Nokia N96 and N78: Hands-on with Nokia's new Ns
Instead of the highly anticipated iPhone-a-like that we truly believed Nokia would unleash at the Mobile World Congress, the Finnish giant unveiled the N96 and N78. But all is not lost, because these handsets are much more than mere upgrades.
The Nokia N96 is a step up from the Nokia N95 8GB and offers some truly mouth-watering features. There's 16GB of on-board memory and the option to expand via a microSDHC slot, which puts the new iPhone to shame.
Picking it up we immediately took to the large colour screen, which pushes all of your digital content right in your face and almost takes up the entire front of the N96. Everything feels well laid out and its keys are relatively easy to press.
Unlike the N95, there's a 3.5mm jack on the top of the phone instead of the side, which is much more practical and means it's less likely to get in the way when you put it in your pocket.
All the connectivity options that you got on the Nokia N95 are also available on the N96, including GPS, HSDPA (3.5G) and Wi-Fi.
One of our favourite features, and probably the N96's most modest one, is the kick stand on the back of the handset that allows you to rest your phone upright on a table -- useful if you're trying to watch a full-length film and don't fancy holding it for an hour.
We're huge fans of the N95 8GB, and this is definitely a cool bit of kit -- but we can't help feeling a little underwhelmed that there isn't more on offer. Call us greedy but we expected something a touch more exciting from the Finns.
Click through for more pictures of the N96 and our first impressions of the Nokia N78. -Andrew Lim
Update: a Nokia N78 hands-on video is now on the site
Further update: Read our full Nokia N78 review.
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AnonymousThu 14 February, 2008 1:41pm
Yes that is true but we don't have DVB-H running in the UK at the moment, so it's not a feature we can use unfortunately.
Andrew Lim
kd123456Sun 17 February, 2008 3:33pm
how thin is this mobile? is it smaller than the n95????????
infogary3Sun 17 February, 2008 3:57pm
can nokia produce a set which can watch firm
AnonymousSun 17 February, 2008 6:23pm
Hurrah for the N96. It's a got a bucketload of little goodies that weren't mentioned here, such as automatic detection screen rotation (just like the iPhone has perfected), the touch sensitive iPod-esque navigation wheel, a "hold" switch to quickly and securely activate keypad lock, multimedia keys that actually change depending how the screen is orientated (they light down and change to two gaming keys when the phone is "upside down") and a massive amount of RAM. Not a huge upgrade over the N95, but still a welcome one!
Not to mention that awesome design.
AnonymousWed 20 February, 2008 3:34pm
i like nokia n95 more than nokia n96. nokia n78 is beutifull i like it. i have nokia n73 but i want nokia n78
AnonymousFri 22 February, 2008 2:27pm
Obviously nokia is the best mobile phone in the market for like 6yrs, it has the most highest megapixel,clarity,wifi and all, the CONS is that nokia phones are thick/bulky and drains battery too quickly, the specs says it hold 220mins of talk time,but actually its only 60mins or less then ur phone is dead.1 of the reason nokia cannot penetrate usa market is because its expensive,&people like thin phones "like samsungs,mtorzr,sony"
Believe me,i tried many phones,but i like nokia the best, i have continue buying their phones BECAUSE its much more advance than any other phones and i use its phones FEATURES often like WIFI,CAMERA,VIDEO,INTERNET,BLUETOOTH MODEM(which if u have unlimited data plan, u can use ur mobile phones internet on ur laptop) u save money than having verizon's $50 mobile broadband card....hehehheeheh
AnonymousTue 29 April, 2008 10:36pm
voce e lindo
AnonymousFri 27 June, 2008 8:09pm
The N96 is a little short on new features over the N95 8GB. Its like the new version of a popular car, the shape changes a bit, things get moved around, better but not radical. Nokia seems to be missing a trick. Both the N95 and the N96 have an accelerometer, much un-utilised. With proper bundled software this could be used to offer much of the functinality of a touch screen, not a bad idea with the iPhone as competion. RotateMe is the app that comes to mind but it wont work because its unsigned. Given the life of this technology before the next generation comes along, its high time the accelerometer in these phones got utilised. I hope battery life was high in their thinking with this new model as well.
AnonymousWed 2 July, 2008 5:22pm
I thought that Americans like "BIG".... Well Americans had always had troubles to accept
foreign stuff while Europeans are more open to, ex. American stuff..
The Nokia N96 is the nicest, best phone to date.. Period. I´ve had Motorolas, Sony Ericcsons etc..and I´ve had problems with the batterys in those as well..And I must add that I was really dissapionted in the iPhone. It´s just a trend, trust me. Trends comes and goes. Nokia is a lifestyle..therse a Nokia for everyone, black, white, muslims, christians...Nokia really Connects People.. Nokia stays. Thanks to the finns for making the best phone on Tellus.. I have a Nokia N95 8G and when the N95 hits the shop I´m first in line..
So dear Americans, when will you learn to apreciate things when you see it..therse more than america, and americans. We like you and and apreciate youre stuff so why cant you do the same...??
Well Nokia Rules anyway
AnonymousWed 17 September, 2008 3:52am
cheer cheer
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AnonymousThu 14 February, 2008 10:35am
As a Finn I feel obliged to point out that N96 has DVB-H so you can watch mobile TV with it. So it does offer more than a memory update.