Nokia N8 Review

The Nokia N8 smartphone was announced in April 2010 and was seen as an attempt by the company to regain its lead in the market sector.

The N8 features a new operating system and loads of stae of the art features, designed to tempt the most demanding of users, including a 12-megapixel camera complete with a built-in Xenon flash.

However, including the extra features has resulted in a smartphone that feels a little large in the hand. The N8 measures 113.5 mm x 58 mm and is 12.9 mm thick, which puts it in the same ballpark as the Samsung Galaxy, but much more substantial than the 9.3 mm thick iPhone 4.

So what are the positives of the Nokia N8?

Firstly, the anodised aluminium case is virtually scratch proof and stylish. The battery is not intended to be easily removed from the full metal chassis, so it is just as well that the N8 has a great battery life.

The battery can also be charged through the standard charging port in the base of the phone as well as through the USB port at the top while connected to a computer. The 12-megapixel camera is superb and is complemented by the 3.5-inch capacitative OLED screen that gives crystal clear graphics with vibrant colours. The camera also features a staggered press key on the side of the smartphone, which allows for a partial press to focus before shooting with a full press.

Audio on the N8 is good, too, although the N8 really requires you to use the Bass Booster equaliser setting to get the best from it. The built-in FM transmitter enables you to send the music to your FM radio. However, the built-in FM radio is a bit lacking.

The hardware and software performance is good, while the user interface on the N8 leaves something to be desired. The menu systems seem a little old-fashioned and at times you need to work your way through multiple menu systems to get to a simple option. Response times after pressing for a function also seems slower than on competitive smartphones.

The Nokia N8 features an HDMI connection so you can easily show off your images, videos and music on compatible televisions and projectors. Overall the N8 performs well, with good media performance and a leading edge camera.
 

Pictures taken with Nokia N8

 
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