Nokia N86 Review - Multimedia, Camera and Connectivity

The N86 comes bundled with a video player which supports the following formats: WMV, RV, MP4 and 3GP. It may not be the largest file support we've seen, but it should suit most users needs. You can view videos in the portrait and landscape modes and also in full screen. The video playback quality is pretty nice, while the N86 can be used as a portable video device thanks to the excellent AMOLED display. You can also try using Core Player for better format support and more playback options. It also has a built in FM Radio with RDS to automatically display station information using your devices data connection. While the devices included FM transmitter allows you to transmit your own tracks over a small range. The FM transmitter is perfect for playing your devices songs over your car radio or a home theater system which is definitely an added bonus, for example iPhone users need to use a separate adapter or Bluetooth over A2DP to accomplish a similar goal.

The Nokia N86 also comes equipped with a 8.1 MP camera which has a maximum image capture resolution of 3264 x 2448 pixels. It also has autofocus and a Dual LED flash. The wide 28 mm Carl Zeiss lens also gives you a nice and wide viewing angle through the viewfinder. While the device also has a variable aperture which gives you much better picture quality. The image quality is very good with excellent contrast and very accurate color reproduction with no overtones or undertones. It is comparable to the Samsung INNOV8's excellent camera which is saying a lot considering how well that device has been received. The camera interface is also the same as in the N85. This smartphone also offers a host of advanced customization options including white balance, sharpness, contrast, ISO sensitivity etc. While the camera also supports Geotagging. Finally it also has video recording in the VGA resolution at 30 FPS. The video quality is also nice for such a small handheld, however it's not going to replace your camcorder by any means.

The Nokia N86 offers a lot of connectivity options which include GPRS, EDGE and 3G. It also has Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g with UPnP, Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP and USB v2.0 connectivity. The N86 also has a GPS receiver with the A-GPS feature. While it comes bundled with Ovi Maps 3.0 and three months free voice navigation. It also supports N Gage gaming. Overall I was very impressed with the speed of the devices 3G data connectivity and the ease of connecting the WiFi adapter to both secure and non-secure networks with a few quick button pushes. The A2DP was also crisp and clear even on older A2DP enabled headsets including the Motorola S9.

Finally, the Nokia N86 is powered by a 1200 mAh Li-Ion battery. It is a very powerful battery and can power the phone continuously for about 2-3 days with standard usage. While the retail package of the Nokia N86 comes with just the basics - a charger, USB data cable and a headset with remote. It also includes the phone manual and a software disc. The call performance of the N86 is pretty amazing with no reception problems that I could discover over a few dozen calls. Since I started reviewing smartphones, I haven't seen any Nokia phones which have given any reason to complain in terms of the call reception aspect. I can't emphasize enough that the reception quality is very good with almost zero interference.

All in all, the Nokia N86 is a very nice phone; it's also Nokia's first 8 MP camera shooter. Not only does it sport the latest edition of the Symbian OS, it also has a wide range of features that users will find very helpful. It is priced a bit high but if you can afford it; it's totally worth the price.

If you are looking to purchase a Symbian smartphone, you should check out our list of the Top 5 Symbian Smartphones