Nokia N80 reviewed

If All About Symbian has its way, we'll soon be tossing aside our Treo 650s and PPC-6700s in favor of Nokia's upcoming Swiss Army Knife-of-a-smartphone, the N80 slider. AAS rather lovingly compares the N80 to its 2001 ancestor, the 7650, and marvels at the amount of change four years have wrought on two similar looking devices. A compact little powerhouse, the Series 60 Third Edition-powered N80 supports both quad-band GSM as well as dual-band WCDMA, 3G, EDGE, and GPRS cellular data, 802.11g WLAN, Bluetooth 2.0 (with A2DP), and infrared connectivity, meaning you can get your 'net on almost anywhere in the world. Perhaps the most exciting feature, according to AAS, is the inclusion of UPnP, which allows content to be streamed to and from the phone from any number of compatible PC and home theater devices. Nokia also manages to pack in a solid 3 megapixel camera (minus auto-focus, unfortunately), whose photos apparently look great on the oversize 352 x 418 screen, which reviewer Rafe Blandford says is the best he has ever seen on a cellphone. It seems almost an afterthought that you also get Office doc viewing, Mobile Search client (like Directory Assistant for Palm), and audio and video playback software here, although you'll need to add a miniSD card to your growing collection of flash swag if you want to take advantage of the latter two features, as the N80 only comes preloaded with 40MB of memory. Still, to sum up the in-depth review succinctly, the Nokia N80 is the best phone ever, and will remain so until the end of time.

[Brenden Delzer @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Of course, no word on when/if it comes to the states, but I might just have to eBay this one from overseas.

[Jaxim @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

How much you want to bet Cingular will disable many of the cool features of this phone when they get their hands on it: namely WIFI.

Also, in case anyone was interested, this phone has "the ability to use 3.5mm audio plug headphones via an adaptor."

[Rafe @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Well maybe not to the end of time, but you should be good until February (3GSM). There's a US version of Cingular which will just be single band 3G and is expected March 2006. Maybe I did get a bit excited about it - but it is an awseome phone :)

[Joe @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Symibian?

[Roopesh Sheth @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

How does it replace the Treo without a full keyboard?

[Frode @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

This is a gadget you can look forward to. Niice.

[xbit @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Lovely looking phone with great features.

And the best news is that a Cingular-branded version has already been spotted. There's not a single country on earth that has a wireless network where you won't be able to use this phone (including Korea and Japan).

[sh @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

When can we get one? And yeah, Roop, good question ... what's the deal re: input?? Please, please God, let Verizon get smart and make my two-year contract dreams come true ...

[BaconBandit @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

O M F G ! !

I was ALMOST about to pickup a Sharp 903SH but didn't like the fact that 2100Mhz WCDMA isn't supported in the states... But DUAL BAND!! YES YES YES!!!

This is the swiss army knife that us early adopters have been waiting for. Sign me up for two - one in black and silver.

[treo007 @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

It's hard to complain about this phone, but if only it also had:

1) Thumb Board;

2) Blackberry Connect (it might, being as where other Symbian powered Nokia devices seem to be getting it);

3) Built in GPS and navigation software;

4) HDD;

I'd never have to sit at my desktop again.

[royalh @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Yeah, right... March... the way these things usually go, I won't be seeing one from Cingular until June at the earliest.

[Kiteless @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Treo600: The phone you want would be huge, have terrable battery life, and cost a fortune!

Seriously though. I am foaming at the mouth for this phone. My 6620 is serving me well, but I want more. I winder what Cingular will keep on the phone. Will it still have Wifi for example? I predict a late Q2 release for this one.

- Kiteless (S.F. Bay Area, CA)

[Tim @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

At last a phone i can be reasonably satisfied with... my quest is over

[Big Al @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

I agree with #6. There's no way a "smart" phone without a keyboard is going to replace a Treo or other similar device. Just look at the Blackberry 7100. It sucks compared to the traditional blackberries because it just has the standard numberpad. 'Nuff said...

[David Hart @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Let's compare apples to oranges. The current Treo is the 650 which has a greatly improved battery life. The reason why previous Treos (and Pocket PC phones also) had poor battery life was they did not use NVFS memory (like almost all standard phones like Nokia) and constantly kept the memory going (improving system speed) with battery power.

Smartphones require a keyboard or thumbpad. The N80 doesn't. Also how is the sync speed with the N80 (Nokia's weak point in almost all its phones)?

>Treo600: The phone you want would be huge, have >terrable battery life, and cost a fortune! >[/quote]

[Ryan @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

i'd be all over this, had I not just signed a two year agreement with sprint and picked up a Sanyo 8300 (which I love). I can only hope Sprint picks up a cool phone for once, i'd pay full price to get this beauty.

[David Hart @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Also, the Nokia uses a mini-SD rather than SD like the Treo 650 uses. Reduces form factor size but say hello to higher prices and reduced capacity.

[Avi Greengart @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Treo007:

Like most Nokia smartphones, the N80 is designed to be a voice phone first, with tremendous power for secondary use through add-ons (either software or connected by Bluetooth).

1. Integrating a thumbboard would kill the form factor (though Nokia does have the E61 coming with many of the same connectivity options). Nokia and ThinkOutside both offer Bluetooth keyboards for the N80 if you're willing to carry around an extra gadget for when you want to write your opus.

2. The N80 *could* support BlackBerry Connect; whether it *does* probably depends more on the carrier than the device vendor. I doubt it will be offered that way, though, as most U.S. carriers (and mobile businesspeople) want to respond to email, not just read it as it comes in.

3. Nokia offers a nice little Bluetooth GPS module as another add-on; it's about the size of a tin of mints. Plus you need to buy the map app for the phone.

4. Sooner or later you'll be able to buy a 4GB miniSD card...

But, as is, the N80 is mighty impressive, and looks/functions in real life better than its specs/pictures. I think the whole uPNP story is mostly early adopter candy (i.e., sweet, but not very filling). But it connects absolutely everywhere and the screen really is that gorgeous.

-avi

[Jason @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Is Cingular going to carry this?

[Donald @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

"Is Cingular going to carry this?"

Magic 8-Ball says: Not likely.

So don't fret, wi-fanatics. You'll get the full "leet"ness of this phone when you hand over your firstborn child for this phone in March of '06.

Luckily, I'm single.

[Pro Kid @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Am I the only one wondering what that damned N-Gage is doing in the background?

[Ian @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

I believe it's not dual-band 3G, but rather there will be 2 separate versions, one for North America, and one for Europe/Asia. It was worded poorly in the press release.

I have been saving up for this phone since I first heard about it :) Just wish it had Auto-focus for the camera :(

PS: Here's a hands-on preview on Howard Forums: http://65.254.44.186/showthread.php?t=789569

W/ some sample shots from the camera.

[Dazler @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

The upcoming E series from Nokia will have full keyboards (also Symbian S60) (2 of them will have the keyboard). Blackberry connect! and huge build in memory (huge for a phone anyway :p).
Only minor point is that I believe the best camera is only 2 megapixel. (Nokia E70)

[Pervesh Mody @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

The N80 really looks good and i am waiting for it to be released in India, Mumbai. I currently own Nokia 3230 for which I am highly satisfied, but looking at the big screen for Interent with awesome features, I wish to own the beauty N80 as fast as possible. Full marks to Nokia for the best of models to come. Long live NOKIA.

[Khaytsus @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

The original article's mention of "no auto focus" is retarded. Cheap digital cameras and camera phones all use fixed-focus lenses which have a fixed focus and aperture, there is no "auto focus" because it doesnt need to. The image will be "sharp" from 68cm to infinity, there's no need to 'focus'. The macro mode basically moves the lens or the sensor slightly, bringing in the focus area closer to the sensor.

That said, the pictures will be sharp as a sack of wet mice dipped in random leftover paint. 3mp of cameraphone ugliness. Who cares. Larger pictures, but just as crappy, noisy, and horrible color as ever.

[yet another Matt @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

This came up as Coming Soon, on the carphone warehouse website in the UK.
For me if the N91 doesnt come out any sooner, ill be ditching it for the N80 and just buy a large SD card.

[shizane101 @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

I have one simple question I can't seem to find any info on. Since this doesn't have a QWERTY, how exactly do you input data to this phone? Must you toggle through the 1-9 keys to get your right letter? I don't see any kind of stylus, so I'm assuming there is no handwritting recognition, but maybe an on-screen keyboard??? Does anyone know?? I think I've finally found a suitable replacement phone (small enough form factor to be pocketable) for my Samsung I500, but I like my on screen touchscreen keyboard and hand writting recognition. I can't imagine how cumbersome it would be to enter data w/o something other than toggling between 1-9 keys to find your letter. Someone please HELP!

[obd @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

No, no other input then then the numpad, but you can connect a compatible bluetooth keyboard

[sawaaaaan @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

#23 is right. If you read the article again, a correction is posted at the bottom stating that there will two versions: one with the 1900 band for US WCDMA and one with the 2100 band for European WCDMA.

They're right about one thing though, some people will think about ditching their 650's and 6700's for the N80 (I'm one of them). Although I do like the full qwerty keyboard of the 6700 (which I'm posting from right now), I find that I don't use it that often. Most of the typing-intensive input I need to do is accomplished much more quickly by completing it on my laptop and then synching it with my phone.

I think that business users aren't going to adopt this phone since it does lack a keyboard. The N80 will appeal to younger generations because of the style, 3MP camera, and multimedia capabilities.

My dream line-up: the N80 and HTC Universal. If only Cingular would release these phones and update their network (nationwide), they'd be unstoppable.

[shizane101 @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

I don't see how any real Internet surfing can be accomplished w/o a touchscreen for links. Maybe I'm wrong though?? The only smartphone I've ever had is a Samsung I500 with a stylus and touchscreen. I would have assumed all smartphones of the future would be touchscreen. I would think it's the most efficient way to navigate. Has anyone had the experience of going from a touchscreen smartphone to a non touchscreen? What's your opinion?

[John Stracke @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Why would Cingular turn off the Wi-Fi? Granted, it's a feature that, in theory, could let people evade Cingular's metered network—but the flip side is that it gets people hooked on getting online with their phone, which is good news for Cingular when they can't find a hot spot. (I speak from experience: I have a Zaurus with WiFi, and getting hooked like this is the main reason I sometimes use my Cingular phone to get the Zaurus online.)

And turning off the WiFi wouldn't reduce the price Cingular would pay for the phone (the chips are still in there), but it would make it less attractive to customers, so it'd reduce the price they could charge for it.

[LosBurritos @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

To #22. ProKid, SHUT THE F UP! This topic is about the N80 and not your hating idealogies.

On a different note, I really like the N80. Smooth non-pretentious lines. I might be getting it once I retire my QD (in 6-10 months). Any word on if Tmobile will be supporting this fone?

[den @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

this is my favorite phone for the next months, but this one
http://design.startsomethingpc.com/ViewEntry.aspx?EntryID=41&EntrantID=284
is best for the years ;-)

[Carlos @ Dec 24th 2005 12:22PM]

Does this phone have speakerphone?? It did not appear so according to the Nokia website. That would be a huge deal breaker for me.. hmm all the other N-series seem to have it.. Other than that I would be all over this phone.