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Wi-Fi slider smartphone with 8 GB built-in memory but no QWERTY keyboard
- Supports 3G, Wi-Fi networks
- Includes 8 GB built-in memory
- Great at shooting video
- Quality 2.8-inch screen
- Robust document support
- Good music player
- No microSD slot
- No QWERTY keyboard
- It's expensive
- Symbian OS is unfamiliar to many in U.S.
- It's a bit sluggish
- Call quality isn't terrific
The Nokia N95 8GB is an upgrade of the Nokia N95 in one obvious sense -- 8 GB of built-in memory. Not as obvious, reviews say, is that the newer Wi-Fi slider cell phone now has high-speed 3G network capability and a larger screen (2.8 inches vs. 2.6 inches). On the downside, while 8 GB is more than enough for many people, there is no microSD slot for adding more memory. And there's still no QWERTY keyboard. Bear in mind, too, that since the Nokia N95 8GB was released in the spring of 2008, Nokia added the 16 GB N96, and reviews of that one suggest waiting for the not-yet-released Nokia N97, which will have a full QWERTY keyboard and 3.5-inch touch screen.
Regardless, a key selling point for any of these models is a 5-megapixel camera/camcorder that impresses most reviewers. InfoSyncWorld.com's Philip Berne says the still camera with its Carl Zeiss lens is good enough to replace a cheap point-and-shoot, and PCMag.com includes the Nokia N95 8GB in an April 2009 roundup, "Best Video-Shooting Cell Phones." Although the N95 8GB places second in that group to the Nokia N82 because the N82 has a better flash, the N95 8GB shoots two frames per second faster (30); both capture video at a resolution of 640 pixels by 480 pixels.
Nokia smartphones often inflict some sticker shock because they are unlocked, and thus not subsidized by carriers. (The bonus is that you don't need to commit to a contract.) And like its cousins, the Nokia N95 8GB uses the Symbian operating system, which is helpful for business-document apps but can mean an initial adjustment for U.S. buyers, according to reviews.
InfoSyncWorld's Berne attempts to answer the big-picture question -- Nokia N95 8GB or Apple iPhone? He says that while the Nokia lacks the "intuitive, fun interface" of the iPhone, the Nokia offers more features (such as FM radio and stereo Bluetooth). But that review was published before the release of the Apple iPhone 3G, and before reports that Apple soon would be offering turn-by-turn GPS navigation as well. Another thing to consider, reviews say, is that the Nokia N95 8GB is a bit sluggish, and the call quality isn't terrific. Even the battery life gets some criticism in reviews. PCMag.com got nearly nine hours of talk time, yet reviewer Sascha Segan says he expected more because Nokia put a larger battery into the 8 GB version. On the plus side, most reviewers say the music player is quite good if you use decent earbuds.
We found the best reviews at PCMag and InfoSyncWorld. Usually, a CNET review rates a bit higher than it does here, but Bonnie Cha admittedly cribs from the original N95 review, leaving us to wonder which features were actually tested in the Nokia N95 8GB. There is a good sampling of owner reviews at Amazon.com, about double what you'll find at CNET. We included some reviews written in the U.K., but be careful -- not all the features mentioned are common to the model sold in the U.S.
| Clarity C900 Unlocked Phone with Dual-Band GSM 850, 1900, and GPRS--U.S. Version with Warranty | |
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Our Sources
1. PCMag.com
Though the Nokia N82 wins this five-phone roundup, the N95 8GB is a little faster at 30 frames per second. There's a link to Jamie Lendino's full review of the N95 8GB. Negatives noted there are the lack of a QWERTY keyboard and memory-card slot.
Review: The Best Video-Shooting Cell Phones, Matthew Murray, April 14, 2009
While the Nokia N95 8GB gets a higher rating than the Apple iPhone 3G (see the chart at bottom of this review), Philip Berne notes that the Nokia lacks the iPhone's "intuitive, fun interface" but has a plethora of features that an iPhone lacks, including an FM radio.
Review: Review: Nokia N95 8GB NAM Multimedia Smartphone, Philip Berne, April 14, 2008
3. CNET
Bonnie Cha rates the Nokia N95 8GB as "excellent," and more than two dozen owner reviews combine for the same score. One weakness here is that portions of the 8GB review are the same as for the original N95, making us wonder if all features were tested on the newer model.
Review: Nokia N95 (8GB, Unlocked), Bonnie Cha, April 17, 2008
4. Amazon.com
More than 50 owner reviews combine to give the Nokia N95 8GB a very high average score, only about 20 percent rating it fewer than four out of five stars. One three-star review is very detailed with multiple updates, and it suggests the Apple iPhone is better.
Review: Nokia N95-4 8GB Unlocked Cell Phone, Contributors to Amazon.com
This review is detailed, but dated -- it's no longer true that the 3G network capability won't work in the United States, for example.
Review: Nokia N95 8GB Review, PhoneArena Team, Dec. 13, 2007
