Nokia N97 Review: The Phone Delivers, but to What Extent?

 The display on the Nokia N97 offers a 3.5 inch screen that supports a 640 x 360 pixel resolution. While the output isn't too bad, the colors on many apps appeared faded compared to other high-end devices. However, when using Nokia icons and the basic Nokia provided themes the screen appeared more optimized.

On a separate point, the touch-screen capabilities didn't feel too bad. I found that navigating around the device's display was simple and even the lightest of touches gave quick feedback. When dialing contacts and swiping my finger from screen to screen, there was little to no delay and the tactile feedback made the screen feel more like a keyboard than the Nokia 5800.

Overall, Nokia is moving towards better touch-screen displays and for a relatively newcomer to the touch screen device market, the company is off to a relatively good start.

The Nokia N97 comes in two versions; the worldwide version with non-3G in the U.S. and the more U.S. network friendly Nokia N97 NAM. In the U.S., the NAM version offers super fast 3G connectivity that's perfect on the AT&T Wireless network, while Edge and GPRS functions also work well in non-3G areas or on the T-Mobile network and on a variety of Canadian 3G networks. Setup of the mobile data networks is not only easy, it's automatic. Simply plug in your SIM card and you're ready to go.

 The N97 also offers Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g with UPnP technology. It's extremely simple to choose an available network and connect to those networks in just a few quick clicks. I was able to connect in a matter of seconds to my unsecured home network and to a secured network after entering the required password. The Wi-Fi option not only connected quickly, web pages via the included mobile browser loaded quickly.

This Symbian smartphone also offers Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP, a function that allows Bluetooth Stereo headphones to be used alongside the device's stereo output. I tried out the A2DP function with an older Motorola S9 headset and found the quality to be on par with other Nokia music based devices.

If you want to connect via GPS, this N-Series device offers Assisted GPS with Nokia Maps. Simply wait 10-15 seconds and your location shows up on the mapping service and directs you with turn-by-turn directions. I found the GPS to be competent and rather fast, but overall I would have preferred the stronger antennas of Sirf III processors typically found on Windows and Google Android based devices.

Finally, the Nokia N97 offers a microUSB port that not only charges the phone, it can sync the device to your computer as well. The port is well placed along the side of the device, and it offers quick connectivity when you have the device you want to attach to within your reach.

Overall, the connectivity is standard but offers excellent options for even the most high-end of users. Whether you need a quick connection or a more robust set of options, you get them on the N97.

The processor found on the Nokia N97 is an ARM 11 434 MHz option. I was slightly disappointed that Nokia didn't up their game in respect to this offering, considering that the iPhone 3GS is already operating at 600mhz and many HTC (Windows and Android) based devices are already hitting 524Mhz. However, the device was rather speedy with even 4 or 5 applications open at one time. I can only imagine how a faster processor would have made this device blazingly fast.

The smartphone also includes 32 GB of on-board memory which should be enough space for most users. If you're storage hungry however, there is a MicroSDHC card slot that can add 16 GB of extra space, enough to store even the most storage hungry applications, multimedia and other files.

Finally, the device features 128 MB RAM, a rather dismal amount of memory considering the huge hard drive and the stress already being placed on the slower than average processor. 256 MB would be appreciated on future models.

Overall, the performance works for what it offers. However, more could have been done in terms of increasing device speed and bringing the amount of RAM up to par. If you plan on light use (up to 4-5 apps at one time), you'll be fine but some processor intensive applications will seem slow when compared to other high-end smartphones currently available. With that being said, this device has strong storage capabilities and for that, Nokia should be commended.

 I really wanted to give Nokia a 5/5 rating for their device's camera. However, I've grown tired of the same old camera being recycled throughout the Nokia N-Series line of devices. A past co-worker of mine had been playing with the Nokia N97 for weeks and loved the device. I started playing with it this past weekend and thought I would be blown away. What I found instead was the same feeling I had when I first used the Nokia N95, a solid camera that takes decent pictures but offers nothing to write home about. Sure, there are no real undertones or overtones that interfere with the picture, but the crispness of pictures doesn't really offer anything new.

I also found that the auto focus on the video recording aspect of the device wasn't working properly, leading to further away images coming out blurred. This is not a big issue if you don't plan on recording much video. However, it's still an annoying fact that reminded me that the camera simply isn't up to par with stronger cameras being released on today's market.

For basic picture taking, with an output of 2592 x 1944 pixels, the camera is fine. Heck, even the flash works wonders in low light. However, for someone trying to replace two devices (digital camera and phone) with a single device, I would look at the IDOU or other 8 MP offerings that are already available.

Not a bad camera by any stretch, but I expected more in this 2009 N-Series Device.

 If you want to compete in the mobile market, you need to have a mobile OS that's easy to use yet extremely functional. The N97 has managed the extremely easy part by offering a widget system that allows users to press a few quick buttons to add widget based apps to their front display. The Facebook application is the perfect example of this function. The program displays your friend's most recent updates, allows you to update your status and much more, directly from your N97's front page display.

Aside from widgets, I loved the ability to swipe my finger across the screen to move between screens including the application screen which users can sort in any manner they wish. If you want the feel of an iPhone on your N97, I recommend taking a look at the apps screen.

Overall, the OS is simple to use, offers quick navigation abilities and works quickly enough on the device's 434 MHz processor.