I have to admit that I’m excited at the launch of the N97 today. I’ve always been a Nokia fan, and the N97 is a beaut of a phone. From a hardware perspective, it even puts this mornings iPhone 3G S release in second place. But its $700 price tag is looking incredibly steep when compared to the new $99 price for the iPhone 3G.
What has it got?
It runs on the popular and stable Symbian S60 OS, and comes with widgets incorporated on the home screen (“glanceable” is the keyword there). For even more widgets, and other content, it’s the first device with the Ovi Store to come embedded on it. It’s got a full QWERTY keyboard on the 3.5-inch HD touch screen.
Packed with 32GB of memory gigabytes, it’s as big as the new iPhone – but it comes with a microSD card slot for up to 16GB extra. The 5MP camera is one of the best camera phones now available, continuing Nokias partnership with Carl Zeiss Optics. And, of course, it has the now obligatory full HTML browser.
From the release:
“We have seen the anticipation and excitement for the Nokia N97 build around the globe and across the United States since we announced it in December,” says Alessandro Lamanna, Vice President, Sales, Retail, Nokia. “As the evolution of the mobile device continues, consumers are clamouring for a device that allows interactivity on another level. The Nokia N97 and its feature set – including its widgetized home screen – provide consumers with the mobile solution they’ve been looking for.”
What we think?
I’m not denying that it’s a fantastic piece of kit. It really is a great device. But the iPhone 3G is still a wonderful device (not much worse than the iPhone 3G S, really, which should tell you something) and at a saving of 600 dollars, I think I’d go Apple if I were buying a new handset.
“…at a saving of 600 dollars, I think I’d go Apple if I were buying a new handset.”
Ýou do realize that the price of the iPhone and high end Nokia phone (like N97) is approximately the same? The difference is that with the iPhone the real price of the phone is included in your monthly plan, whereas with unlocked phone you’re paying upfront.
yes. we do realise that!