonder about durability, although none of them actually conduct durability tests. In reviews of rugged cell phones, we've read about reviewers running them over with a car to discover just how rugged a phone is. Why not throw the N79 at a wall?
You may see reviews for a Nokia N79 Active, which includes a heart monitor, but that model is not available in the United States at this writing. Still, the standard Nokia N79 comes with a variety of features: Wi-Fi for web surfing, Bluetooth, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, GPS functionality, a 2.4-inch display screen with good resolution, microSD memory card slot and micro USB port protected by covers, a music player with equalizer and a video player. As a business phone, the Nokia N79 offers support for various kinds of documents, although U.S. users may find the Symbian operating system a bit of an adjustment at first, reviews say. Reviewers differ on call quality -- some say it's good, others find it a bit fuzzy.
Most reviews that test battery life got more than the 5.5 hours of promised talk time -- CNET got three hours more. Reviews oddly don't suggest alternative purchase options but note that the N79 is toward the low end of the N series. In a review of the higher-end N96, PC World's Ginny Mies suggests the T-Mobile G1, HTC Touch Pro or BlackBerry Bold because they have full QWERTY keyboards. Because the Nokia N78 is an unlocked phone, there may be some sticker shock unless your company is footing the bill.
The Nokia N79, as mentioned, is part of the Nokia N-series, and there are more reviews for the higher-end N96. We think the best coverage of the Nokia N79 is at MobileTechReview.com, because Lisa Gade makes a point of trying each model's features, and we are not sure CNET, for example, actually went that far. If you live in the United States, be wary of reviews that were done in the U.K. because not all features are the same. Unfortunately, ConsumerReports.org doesn't rate any of the Nokia N-series phones, and there aren't a lot of user reviews at Amazon.com and CNET.
| Nokia N79 Unlocked Phone with 5 MP Camera, Wi-Fi, and MicroSD Slot--U.S. Version with Warranty (Silver) | |
(20 reviews) |
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Our Sources
Although this is just a three-product roundup (the phones are similar), it's thorough enough. The Nokia N79 gets the lowest score of the three, 3.5 out of five stars. The camera, although each model has 5 megapixels, is not as good on the N79, says Lisa Gade, especially when shooting video.
Review: Roundup Review: Nokia N96, Nokia N85 and Nokia N79 US Models, Lisa Gade, Feb. 1, 2009
Ricky Cadden gives the Nokia N79 a Highly Recommended rating, because he says he struggled "to find anything negative to say about it." He does note that the plastic body squeaks, so he questions durability.
Review: Review of Nokia's Subtle, But Powerful, N79 Smartphone, Ricky Cadden, Feb. 10, 2009
3. CNET
Bonnie Cha rates the N79 as "very good" and says the 5-megapixel camera takes "excellent" photos. On the negative side are a cramped keypad and controls and sometimes-fuzzy call quality. Battery tests yield about three hours more than the promised 5.5 hours of talk time.
Review: Nokia N79 (Unlocked) Review, Bonnie Cha, Jan. 22, 2009
This thorough review is essentially positive but says "we have seen and used better 5-megapixel cameras on other handsets." Call quality is good, editors say. However, it should be noted that the testing was done in the United Kingdom, and U.S. carrier performance may vary. PhoneArena.com's battery tests often come in shorter than others, but this review says talk time is impressive.
Review: Nokia N79 Review, Editors of PhotoArena.com, March 13, 2009
5. PCMag.com
This is a bit skimpy by PCMag's usual standards, based on brief use during a meeting with Nokia. While Segan says it looks "relatively boring," he notes that it has similar features to the N85 and N96.
Review: Hands-On: Nokia N96, N85 and N79, Sascha Segan, Aug. 26, 2008
6. Amazon.com
The Nokia N79 mostly gets the maximum five stars from a handful of owner reviews, with just a couple giving it an average rating. One reviewer does note that the plastic body creaks, echoing an observation made in a professional review.
Review: Nokia N79 Unlocked Cell Phone, Contributors to Amazon.com
