Nokia N97 Hands On
Nokia is a in a really weird place right now. They’re the #1 handset manufacturer in the world, yet we’d all be lying if we said they didn’t have to work to stay there. RIM and Apple are the new wonder boys and they are steadily stealing market share away from Nokia. Heck, even Windows Mobile is a real contender nowadays. Enter Nokia and their flagship device for 2009, the Nokia N97. Can it compete? Is this phone going to be the phone to finally bring that extra dash of Tabasco sauce back to Finland’s finest?
Well, you’ll have to wait for our compete review to find out! We will, however, give you a couple quick impressions… First off, the screen while large and in charge really is a tad bit disappointing. The actual screen itself seems to have a really weird “texture” to it and appears to be the digitizer behind the screen. Picture a piece of cotton over the screen and drop the opacity of it to around 3% and you’d get the idea (if you even get what we just said). The keyboard and directional pad are pretty bare with practically no feedback and the hinge mechanism is either genius or the stupidest thing we’ve ever seen cross the factory assembly belt. Happy moments? The camera is wonderful as expected, the build quality on the unit seems top notch, video playback is nothing short of awesome, and hey, it actually works as a phone.
That’s all we’re going to give up for now, but in the meantime, check out our photo shots!
Click on over to our Nokia N97 Hands On gallery!
Cool, can’t wait. Guys throw in some more comparison shots though! That TP2, N97 shot is just begging for an iPhone so that all three triplets can be together. I also would really like to see a Bold, Pre, and an X1(so I can compare it to something I actually have) in there.
2nd
I can’t wait for the review because that will help me decide between the N97 and the Touch Pro.
This looks nice, but not $700 nice. I would rather buy the new iPhone 3GS or a Blackberry Bold or the new Blackberries coming out.
Go Nokia!
In your review, pse compare total cost for consumer, i.e., the phone plus minimum contract, for N97 phone plus cheapest prepaid SIM vs iPhone 3GS plus 2y carrier contract plus iTunes vs Blackberry plus carrier plus cheapest mail-service contract.
what a classy phone
Nokia is finally offsetting the Z key like standard qwerty! Bravo!
That phone looks nice!
Yawn
I’LL SHOW YOU MAGIC. TADDAAAA !
Tuh Tuh Tuh Tour?! <3 Grrr
Nokia better hit a homerun with this phone. If this thing flops, its all over!
nokia sent you 3? @jeeverz thanks. i like the taddaaaa 2
I wouldn’t say if this flops it’s over for nokia, the xpress music is doing pretty well, and the e71 did/does quite well (to their surprise perhaps).
What nokia needs is a branded handset, one that generates hype like the itoy or the pre. Perhaps they can partner with verizon or tmobile, advertise the crap out of it and then release it. 99% of north american’s will never hear or this phone.
I guess the hard part is getting american carriers to not cripple it.
man, do yourself a favor, do not get the touch pro
its the poorest excuse for a phone ever, youl spend hours installing roms and fixes to things.
why?
because it just sucks so much at first
and after all that?
it just sucks a little less.
i had that thing for 3 months (since its been gone) i never have thought about it even once,
Each will require $30 data plan with N97 you could get $15mo AT&TMediaNet which is same thing
That is $360 saving over 24 mo.
Iphone 3gs 32GB = $299 + $720 data = $1019
N97 = $699 + 360 data = $1059
My plan get IPhone 3gs 32GB for $299 sell it on eBay for $600 +
Get N97 for $399
http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/04/30/nokias-n97-has-a-seriously-wimpy-processor/
I have no idea what you said about the screen lol but how about the size? Does it feel good in the hand or is it just too big? And do the keys just totally suck or is there any getting used to it? Ive canceled my pre-order twice for this bad boy and Im starting to think it was a good idea.
Check out the phones show 82 if you want a real review
Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone).
Their stat bashing is kinda pointless considering those phones aren’t running the same OS’s by a longshot…
Im a Nokia fan and i smell a fail with this one.
Slow processor, lack luster screen, old OS, poor kboard…. I guess thats why theres a slew of devices being hurriedly brought to market later this summer, including the N900.
Im gonna wait for that snapdragon, maemo totting N900. Looks like a winner.
hopefully it’ll be better than the palm pre review…
This phone rocks!!!
great, another snoozer from finland. replace os with android, repeat.
This review better come faster than usual. I know battery and stuf takes time but just update it. Thats where you guys are lacking
Nokia is starting to fall behind.This is not a great phone for the price!!!