It's a great phone but then we say that of all phones we have (Nokia N95 8 GB)

Member Name: bobsta

Product:	Nokia N95 8 GB
Date:	23/11/08 (26 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Excellent camera and music player, lots of options to install different applications, Wi-Fi

Disadvantages: Battery life takes a toll, portability of the handset

The N95 8GB is perceived as a 'has been' thanks in part to the release of the N96. Technology moves on so quickly these days that the phone you buy today will be superseded by something newer (not necessarily better) tomorrow.

I've lived with the N85 8GB for almost 2 months now. There are pluses as well as negatives about the handset which I hope to illustrate here.

Firstly, the screen is magnificent. It is big and bright although it is small compared to the iPhone. I've had no trouble discerning what is shown on the display. Images and videos are very clear (depending on the source). However, this screen would be expensive to repair and it drains power from the battery at an alarming rate if set to full brightness. Whilst I'm on about the battery, I find it annoying that the battery level indicator isn't shown as a percentage.

The size and weight of the phone is pretty good. Now, it isn't featherlight - you'll know the phone is with you.

Navigation is a bit hit and miss. I was aware of this whilst doing my research and didn't realise that some of the most basic options such as personalisation of the phone are buried within the numerous layers of the phone. You can move applications and functions that are used frequently to the shortcuts portion of the main menu screen but it took me days to find out!

Wi-fi is a superb addition to any phone allowing you to access the internet. However, you need to be within range of a Wi-Fi hotspot. The signal strength of the built-in receiver is very good and works with the weakest signals. The built-in browser is pretty good but I'd be inclined to download Firefox or Opera. This neatly brings me to the next point - applications. There are so many applications and themes available for this phone that you could potentially use up the phone's entire memory. But Wi-Fi drains the battery. To ensure the battery isn't drained of power all the time, it is a good idea to switch off the automatic WLAN scan function. Additionally, switch off GSM and stick to dual mode if possible - this further extends battery life.

Media functionality is on part very good. The sound quality that comes out of the headphones is very good although the supplied headphones aren't the best. I don't like the video player much - I've tried uploading numerous mp4 files and the player is very fussy about what it plays despite using the proper encoders.

PC connectivity - the PC Nokia Suite that helps synch your PC/laptop with your phone is both a joy and pain to use. If there are any updates to the suite, the updater insists on downloading them. You go through the laborious process of installing and rebooting. However, once the suite is up and running, some of the suite's functionality is excellent such as the messaging tool.

The camera is on the whole excellent. It doesn't match the quality of a dedicated camera but pictures taken in good lit surroundings or daylight are excellent. I don't like the night shots with the flash as it isn't a xenon type flash. It's an LED flash - surely Nokia could have stuck on the xenon type?! Video recording and playback quality is superb but you can't change the format. It is saved in mp4 format so if you need to convert it, you'll need to find or purchase extra software for it.

On reflection, I don't regret getting the phone despite its shortcomings. I think it's a case of Nokia can do better next time and it would have a terrific phone on its hands.

Summary: Superb phone hindered by some minor issues

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