Nokia releases N73 and N93 "multimedia computers"

Even if you're a die-hard Palm or Windows Mobile fan, it's hard to deny the appeal of Nokia's N-series lineup of S60-powered "multimedia computers," whose connectivity and imaging options are some of the best you can find on a smartphone today. As promised, the company has just officially released both the N73 (pictured, bottom) and N93 (pictured, top) handsets that we've been following for some time, and although you probably won't be able to pick them up through traditional channels, we know that they'll definitely be available at your local Nokia retail outlet. As a quick refresher, both of the phones (we know, we know, we're not supposed to call them phones) are highlighted by 3.2 megapixel, Zeiss lens-equipped cameras, with the N93 throwing in a 3x optical zoom and support for 30fps VGA video. Both models also feature high-res 2.4-inch displays, Bluetooth radios, a miniSD slot for image capture or rocking tunes, and quad-band GSM plus 3G UMTS capability. On top of all these attractive features, the N93 also gives you built-in WiFi with UPnP functionality, video out for replaying your precious memories on a big screen, and what sounds like better-than-average in-camera editing. We're still gonna stick with our current smartphones for now, but these models are so hot that we're seriously reconsidering our snobby insistence on rocking those handy QWERTY thumboards at all times.

Read- N73
Read- N93
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[Aaron @ Jul 24th 2006 2:27PM]

"the N73 (pictured, top) and N93 (pictured, bottom)"

The N93 is on top and N73 on the bottom.

[Jaxim @ Jul 24th 2006 2:33PM]

too bad the Nokia n93 doesn't work with the common US 850 frequency! Without that ability, the n93 won't have many bars for good service in the US. Let's hope they make a US version!

p.s. The N73 does work with the US frequencies, so there's more chances of it having good cell phone service in the US.

[Bob-o @ Jul 24th 2006 2:42PM]

"common US 850 frequency!"

Common? I believe most US towers run 1900 MHz, including Cingular. And I have no idea why Cingular continues to buck the trend...is it to raise their costs and screw their users out of popular phones available worldwide? They've done the same w/ UMTS.

[xbit @ Jul 24th 2006 2:50PM]

The N73 is available on Vodafone right now and it's free on any 18 month contract!

So very tempting.

[Nick Schmidt @ Jul 24th 2006 2:52PM]

Does anyone actually know of any information about the N93 actually coming to the US & work..

nick Schmidt
schmult.com

[Jaxim @ Jul 24th 2006 3:03PM]

Cingular uses 850 and 1900 so because the n93 does support 1900, the coverage would be alright but some places just wouldn't work very well.

I believe here in NYC, Cingular uses 1900 so the coverage would be pretty decent, but over where Cingular uses 850, e.g. L.A., then the coverage wouldn't be so hot.

The point is that the n93 will work in the US, but it won't work as well (as a cell phone) in some places, so buyer beware.

p.s. If the N80 was any indication to US releases, we're probably going to first see these phone models in Nokia's stores like the one in Chicago, which is the only one of its kind in the US.

[hippie @ Jul 24th 2006 3:18PM]

the most underadvertized feature of Nokia N93 is that it is one of the first phones based on the fast OMAP 2420 with PowerVR 3D accelerator.

[Tim UF @ Jul 24th 2006 3:20PM]

So, no carrier is going to actually support these models?

[Steelwurm @ Jul 24th 2006 3:21PM]

Isn't UMTS on 1900 in the US? These phones support UMTS 2100, so that means no 3G with these new phones in the states?

The N80 release was a joke. They sell it in one store that has been sold out for weeks. Their website lists it as 'coming soon'. I think they mean soon in the geological sense.

[Irony @ Jul 24th 2006 3:36PM]

I'd heard about this phone a while ago and got really excited. I'm in the market for a new cell phone so I decided to do some digging and read a few reviews from overseas customers. It turns out that both of these phones are freaking huge

http://www.tiscali.cz/mult/images/9/2/9/5/929543.jpg


Honestly, if I'm going to carry around a cellphone I would like it to take up a little less space than the standard universal TV remote.

[dextro @ Jul 24th 2006 3:39PM]

I love that n93... *drools*

[scott @ Jul 24th 2006 3:40PM]

This phone can use the GSM 1900 band and tmobile uses this band, it's the standard for USA.

I know this phone is going to be big bucks, ($700). I want this phone. Where can I buy it? I can't buy it on nokia.com US yet.

[shirizaki @ Jul 24th 2006 4:01PM]

Most people in America though don't care about features like bluetooth, high quality on phone cameras, or a multimedia experience. They want the newest rap song downloaded to their phone or to have a RAZR. When your only customers want an overpriced, underfeatured phone and to spend more money on ringtoes and wallpaper, why build better towers and offer higher priced cellphones that have more features?

People will pay for what they think they want.

That being said, I want that Z73. I haven't touched a nokia since those "swappable" faceplate ones back in the day.

[azark @ Jul 24th 2006 4:09PM]

that top phone looks like the samsung D307 in design

[treo007 @ Jul 24th 2006 4:26PM]

Too bad it's Symbian. Everytime I've given the OS a shot, I get memory problems having to do with the number of contacts in phone (problems Palm OS or Windows Mobile don't seem to encounter).

The Contacts Manager basically hogs all the memory (even after closing), keeping me from opening any other program on the device.

Never been able to figure it out, regardless of how much internal or expandible memory the phone has....

[John @ Jul 24th 2006 4:41PM]

The 850MHz frequency might be odd, but it has a huge advantage over the 1900MHz: it penetrates walls better, giving improved indoor coverage. I noticed the improvement when I switched from T-Mobile to Cingular.

[Finished.Law.School @ Jul 24th 2006 5:01PM]

The N73 looks like it will be the perfect replacement for my 6620. Now I just need to wait about 9 months to a year for all of the bugs to be worked out...

[Travis @ Jul 24th 2006 5:20PM]

I remember when I used to have my 5190. All it did was call and have snake. What a change nokia has done in the past few years. Good work! I love the clarity of picture on the N93. Hopefully when I pick one up it will be as reliable as my 5190 back in the day.

[Paschal @ Jul 24th 2006 5:44PM]

Well the N93 is a really interesting beast if you are a rich man! Expansys today asking price is roughly 900 Euros (700$ if I am right)! Totally insane. For god sake it's a phone even if it's a good one. I called Expansys and they confirmed it was not a mistake. I remember reading somewhere on Nokia site for a price around 500 euros. Now I can't find any exact price for the N73 so if anyone knows thanks a million!

[RisingSunofNihon @ Jul 24th 2006 6:49PM]

I have to say that I've always like Nokia phones and both of these models look very cool! I hope they come out in Japan in the near future because I definitely want to get one.

[Alphae @ Jul 24th 2006 6:51PM]

I've been anxiously waiting the US release of the Sony Ericsson K790a, wasn't that supposed to be in stores by now? I'm still rocking a Nokia 3390 (with the "swappable faceplate") because I've been waiting to upgrade to a good cameraphone (3 Mpx +). Well, now my eye is on the N73. Looks like it can do everything the K790 is supposed to, plus smartphone function.

[Alan @ Jul 24th 2006 7:50PM]

Does anyone have better info on the video capabilities? Says VGA so that's 640x480. How about codecs (mpeg2, mpeg4?) Total amount of video (duration) that can be recorded to the 2GB card?

[Ole @ Jul 25th 2006 4:43AM]

Wait till you see N93 in your cell-phone store. It's a huge beast! Seen N90-brick? N93 is bigger. To pay 900 eur (US$1125 to be exact!) for this hammer? Get the details.
http://www.mobileburn.com/gallery.jsp?Page=1&Id=2327

[Nandini @ Jul 25th 2006 5:26AM]

Thank god, Nokia has come-back to it Carl Zeiss lenses which i miss the most in N91 and the flip-style is even better than N90 besides its other hi-tech specs. This is truly desirable!!

[elias @ Jul 25th 2006 8:20AM]

i can't wait to have the n93, for me, it's a 'must have' fon.Thanks to Nokia for the innovation.

[tuig @ Jul 25th 2006 10:29AM]

No A2DP on the N93 - otherwise I'd get it straight away, now I'm doubting if I should wait for the p990...

[Vlad Balan @ Aug 7th 2006 10:59AM]

I have a Nokia N70, and frankly, I can't wait for the N73 to be available, because I think you can't get better than that. As for the N93, it's a brick, not a mobile phone. You can't even keep it in your shorts, will get you naked :D