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Most phones would kill to have a feature set as complete as the Nokia N96, so why has its belated arrival left us feeling a little underwhelmed? Well, one reason is that since it was announced we’ve seen rivals like the 8MP-toting Samsung i8510 muscle in on its Symbian turf.
But the real reason is that the N96 hasn’t moved on enough from the N95 8GB to get us hopping like a mad fool in anticipation.
Streamlined design
It may just be us, but a double dose of storage, microSD card slot, built in DVB-H receiver and a modest design revamp doesn’t really get the blood pressure racing, especially when DVB-H mobile TV has yet to be switched on in Blighty and won’t be in the near future.
Comparing vital stats, the N96 is slightly taller and wider than its N95 8GB amigo, but a trimmer 18mm profile gives it a more streamlined edge. Its new look flushed design helps but, make no mistake, this Symbian smartie is still a pocket-sweller.
Nokia’s penchant for finishing its Nseries phones in glossy veneers is something of a bugbear for some and unfortunately the N96 gives out open invitation to finger smears and pocket grime. Its overly plasticky casing is also puzzling and not the top quality we expect from a flagship handset.
Gaming guru
That said, the N96’s new design is slicker than its more rigid stablemates with a new added dimension to its dual slider action.
Skid down the front and those signature dedicated music controls say hello but fire up the N-Gage and they transform into gaming controls for two-handed operation. The N96 has now pipped the N81 as the best N-Gage gaming phone.
Hello iPlayer
With DVB-H out of commission for us Brits, Nokia has countered by embedding a BBC iPlayer app so you can stream the latest TV programmes over Wi-Fi.
Picture quality was definitely watchable over the sizeable vibrant 2.8-inch display, only interrupted by occasional traces of digital blocking and buffering. Nokia has also factored in a fold out TV table stand just below the camera lens for the more hardcore TV watchers.
Standard snapper
It’s a shame Nokia couldn’t stretch to fitting the N96 with an 8MP lens, but the 5MP Carl Zeiss lens still produces sharp vibrantly coloured photos. Again, disappointingly, there’s no Xenon flash, but the dual LED photo variety is the next best option.
Elsewhere, the N96’s feature set and performance is similar to the N95 8GB, so web browsing is nippy over HSDPA or built-in Wi-Fi, while the Nokia Maps 2.0 and A-GPS combo is great for free basic navigation and more dynamic routing for a little extra dosh. The addition of a microSD card slot also means storage capacity can reach a whopping 24GB with an 8GB card.
Nokia fans should rest easy because despite the initial disappointments, over time, the N96 reveals itself to still be a vintage smartphone, ironing out the quirks of its N95 predecessors and still managing to deliver mobile TV to us gogglebox addicts, regardless of the DVB-H switch off.
Tech Specs
- Bluetooth
- Yes
- Dedicated MP3 player software
- Yes
- Dimensions
- 103x55x18mm
- FM radio
- Yes
- Main camera resolution
- 5MP
- Memory card type
- MicroSD
- Operating system
- Symbian Series 60
- Quad band
- Yes
- Screen resolution
- 320x280
- Screen size
- 2.8in
- Standby time
- 220 hours
- Storage
- 16GB
- Supported music formats
- MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA
- Talktime
- 220 mins
- Video resolution
- 640x480
- Weight
- 125g
- Wi-Fi
- Yes
- Xenon flash
- No
Comments
chingchunguk
1 year ago
The n96 they acclimated is not a clone, area does it say that? The acclamation on the keypad agency that it is advised for Chinese ascribe for the Asian market. You do apperceive that there is a huge Asian bazaar that Nokia is targetting right? Millions of Nokia consumers in Hong Kong alone. The best way to acquaint the aberration is that the clloned n96 do not accomplish beneath Symbian, and they accept a big adulterated "Nokia" branding on the front. Are you aboveboard or what?
Streamers
jb4522jb
1 year ago
Nokia definitely did a great job with this phone. You will not be disappointed at all with it. I bought one and just love it. There is nothing better. Toronto Condos for Sale
shrihari
1 year ago
I think Picture quality was definitely watchable over the sizeable vibrant 2.8-inch display, only interrupted by occasional traces of digital blocking and buffering.This is really the good post which really helps and guides ,many peoples planning to buy this new phone.
Nokia Cell Phones
androv
4 years ago
I am very disapointed with this phone.Apart from the memory it does not match up to my N95.I am now on my second one since the very delicate screen on my first one apeared out of my shirt pocket with an inner crack .Lucky to have forked out for insurance. The battery in the 95 is 1200 mah compared to 950 mah in the 96 and as far as i can see its all to do with bad design because all they had to do was make the rear cover 1mm fatter and the 95 battery would fit right in.The 95 has chromed buttons and quality materials the 96 is silver painted and cheap looking. I cant complian about the features but i would feel safer with an egg in my pocket. If only they had fitted the inners of the N96 into the N95.
kimmyhendrick
4 years ago
Here is a good article review about the N96 16GB, which describes the design and functionality of the phone. Check it here: http://www.articlesbase.com/cell-phones-articles/the-nokia-n96-16gb-751991.html
Jjasonbsmith
4 years ago
Horrible phone, very slow and keeps crashing, even after the new update was installed. Good stuff are the features (but most phones come with the majority of these features now) other than that I have nothing really positive to say about this phone. Swapped mine for a google g1 and have not looked back, a far superior phone in my mind and will only get better.
kacey68
4 years ago
I had a demo of one of these today. It was excellent but I am holding out for the n85 which i feel looks better and slightly smaller. Its certainly a good seller too... I had to wait a few weeks before they had them back in stock.
liberato
4 years ago
I would not buy this phone.sending it back
liberato
4 years ago
I would not buy this phone.sending it back
Als60
4 years ago
Well I got myself one of these days after the release. I had the N95 before this and this in my opinion is a major improvement on the N95. The battery life is actually better that what I was getting. The operating system is vastly improved and runs a lot faster, this includes the sat nav and menu searching. The camera has operating software has also been tweaked to improve it. I can see why the LED's are there instead of the xenon flash. The reason being you cant use the xenon flash a a light for videoing. The dual flash provides this in bundles. Altho it is a magnet for fingerprints (what gadget these days isn't???) I love the new styling of the phone. To sum up... Apple i-Phone No thank you give me an N96 any day of the week!!!
killerpants
4 years ago
Why did Nokia take a long time to release this techphone? and it is a let down i was hoping a big jump from N95 to N96. I think the N95 is better. The battery life is even worst the N95. I would not buy this phone.