The Nokia N85, the latest edition to Nokia's Nseries range, was announced today. With AM OLED screen technology, tri-band WCDMA (3G) cellular radio, USB charging, and preloaded Ovi content and services, the multimedia-centric N85 delivers the latest evolution of Nokia's dual slider form factor.
The N85 boasts the usual impressive Nseries specification list: 5 megapixel camera (with dual LED flash and lens cover), integrated GPS, WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, FM transmitter and TV-out. The N85 will be available from November at a price of €450 (£350) before taxes and subsidies. Read on for more.
Read on in the full article.
We managed to get some time with the N85 last week and shot video and live photos of it.
Check them out at: http://www.mobileburn.com/gallery.jsp?Id=5159
N82 impressive specifications. I absolutely love the size of the thing. Just on question? Where, where did they but the GPS sensor? Does it need 'slide open'?
In other words: Do I want to trade my freshly bought N82 for it?
If you read the news story you'll note I mentioned the GPS antennae is around the camera area on the back of the device (top end). Should be good for reception.
Would it be fair to call this a "Diet N96" or "N96 Light"? 😊
Tzer2 - I guess so... to be honest I see the N79, N85 and N96 being the main Nseries line up going into 2009. Clearly the other devices are still going to be sold in significant numbers, but what we now have is a starting point, a mid point and a high point. Its a matter for debate whether the high point has enough extra to justify a significant extra price IMHO.
Remind me again why anyone would want to buy the N96?
stuclark wrote:Remind me again why anyone would want to buy the N96?
People who want a duller screen, a bigger phone and don't like USB charging??? 😉
Seriously though - it looks to me like the N96 will appeal if 24GB of storage is your thing...
SM
Boring phones, more of the same, more of the same, always the same:frown:
Remind me again why anyone would want to buy the N96?
Well, if you want a serious answer 😉 maybe the 16GB of on-board (plus 8GB or more from memory cards) is one pulling factor, you should see the price difference between iPhones of different storage capacity.
The 2.8" screen probably also helps, especially when you consider the video-centric nature of the N96 (including DVB-H in some countries).
But you're right, other models are probably catching up more quickly than expected.
Boring phones, more of the same, more of the same, always the same
The same but cheaper?
I think the idea of the N85 is to provide the same specs as previous highest-end models but at a slightly cheaper price.
Starting at a lower price would reach a different audience to the previous models. It's still pretty expensive though.
n96 has a bigger screen, tv, more memory
how about the ram?
the price?
n96 has a bigger screen, tv, more memory
TV on your holidays, maybe
Would it be fair to say this phone is an upgrade from the N95 (original)?
I like the fact that it has a bigger battery. I also notice it's slightly heavier than the N95 (again, must be the battery).
Just a pity it's not Quad Band.
It's a good looking phone.
Just a pity it's not Quad Band.
It's Quadband GSM, Triband 3G/WCDMA.
I'm not sure there are any Quadband 3G phones yet, are there?
Its about time we get USB Charging out the box....😎
but really both devices have a very-high spec for "low to medium range" N-Series smartphones.
Whats impressing me the most is the dimensions & weight of both phones,Nokia are really cramming lots of tech into devices that are more compact than many "dumb" phones...
And great idea putting so much demos + one free game,out the box with the N85,to promote the N-Gage brand
Well I have been defending my n 82 and its keypad rather aggressively all along! but i guess, this is it. I had actually gone ahead and pre booked n 96 with one of the nokia dealers but guess, would need to cancel that now! (How sad!!). It does not come with TV, (who needs it anyway, i prefer my bravia for that!), Xenon flash (that one, i will need to convince myself that i can do WITHOUT xenon, don't know about that as of now..). Storage is not a prob with me (to share a secret, i am still on a 2 gb card!)
So what is left is the slider part. Nokia generally have been lousy in that department, so will need to test run one before taking the plunge but it will be heavy on pocket. INR 28,834. (gulp!)
I reckon this makes the N96 redundant for most people in the UK.
Much thinner, better battery, the only drawback is that the screen is 2.6 rather than 2.8.
Why would you pay more for a much fatter phone with a useless function (DVB)?
I suppose the extra 16GB on the N96 is going to be the decider for some.
I suppose the extra 16GB on the N96 is going to be the decider for some.
I wouldn't underestimate that, it can be quite a major specification that people look for, like the megapixel count on cameras.
16gb on board memory PLUS the memory card slot which can officially take 8gb and unofficially perhaps 16gb, that's a total of 24gb to 32gb which is a huge amount compared to most other devices in this class.
That lady in the video sure sounds....motivated.
Nice one, I think I'll have to make myself a Christmas present.
I'm not sure that the closeness in spec of the N85 and the N96 is a bad thing.
I picked up from the virtual event videos that Nokia are trying a lot of different things with handsets and letting the market decide. That has to be a good thing for consumers. If the N96 and the N85 both sell well then expect to see more high-spec phones rather than a single flagship phone. For nearly two years we have had the N95 as the flagship and an array of cheaper (and frankly not as good) mid-range phones.
I like having to decide between the N96 and the N85 - its about time picking a decent smartphone involved more choice - if nothing else it will give Steve Lichfield more traffic to his smartphone grid.
Now if only Nokia would make Ovi integrate as well as the iPhone integrates with a Mac...
Rafe wrote:If you read the news story you'll note I mentioned the GPS antennae is around the camera area on the back of the device (top end). Should be good for reception.
Thanks, I had only time to scan the post briefly. Looking forward to some extensive flash comparison tests with the N82. The xenon flash of the N82 will most likely always have the shortest flash time and thus less troubled by motion blur in flash pictures. Also Xenon has the most natural and continuous colorspectrum giving better color when using flash. Still the dual led setup is a very nice compromise between video and photo and most likely a damn handy pocket light if my experiences with the SE W800i are an indication ;^)
Their seems to be a mistake in the news item as it says it's available from November when the Nokia press release says it is available from October. See link below.
Link.
Super Chimp wrote:Their seems to be a mistake in the news item as it says it's available from November when the Nokia press release says it is available from October. See link below.Link.
Thanks superchimp, I will correct this (was correct AFAIK at time of writing). As I'm sure you know I suspect November might be more accurate as to when most people can get it in their hands!
Nice phone but......once again too little too late.
5 megapixel is old hat compared with 8 megapixel offerings from LG and Samsung
OLED screen is nice, but with the same old QVGA 240 x 320 resolution, they really should start to think about VGA now.
To be brutally honest apart from looking prettier, the N85, N79 and N96 have nothing new that make them a worthy upgrade from the now the 18 month old N95.
With the exception of the superb E71 and E66 with their outstanding build quality Nokia really seem to have lost the plot with their forthcoming handsets, they are all basically re-hashes of the N95
Looks like a nice phone.
Ive done a fair bit of Nokia bashing lately - to me, at least their recent phones haven't really been anything new over the orginal N95... More memory, bigger screen, useless TV tuner don't really cut it for me.
But this phone - new screen technology, FP2 and a FM transmitter (over the original N95) is a good move.
Looks like they might have even got a reasonable set of keys for NGage.
Can't say I like sliders but that just a personal preference after having a N95...
Does it have a 3D chip for gaming?
I was worried that there would be a trend towards larger phones caused by the huge oversized slab iPhone format. Thank goodness Nokia have seen sense and gone smaller. I had decided against an N96 to replace my N95, but this makes a difference and I will be getting this N85 when it arrives. Might be a long wait though, knowing Nokia spring 2009 - I predict April or May.
To be brutally honest apart from looking prettier, the N85, N79 and N96 have nothing new that make them a worthy upgrade from the now the 18 month old N95.
Been thinking the same. Good job I've got another 8 months on my contract...
still happy with my N95 GB for sure - but I have to admit ever since the N96 and now also the N85 I envy the users of these handsets for the WMV video ability. I have a certain use for that - and may only be me - but I have to convert to mp4 all the time while these new devices would just play the original video...sigh....