New Nokia N95 8GB Review



Expected Q 4 2007

The Nokia N95 8GB is a little bit more than just the existing N95 with a paint job and memory upgrade - this version of the N95 has a larger screen and enhanced GPS, plus N-Gage gaming.
The display has been upgraded to a 2.8 " panel from 2.6", and according to Nokia it is also brighter and clearer than ever before. In fact, the screen is the same size as the HTC TyTN II - but the big drawback with the Nokia N95 8GB is that it doesn't have a touchscreen.
Underneath the snazzy new exterior, the Nokia N95 8 GB packs in an awesome number of features. It's a 3 G phone with HSDPA high-speed data, quad- band GSM with GPRS and EDGE and WiFi. The N95 8GB also has stereo Bluetooth, infra-red and USB connectivity.
The camera is one of the N95 8 GB's strongest points - it's a 5 megapixel unit with autofocus and Carl Zeiss optics. Video capture resolution is up to 640 x 480 pixels, and the N95 8 GB also has a video out port. Images and video clips can be uploaded directly from the phone to a number of compatible weblog or picture sharing sites. Along with some other high-end Nokias, the N95 8GB can use the N-Gage Arena gaming service.



One criticism of the original N95 (since resolved in a software update) was the amount of time that it took to get a GPS fix, now Nokia have upgraded this to A-GPS which is quicker. Basic mapping functions will be included, but full Navigation support will require a subscription.
There's comprehensive multimedia support too, the N95 8 GB can play back MP3 , AAC, M4 A and WMA audio files plus video clips. There's an FM radio too for good measure. The N95 8GB retains the unusual two-way slider mechanism that allows users to switch between the number pad and a set of dedicated media keys.
An addition, there's a web browser, email client and set of personal information management applications. The N95 8GB can also view common email attachment types such as Microsoft Office and PDF files.
As you can guess by the name, the Nokia N95 8 GB now has eight gigabytes of internal memory, although unlike the original N95 it does not appear to be possible to add a memory card. Nokia say that this can hold up to 6000 songs or 20 hours of videos.
To be honest, there wasn't much wrong with the original N95 (apart from the lack of a touchscreen) and there's no pressing reason to upgrade if you're an N95 user.
The physical characteristics of the N95 8 GB are very similar to the original at 99 x 53 x 21 mm in size and slightly heavier at 128 grams in weight. Maximum talktime is around 3.5 hours on 3 G, 5 hours on GSM and the standby time is up to 11 days.
Nokia say that the N95 8 GB should be available during the fourth quarter of 2007 for a price of around euro560 / £380 / $700 before tax and subsidy.



Nokia N95 8GB at a glance

Available:
Q 3 2007
Network:
GSM 850 /900 /1800 /1900
UMTS 2100
Data:
GPRS + EDGE + UMTS (3 G) + HSDPA + WiFi
Screen:
240 x320 pixels, 16m colours
Camera:
5 megapixels
Size:
Large slider
99 x 53 x 21 mm / 128 grams
Bluetooth:
Yes
Memory card:
Yes
Infra-red:
Yes
Polyphonic:
Yes
Java:
Yes
Battery life:
3.5-5 hours talk / 11 days standby