Hands-on with the Nokia N95 8GB for North America!
by Chris Ziegler, posted Jan 7th 2008 at 3:20AM
All signs
pointed to this sucker
existing, and sure enough, here it is. The N95 8GB for North America is pretty much exactly what you'd expect it to be -- an exact replica of the European version with the 2100MHz WCDMA radio surgically removed and replaced with an 850 / 1900MHz counterpart for speedy data in these lands. The screen is up to 2.8 inches versus the original N95's 2.6, but the 8GB of internal storage comes at the cost of the microSD slot, so don't get all cocky on us about rocking 16GB of storage in your pocket, alright? Check it in stores this quarter for $749.
Filed under: Handsets, Features, Nokia, Symbian, GSM, EDGE, HSDPA, UMTS
Tags: breaking news, BreakingNews, ces, ces 2008, Ces2008, features, hands on, hands-on, HandsOn, n95, n95 8gb, N958gb, nokia
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
MA @ Jan 7th 2008 5:09AM
I'm from Pakistan, a country about to self-implode - and my dad still got his Nokia N95 8GB a couple of weeks ago (legally)at under $700.
Something about the US cell phone market just doesn't make sense.
Cory @ Jan 7th 2008 6:16AM
The 8Gb has been available here basically since it was released, but its 3G data only worked on European frequecies. This is the American frequency version.
carlo2 @ Jan 7th 2008 9:06AM
No, MA is referring to the Euro version, and I've seen them (Euro 8gig n95) here in the U.S. for $689 on the Dell website. I don't know why they're selling them for so cheap but they definitely are and they are pretty clear about them being the European version.
The U.S. version, n95-3 is on Dell's site for $649 or so and they are pushing them pretty hard.
Al @ Jan 7th 2008 1:14PM
Well, the N95 8GB has been on the market for a couple of months now. The price has dropped a little bit. It started out around $800.
dextius @ Jan 7th 2008 10:07AM
Any word on when this might be available from Nokia? (Mobilecity has the 15th of Feb listed). I'd LOVE to buy this, but I'm scared, as I've heard that CES isn't the cell phone tech fair, and something called CTIA is, and happens a few months from now. Anyway, it's this or a treo 755P (or a 3g iphone, if it happens). thanks!
Sam Winter @ Jan 8th 2008 1:11AM
Are you crazy? a Treo 755P, Nokia N95-8GB, or 3G iphone? Your post is kind of like those quiz questions where you pick the item that doesn't belong in the set.
The Treo doesn't come CLOSE to the other two, and it's still pretty expensive. Going by your post, you claim to not want an Edge/2.5G iPhone, but would get a Treo 755P. That makes absolutely no sense because the Treo's hardware/software is so old that browsing/page loading is actually "perceptively" faster on the 2G iPhone (not to mention SO MUCH BETTER). I know this cause I have had a Treo 750 and an Iphone. Just no comparison....
dextius @ Jan 8th 2008 8:22AM
Wow, my first post on engadget, and I'm greeted with quite possibly the most hostile reply I've ever seen. You sir, need to be more polite.
I like the iphone, but I felt the browser made up for the lack of a real keyboard, and the lack of an ssh client detracts quite a bit (but it felt really slow, even compared to the treo). PDANet is a huge boon for Treo people (owned a 600/650), and I really miss having the ability to get online wherever with decent speed. Browsing with the treo does suck for the most part, but it's serviceable, and it's a solid phone. I'm not going to spend the rest of this post defending the treo, so I'll move on.
The Nokia is new waters for me, never owned one. The fans of Nokia are... Hrm, hardcore? Yeah, these people scare me. The number of applications / games / multimedia options PLUS a GPS is a huge plus for me. And they have an ssh client. My area is getting 3G this quarter, so the N95 8GB NAM makes sense, but if Apple busts out a new iphone with 3g, an SDK, it would make the Nokia look a little less worth the 800$ I'd be paying for it..
So, to sum up... I can spend 200$ and get something that works, does almost everything I want, and has a full keyboard (treo), I can spend 800$ to get the omfgwtfbbq machine that does everything (nokia n95 nam), or I can spend 400+ and get the locked in phone that does a few things well, but doesn't do everything I need it to.
Is that a better explanation?
Constable Odo @ Jan 9th 2008 10:46PM
Politeness is not a major strongpoint of some of these members. Say something that they disagree with and you might as well have abused their mothers. Some of these people need to take chill pills. Their rebuttals can be fairly obscene or as you say, downright hostile. Why? It's just a device. How could they be so offended by someone's personal opinion about a device?
rav97 @ Jan 7th 2008 11:40AM
What are the advantages of this respect to a N95-3 with a 8GB microsdhc card, besides 0.2in more of screen estate?
Am I the only one thinking that Nokia's resources would have been better put to use on making a North-American version of the N82 instead?
TN9Design @ Jan 7th 2008 11:53AM
8gb model also has upgraded RAM, OS, and Battery life compared to its younger brother with MicroSD capabilities.
rav97 @ Jan 7th 2008 2:12PM
TN9Design, you're confusing the N95-3 with the N95-1. The N95-3 has the same battery capacity (1200mAh), the same RAM (128MB), and the same OS release as the 8GB N95. It's the N95-1 that has less battery capacity (950mAh), less RAM (64MB), and an older OS release.
Tor Slettnes @ Jan 7th 2008 3:34PM
The color. The style. The chick appeal.
Ok, strike one of those. That was an iPhone thing...
Truth to be told, it is easier to shop for parts (e.g. device holders, replacement front/back plates, etc) for the N95-2 (and presumably now the N95-4?) than for the N95-3, as the former form factor is more common worldwide. Also, it seems that firmware upgrades are probably going to be a bit more timely with this new phone, since it should more directly be able to use the "N95 8GB" firmware images (unlike the N95-3, which has a quite different specification set from the N95-1).
As far as "competing" with a (forthcoming?) US version of the N82 for release, I don't think that's the case. This new N95 8GB NAM phone should be a simple surgical replacement of a hardware component (namely, the W-CDMA modem). So, too, should a "N82 NAM" or somesuch. If they wanted to, they could probably release either one in a matter of days/weeks. The reason they don't is probably misguided marketing ("let's see if we can have some suckers buy the same phone twice - once without U.S. 3G, once with..").
DanaH @ Jan 8th 2008 9:43AM
I just bought a N95-3 before Christmas at TigerDirect for $559, brand new, in English, factory fresh. I like it but have a few gripes. One, the 5MP camera is great on close-ups but will not focus for distance shots. And really sloooowww to focus, shoot and store the image. Also, the GPS takes forever to sync up with the satellites. It seems to find them quickly enough if you are outside but I usually get half way to my destination before it syncs up. And even with the larger capacity battery, battery life is disappointing, maybe a day if you use camera, video or GPS much.
The good stuff: I can make Skype or SIP calls for cheap or free when I'm near a wifi hotspot. It works great in the US or Spain where I live - just swap the SIM (ATT[Cingular] in US - Orange in Spain). All the software for the N95-1 works (of course). Syncs up with my Outlook addresses and calendar effortlessly. And, you can download maps for the GPS so you don't spend a fortune in connect time updating maps on the fly.
On the balance, I'm pleased with it and plan to have a lot of fun with it. I hope a later firmware update will improve the GPS responsiveness.
And Sam, ease up on the coffee.
hhyder @ Jan 8th 2008 11:35AM
i just ordered a n95-2 north america edition from ebay, here is the listing:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190187454518&ssPageName=ADME:X:AAQ:US:1123
can somone please help and tell me if this is the same one i'm buying as the phone mentioned above? will it support 3G when tmobile comes out with it? thanks!
carlo2 @ Jan 9th 2008 9:27AM
BE CAREFUL! There is no N95-"2" and a lot of N95 clones are being sold. I'd go will TigerDirect or Dell, CANCEL THE SALE!!
hhyder @ Jan 9th 2008 9:46AM
Yea I cancelled it... the buyer was nice and refunded the full amount back to my paypal account without charging me any restocking fee.
I'm going to wait until feb-mar and see if this N95 NAM comes out...
Nick @ Jan 9th 2008 11:50PM
YES YES!!! YES!!
daniel Gilbert @ Jan 10th 2008 4:18PM
any chance this thing will work with sprint. i really like the translation feature.
elgee02 @ Jan 9th 2008 7:09PM
Nope. This is a GSM phone, Sprint is not a GSM network. If you want this phone you're stuck with AT&T or T-Mobile
alphaod @ Jan 12th 2008 6:01PM
Please note:
N95-1:
Original model, EMEA/APAC 3G, camera cover, etc. MSRP: $700, deals at $550. (They are phasing this one out of the US for obvious reasons).
N95-2:
Updated model, EMEA/APAC 3G, 8GB RAM (It still shows up as expansion), removed microSD slot and camera cover. MSRP: $760, deals at $660.
N95-3:
US model, US 3G, else the same as original model (N95-1). MSRP: $700, deals $560
So presumably is this is a US 8GB model it will be the N95-4.
Since they have 8GB cards now and in a few months Toshiba is pushing out 16GB and 32GB variations, for $350 and $700 respectively. Mmmm. 32GB in my pocket =)
And why must all phone comparisons go down to [Insert phone here] vs. iPhone?
I've owned the iPhone and I find it lacking. Precisely why it's in my drawer now. I'm a power user and I need third party apps that doesn't void my warranty. The N95 delivered nicely for me too, but now I'm into texting and everything, so I'm phasing that one out too.
The N95 is a great device. This update is good for the consumers.
Brian Prows @ Jan 13th 2008 11:59AM
I've read all the replies to Engaget's short, incomplete review--almost intended to set up a cat fight among users. Mobile device users, especially found on Engaget, are quite adamant about favorite manufacturers, carriers, form factors, features and performance. But Dextius should'nt get rammed for liking a Palm Treo, a solid device that isn't in the same league as an expensive Nokia but meets his requirements.
In one of my eBay guides, I mention that only 30% of a mobile device's features are ever used and buyers should choose a device based on needs:
http://reviews.ebay.com/Choosing-a-Smartphone-Sony-Ericsson-p990i-Example_W0QQugidZ10000000001923787
So that readers have the specs on the N95, Treo 750, iPhone and HTC Touch (not mentioned here), I set up a comparison chart on Phonescoop:
http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/compare.php?id%5B%5D=1325&id%5B%5D=1294&id%5B%5D=1110&id%5B%5D=1054&id%5B%5D=
In 2008, due to Google, the Open Handset Alliance and other third-party developers, we're going to see a lot of Android-based mobile devices hit the market. For my vision of the ultimate mobile device, see my posts on MarketingBeyond or Mobile Telephony Innovations:
http://innovativemobile.blogspot.com/2007/12/talk-to-your-telephone-sprints-touch.html
Shadow @ Jan 30th 2008 1:25PM
Im not one to obsess over a smart phone, but at taht price point, why wouldnt u jus get an iphone? for 400$ u get a fairly competitive product... Does this thing seriously have features the iphone doesnt?
elio1999 @ Jan 30th 2008 8:23PM
when will be the day in the U.S that you can walk into a store ,buy any phone YOU want and after you get the the phone YOU like,decite which carrier you want.
that's how it is in Europe,you buy the phone YOU like not what verizon,At&t,sprint,....has.
elle @ Jan 30th 2008 10:28PM
i have 1.
works like a charm, really, frees me from my uzi case full of computer. except:
1. wlan protocol only supports wep passwords.
2. comparing connectivity to my macbook pro, connectivity to pc's not so hot, app package has many touchup and organization tools and add ons that most computers i've used already have apps for. unnecessary i think, (but i'm an art design professional so i am biased here.)
i complain because the apps are so clunky, they crash and need to be updated a whole lot.
3. os on the phone itself crashes a lot.
i've had the phone for just about month and have needed to reinstall the os a couple of times already, which leads to point (4).
4. data corruption/ data loss: music player lists/ anything that gets updated on a regular basis tend to get corrupted fairly quickly.
i've had mp3s become unplayable inside the phone for less than 2 weeks.
5. can't use gmail smtp apparently. maybe i'm just slow.
otherwise, the best thing in the world.
1. bt
2. e-mail on the go.
3. blazing wlan connectivity
4. best camera on a phone ever
5. near dvd qual vids
6. easy to write apps for (python)
i got this phone with the full intention to use it as a tool to produce material professionally.
my first s60 device.
rissers @ Feb 11th 2008 7:11AM
elle, how long have you had your phone?
Teambaylagoon @ Mar 7th 2008 8:57AM
So this will have 3g in the US with AT&T ? Im sold!
elle @ Mar 15th 2008 1:10AM
i've had the phone since christmas eve.
just starting to look around the dev community.
on the data corruption bit: large amounts of data comes in and out of the phone regularly.
i found that if use "data transfer" (using the phone as mass storage,) on an old box running win2k, the data is more likely to be unusable on the phone itself. (they were mp3s.) it's fine, since i'm only transferring the data out of the box to the mac.
everything works quite well with the macbook pro (running tiger.)
i've downloaded and used "nokmote." it's quite exciting. a major reason i got this phone instead of hte iphone is because of the old school dev community vibe.
a "niime" port to osx (or at least linux) would be wonderful.
very exciting stuff.