Nokia’s N97 has a seriously wimpy processor
Oh boy. In the past there has been a lot of talk about Nokia’s upcoming flagship N97 and why it has some difficulties keeping its apps up and running, and now we have official word as to the likely reason — it’s powered by an ARM 11 processor that clocks in at a limp 434MHz. Seriously. While we know it’s not always about how many MHz a processor has but how efficient the processor itself is (as well as other components), this is a flagship handset we’re talking about here. After all, the N97 will likely command an insane price tag up around $800 with a processor that only has a 65MHz advantage over the hum-drum 5800 XpressMusic. And If you want to get even more snooty, here’s a little food for thought:
- BlackBerry Bold – 624MHz
- HTC Magic – 528MHz
- HTC Touch Pro2 – 528MHz
- Palm Pre – est. 600MHz
- Samsung i8910 – 600MHz
[Via Engadget Mobile]
Blackberry Tour has 528 mhz processor, not 624.
The Bold has a 624 processor, not the Tour. Also, my iPhone 3G’s processor is limitted to like 420 or something, though it is capable of 650 …
Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone) at: St Louis United States
Also you must consider that Symbian is much lighter than the other operational systems listed. Even with the touchscreen.
Actually this is not completely correct because the N97 actually uses two application processors: one ARM11-based processor that runs the OS and another processor dedicated to image processing. The phones you are comparing actually use a processor that combines both functions. In other words it may not be as bad as it seems as the 434Mhz is solely focused on running the OS.
Yeah processor speed isn’t everything, it’s implementation. I had a 200MHz Nokia E61 that ran tons of applications fine, albeit a bit slow at some operations.
Try a little harder to write useful information instead of speculation not backed up by fact and your reputation would go a lot further than a corner-of-the-net rumor dive plagued with inaccuracies. Which would rule, as you always have a lot of good information mixed within the inaccurate cruft.
N97 = 434mhz
5800 = 369mhz
A difference of 65.
Get your math straight.
Eh I’ve grown comfortable with the fact that I will never see, touch, or probably even hear a first hand account of one of these.
Loved the design, Nokia’s US presence leaves much to be desired though.
Funny how your reference near the bottom doesn’t show the Iphone 3G’s processing power even tho it is probably the most popular device to compare to.
From what I’ve read, the Iphone 3G has 620 MHz which is underclocked to 412 MHz.
The article actually originally had Iphone 3G – 667 MHz shown at the bottom before it was conveniently edited and removed.
It was removed possibly because of the fact that it actually doesn’t have the fastest processor speed in the group and the poster is an Apple fanboy… just a theory.
Bottom line I’m not spending $800 on a phone with such a sorry processor. I mean we have snapdragon now why the heck would nokia dumb down their flagship phone. Their processors are always lowballed….
Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone).
@Len
That’s interesting really, but if iphone has 3G gas 667 wouldn’t that be the fastest in that group hence why would he remove it? I’m really asking no sarcasm.
If the bias is that strong on this site its a shame really.
Back to Topic; I might have said this many times but if Nokia keeps doing what they are doing right now, they will be fraction of themselves in 5 years, they keep bleeding market share, and nothing they are introducing to the market in the smartphone category-where the market is growing and will be the majority of cell phones in 5 years- are comparable to Rim or Apple devices. They need to reinvent themselves quick before they become the next SonyEricsson or Motorola, or I have a better idea buy RIM and call it a day.
Well, there is nothing they can do for it now. Especially since this won’t get on AT&T’s roster. You’d have to pay full price and throw a sim into it.
It’s not going to sell well.
@gokmengs
Because 667 is not correct.
It should actually be 620 MHz underclocked to 412 MHz. (from what I gather from many other sites)
Hence it was possibly removed since the correct specs are not as desireable.
I’m just speculating that’s the reason haha. I don’t know for sure
Isn’t the processor in the e71 a 624mhz? why not use that one in the n97? cost?
@Len
I see what you are saying thanks for clarifying it. I just want to know why the post was edited?
The N-Series has never sold well in the US but, it’s King in the rest of the world. Symbian has 40% market share for OS. http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=910112
Plus… with a device not sold At&t they don’t know what it is and they don’t rape you on data plans. I have a N95-4 and I have unlimited data for $15 rather than the $30 they charge for Blackberry’s or iPhone’s.
Before passing judgment on N97’s processor, let’s not forget that this thing will run Symbian, which is way more efficient than other mobile OSes. E71 clocks at 369, yet beats any WinMo or Blackberry in terms of speed. Kind of stating the obvious here.
p.s. don’t want to sound paranoid, but is it me (which I’m totally willing to accept) or BGR is biased when it comes to Nokia?
It’s 369 MHz.
sorry, this want meant to respond to TRV$’s question.
I have an att document listing the e71x as having a 624 mhz processor. Is that like when my ISP tells me that I have 100mbps but in reality I only have 32 mbps?
Put iPhone speeds back up on the report and repost it!!!!
My 3G iPhone’s OS has been a joke since day 1.
Unstable, crashing browser, crashing applications, slow (not close to the 3G speeds I should be getting.
I’m ready to Chuck BOTH Apple & AT&T.
3.0 OS is giving us the 2001 capabilites that should have been built into the Gen 1 iPhone.
I’m tired of waiting on Apple’s (You don’t really need this) attitude.
I know what I want and it’s Background App’s and Multi Tasking.
That was promised when I purchased my phone and the deadline passed last September with Apple telling me I don’t need it.
Nawww dude. You are gist hatin and talking s**t….
In 3 months you’ll be walking down the street going
“click clack padddy whack better than iphone” with the f’n sliding mechanism on the N97
having a total handgasm!
You’ll be checking OVI store all the f’n time cuz there will be like 1200 apps first month from all the Apple, Palm, Flash, and symbian programmers on there.
You’ll be like a kid in a toy store!
Where do you think all these Samsung hd guys are gonna go all the time?
Symbian-freak and then to ovi store to buy the app and then to howardforums to talk about the s**t they just bought from OVI.
Every paycheck your going to be wondering “do i have enough extra to buy that ovi app i just saw on symbian-freak.?”
Everyday symbian freak is going to be talking about some apps off of ovi.
This is the first f’n phone from Nokia since they bought Symbian OS and made it free for all!
And they came “right out the gate” swinging!
This Japanese TV phone design from Nokia delivers a right hook for every left hook from the SamSung HD!
You go 8mp camera on us – we’ll go Carl Zeiss and dual LED flash on you.
You go cortex on us – we’ll go DDR Ram on you
You go bigger screen on us – we’ll go Dpad and physical keyboard on you
You go “build quality” on us – we’ll go “form factor” on you
You go Graphics processor on us- we’ll ……hmmmm talk shit about you and then record it as a wave file and FM trasmit it to your f’n Samsung HD and stick it on loop tune in to channel 97.
I sure hope they are lining up a sh**load of servers to handle all the download traffic they are gonna get on OVI store?
They are gonna see some heavy ass traffic!
A billion downloads for Apples app store?
S**t…..we’ll hit that in like 7 or 8 months and that’s 30 cents on the dollar for Nokia!
Nokias changing and becoming more services oriented and apps writer friendly to catch up with Google and Apple.
We haven’t even seen how the first Symbian foundation OS is gonna look on the N97 yet.
When that happens your gonna have a phonegasm.
There is a Symbian Foundation rep on Howardforums that wants to know what we think needs to change with Symbian OS and what we would like to see and he’s listening!
That first Symbian OS release is going to be soooooooo nice. Soooo much more better.
What phones do you think the Symbian Foundation guys are gonna mostly use to test their OS? It’s gonna be the Nokias coming out because they have hard drive space, something a programmer needs. This N97 and the next ones designed in San Diego are going to be form factor awesome.
Every Nokia phone I’ve owned has been severely underpowered. I’ve had an N95, E71, and an E90, as well as an N800 and N810. News flash, Symbian lovers: it doesn’t take a lot of processing horsepower to navigate through the various menus of the S60 interface, or to send texts or emails. Ever try playing unconverted movie files? Ever try running NES or SNES emulators? How about the web browsing? I remember taking naps in between page loads on the N800/N810 internet tablets, and the phones are even worse, compounded by the fact that every device that runs S60 seems to have a tiny, low-res QVGA screen, XM5800 aside. I currently have a Samsung Innov8 (330mhz) and can’t wait to get rid of this damn thing, and the sick thing is the Innov8 beats the pants off any Nokia N-series device currently on the market. In my experience, Nokias are overpriced, underpowered, made of cheap plastics, and just feel poorly built. They can stay over in Europe for all I care.
If Zach leaves BGR I’ll have no reason to read this site. Has this poster even used S60? The E71 is around 369Mhz and I can run 10 apps at once.
STFU ASSHOLES.. my nokia e71 is more stable than my bold. i’m pretty sure the N97 will handle whatever is thrown at it. MORE MHZ doesnt mean better phone.. can’t believe the fuckery this site is posting. fucking iphone can’t even multi task…my bold keeps restarting..its a fiend for memory. stop the hate yuh dumb muda kunts
I don’t think this is that big of a deal. Symbian is a pretty efficient OS… I think you’ll find the processor pretty solid.