Nokia recently revealed the 5800 Tube and we all thought thats the best Nokia could manage against the iPhone! But Nokia took the tech world by surprise when they announced the N97 touchscreen recently. This comes even before 5800 is fully rolled out. N97 design is inspired by the communicator series and the Sony Ericsson Xperia (No we are not saying its copied!).
Instead of a compass box design that we are used to see, this times its a slide up like the TYTN II; with a touch screen on the top. So is the N97 the real iPhone Killer?
In my opinion, Not really (only)!
The charm of the iPhone still is the touch gestures and the whole premium feeling it holds. Wherin Nokia is always meant for the masses (not implying that its not good). And thats what Nokia has done again with the N97. It counters a big list of devices like the Xperia X1, G1 – Android, Blackberry Storm, Samsung Omnia, Windows Mobiles and YES the iPhone 3G aswell.
Though we don’t really know yet how well 5800 did against the iPhone, but its cheap price tag will make it a hit. However the N97 is business class; it competes with the titans. Lets take a quick look at the N97 features (vs the iPhone):
Nokia N97 leads the race with amazing features. A 5MP camera vs the iPhones 2MP; A physical keyboard, 32GB internal memory with additional MicroSDHC option vs the iPhones 16GB max; N97 also dual LED flash, Video recording (16:9 ratio), SMS forwarding, option to Copy / Paste text, replaceable batteries and more.
Having used the Nokia N97 keyboard, I need to say this that – NOKIA has SCREWED up big time. Firstly the keyboard layout is not consistent with its previous E90 and 9000 series communicators, its highly frustrating using the keyboard – and getting used to the same would be a real pain. Add to that the small size of the Qwerty, the space could have been used much better. Though I am not a big fan of onscreen keyboards, but Nokia needed to do better here to beat the iPhone onscreen qwerty.
The Nokia N97 browser supports Flash and video but we are sure the Safari will still provide a better internet experience. Its not just the features that makes a mobile, its more than that. And Apple seems to have got it right. The biggest advantage that Apple has is probably the Mac OS on the iPhone. Its super smooth, fast and user friendly. The touch operation on the iPhone are unmatched; though some touch gestures and accelerometer is also adopted by Nokia. For some reason no matter what Nokia and WM do the touch features on the iPhone remains iconic.
Another mass feature that Nokia fans would love over the iPhone is handwriting recognition. Nokia has included this feature in all its touchscreens. With a ready base of users ready to upgrade from N96, N95 and E90 – the N97 banks heavily on Nokia fans. It beats the iPhone in some common things like deletion of songs from mobile, bluetooth file transfer, memory card addon etc. This would please most of the Nokia audience, who are yet to taste the iPhone’s sweetness.
N97 won’t be a cheap touchscreen like the 5800, it is expected to cost approx US$ 700 (Rs 38000 in India according to us). Also I am sure Apple would have announced atleast something new for the iPhone, by the time we see N97 in the markets.
Update: Here is iPhone 3G S versus the Nokia N97
iPhone / iPod touch downloads
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iPhone is crazy, its popular, status symbol and our favourite. With over 10000 apps and add to that Cydia … Apple iPhone leads the way. And by the time we see N97 – iPhone 32 gig with a better camera would be announced
(Lets hope)
quote: The Nokia N97 browser supports Flash and video but we are sure the Safari will still provide a better internet experience.
so what your saying is you havent actually tested it but you “think” the Iphone is better.
and 10,000 apps is nothing, there are over 100,000 for the S60 platform yet you dont compare them.
yes apple has an amazing touch screen interface but lets face it, if you actually compare them its poor in most other areas.
Hi Tom
Yes Symbian has a lot of apps, but whats lacking is a universal channel like AppStore to buy them. Apple makes things so accessible that it looks great!
N97 is yet to release, and Nokia is not know for the best web browsing experience. The only touch handset to look most promising in that dept is the new PALM PRE. Check it out…
N97 as a all round package beats the iPhone! YES, but… Both have a different target market IMO
So what you’re saying is that the only reason the iPhone wins is because it has:
-A Worse Camera
-Less Memory
-A Browser that can’t access Flash or Video
-No Copy/Paste
-Has “Iconic Touch”
-Has a “Premium Feeling”
Spoken like a true Apple Fanboy.
Its just a comparison, we never said iPhone wins. But if you compare N97’s touch interface with iPhone you will see why iPhone offers better usability.
Wrt features without a doubt N97 is better.
Only thing that made the iPhone a succes was the iPod phenomenon. Yeah the touch is good, but it is not enough to make the iPhone hold on to the popularity bestowed on it. Nokia has had a limited “app store” in form of its Download! application for years. Nokia is expected to start its own app store soon.
With due respect, I think the author was a fanboy who made the N97 look like a toy in front of the iPhone.
Guess I have to wait till I get hands-on with the N97 —
Just a fact for our readers, My primary phone is still a E61i for the physical QWERTY. And the other one I carry is the iPhone …
how much will the n97 cost in uk whn it comes out. also how much will de iphone 3g 32gb cost whn it comes out in the uk
The N97 will come out in June in the UK, though I have heard April time.
Expect it to be free on Orange, O2 etc with 18 month £35 contract.
My guess would be to buy of the online Orange store. They usually give you a special online deal where you get web browsing free, unlimited texts for about £30ish.
To Ankur:
Yeah the Iphones apps store ease of use has been a key to its success. However now that Nokia has (finally) decided to do similar with ovi, it will more than likely dwarf the iphone apps store in a year or so.
Apple has sold about 15 million iphones to date. Nokia sells 60 million smartphones per year, and 300 million ‘dumb’ phones a year.
most of which will all be capable of connecting to ovi apps store.
supply and demand should see a LOT of developers publishing on OVI since it will reach such a large userbase, which of course = more sales and more revenue for the software developers.
You are right Luke…
Atlast Nokia has done something exciting
The point is that Apple took the first mover advantage and others are following. its about innovating …!!
ps: I am a Nokia Eseries user
Cheers
I bought a 3G and looking forward to a software to crack it as I bought it from Us and I am residing in Malaysia
I dont care what you all say the iphone looks the best feels the best in my hand and everyone always looks and wishes they had one when I take it out and play with it, I had a n95 it was crap and I sold it to buy my iphone and by the way bill gates has prostate cancer and will not live 1 year
please keep in mind that your price comparison of the N97 to the iPhone is an unlocked device vs. locked device. apples to apples, pun intended
, they are comparable in price.
I used to heavily debate against all by the Apple Corp and I’ve stood by the PC, non-ipod MP3 players, and sim-card cell phones since the beginning of the internet.
The Apple negatives:
1. Apple products to me were more expensive than they were worth.
2. Keeps their components and software limited/closed-source.
3. Marketing strategies turn off a lot of people by the third-rate tactics.
But after testing several Apple products over the years, I realize that the iphone puts so much effort into the details it is almost worth it. The OS interfaces are also just beautiful and most of their products are put together very nicely, like a perfect work of art. The possibilites are endless. Sort of. They just have to learn to trust people with their products and let us do what we want to it (i.e. fix #2).
As with the N97, its got Apple beat on pure muscle (specs, price, market base, versatility, smart-phone functionality). Sadly, sometimes Symbian OS leaves something to be desired (like stability). Unlike Apple, attention to detail isn’t Nokia’s strong point. Just sales.
So thats my humble opinion. Either company could later come up with “ultimate” smartphone in the future, depending who’s flaw is fixed first. My guess (and hope) is Apple. But for now, it looks like Nokia N97 still wins.
honestly i dont know which one is the better
so i need guidance advise cause i want to buy one of them so plz honest advise and what about e71x ?
what is this? a website full of apple fanboys?
n97 beats iPhone any day
no flash? a measly 3mp camera?bad resolution?is that why iPhone is better?
or is it because you like waiting to know which letter had come in that stupid onscreen keyboard?
hay Jone buy the n97..drop the iPhone and its glass screen breaks…..