Nokia's N85 reviewed, called better than N96

We were always curious why a device that (at least on paper) was superior in a lot of ways to Nokia's N96 wasn't trumpeted as the outfit's flagship device, but nevertheless, an Italian reviewer has made us feel a touch better about our previously ludicrous thoughts. After spending a solid fortnight with the phone, the critic felt comfortable deeming the N85 a "very, very beautiful" handset, also noting that it was "definitely the best Symbian [device]" out there. He even went out of his way to recommend the N85 over the N96 so long as you're cool without DVB-H or a super-snazzy camera. As if you really needed more, he also found the OLED display to be spectacular, the audio quality very satisfactory and the GPS / multimedia functions to be top-notch. Wait, is that the N96 we hear crying? There's no crying in Espoo!

[Via All About Symbian]

[Wii @ Oct 16th 2008 5:08PM]

Why can't the Tmobile G1 look like this.

[andy @ Oct 16th 2008 5:18PM]

because fisher price was busy with the g1.

on a different note, the n79, n96, and n85 all share the terrible keys. if i wanted a touchpad nokia, id get the 5800.

[TrueDis @ Oct 16th 2008 6:16PM]

The N79 keypad is actually a lot better than the N85. I played with both at CTIA and I found the N85 to be surprisingly janky and plasticky and the keypad hard to use, and the N79 to actually be a joy to use (despite its ugly looks).

[Deputy Doffoos @ Oct 16th 2008 11:43PM]

@ andy

you mean N78

[Poke @ Oct 17th 2008 4:49AM]

Dunno if you mean this andy, but those buttons aren't touch sensitive. They make clicking sound and all :)

[lolwecsan @ Oct 16th 2008 5:10PM]

does the n85 have a qwerty keyboard?

[Chris @ Oct 16th 2008 5:11PM]

No

[lolwecsan @ Oct 16th 2008 5:13PM]

oh ok.

[thedesolate1 @ Oct 16th 2008 5:19PM]

You can hook it up to a bluetooth keyboard and video out to your TV though. =]

[lowdef @ Oct 16th 2008 5:33PM]

WOW that was such a clean question and answer on engadget. No profanities, no mentioning mothers, no questioning one another's sexual orientation. Good job +1 internets.

[Esat Dedezade @ Oct 16th 2008 6:11PM]

My sentiments exactly lowdef, my sentiments exactly...

[Lowest Ranked @ Oct 16th 2008 6:26PM]

lowdef, I'd encourage you then to stay away from the likes of sites such as ebaumsworld.

[Mobius_1 @ Oct 16th 2008 9:19PM]

No, but it does have copy and paste

[999 @ Oct 17th 2008 6:56AM]

Believe it or not, it wasn't that long ago when sensible discussion was reasonably common on engadget. Perhaps they could have managed their success a little better.

[mvp @ Oct 16th 2008 5:17PM]

If they trimmed off the media control buttons from the top and just made it shorter, I'd be sold. They just seem like more buttons for me to accidentally gnash.

[Gregor @ Oct 16th 2008 5:19PM]

It's a dual slider - so the media keys are only there when you want them!

[wootman @ Oct 16th 2008 5:31PM]

I think those slide like a keyboard out of the way, not positive.
The only excuse i can think of for the rest is the n-gage support, but thats kinda pushing it.
Also, want, whats the average going rate?

[Dizzy @ Oct 16th 2008 6:37PM]

@mvp

you chew on your phone? O_o

[Niz @ Oct 16th 2008 7:50PM]

lol!!

[thedesolate1 @ Oct 16th 2008 5:21PM]

If I can find it for $450 during the holidays I'm sold. But I would never pay $500+ for a device without a big screen and qwerty keyboard. I Heart N85.

[krunal patel @ Oct 17th 2008 4:07AM]

Haha 50 dollar difference... a true breaking point in the handset market

[thedesolate1 @ Oct 17th 2008 11:56AM]

Not quite it retails for like $600 after NYC taxes....

[tigertown @ Oct 16th 2008 5:22PM]

Man, I really really wanted this phone, but I went with an iPhone instead. My old phone was falling apart, and I wasn't sure if it would hold on long enough for this phone to be released. While the iPhone has been amazing, I actually kind of regret getting it and not waiting for this beast. Oh well...I can still look at it and imagine...

[iEye @ Oct 16th 2008 5:33PM]

Trust me, you made the right choice... you cannot go wrong with iPhone!

-besides, the iPhone has an incredible resale value... you basically have cash in your hand, I cannot say the same thing for this 'Nokia' phone, If you try and sell it on E-bay you probably will only recoup 25% of what you paid...

basically all phones have low resale value except the iPhone...

iPhone.

[c-dub @ Oct 16th 2008 5:33PM]

Or..there's always Craigslist..sell the phone, port your # and get the phone you want. Promise you you'd sell your iphone in a day..I sold both of mine in 3 hrs.

[Esat Dedezade @ Oct 16th 2008 6:12PM]

@ iEye:

...

[Poom @ Oct 16th 2008 7:01PM]

I'm beginning to develop a natural reflex now... It's clicking the red button everytime I see iEye's post...

[Tejas @ Oct 16th 2008 7:18PM]

God! I wish there was a 'Lowest Ranked' award ceremony by Engadget every year!

I'm pretty sure iEye would win! :-)

[Niz @ Oct 16th 2008 7:54PM]

iEye your right! you clearly know more about tigertown than tigertown himself.

[noyp @ Oct 18th 2008 9:29AM]

Hey iEye, I thought if one of us admits the iphone is the best phone ever, you would stop. I did it. I just crossed my fingers.

[L.Rawlins @ Oct 16th 2008 5:32PM]

This is a no-brainer. The N96's DVB-H tuner is entirely redundant in the UK atleast, which renders its 'premium' pricepoint laughable for all of the other standardised NSeries features it touts.

I'll stick with my N82 and the spectacular new firmware they've recently outed for it I think. But the N85 is definately a looker.

[paul-engadget @ Oct 16th 2008 6:17PM]

I've noticed that Nokia seem to have been coming up with good firmware updates for many of their series 60 phones. my E65 was disappointing when I first had it, but with two significant updates in the last 14 months it's become very much better (the wifi sensitivity still sucks). I've de-branded lots of colleagues' N95 and upgraded them and most say it's like having a new phone!
When I started with my E65 I decided to not buy another Nokia, now I've changed my mind, and am actively considering the n85 or n96; although I do like the E71 too as more of a business tool.

[Aaron @ Oct 17th 2008 3:17AM]

I'm actually surprised with how cheap the N96 is. Lots of carriers in the UK are giving it away free on a £30 per month contract.

If the N85 is even cheaper then that's good news. :)

[Erictehundying @ Oct 16th 2008 5:37PM]

"There's no crying in Espoo!" Nice. Real nice.

[lowdef @ Oct 16th 2008 5:41PM]

get back to work and be stoic about it dammit

[Xee @ Oct 16th 2008 6:50PM]

I'd still rather have the i8510. This would be my second choice though.

[Poom @ Oct 16th 2008 7:02PM]

The price is so much different!!!

[Poom @ Oct 16th 2008 7:03PM]

"DVB-H or super-snazzy camera"

Would anyone explain to me how the N96 is superior in terms of camera?? Aren't they the same?

[Sk @ Oct 16th 2008 7:29PM]

I was wondering exactly the same thing. 5 Megapixel, auto focus, Carl-Zeiss and VGA @ 30 FPS . Oh, and a LED flash too. n96 copycat as far as the camera goes.And..why is the n96 better ?

[Hectoe @ Oct 17th 2008 1:42AM]

I think in the original article, the camera was compared with Innov8's 8 Mpix one.

[Zip @ Oct 17th 2008 4:58AM]

Actually they aren't totally the same even in the lens department as N85 example got better focal length and soft side won't ever be totally same even if both are 3th edition FP2 devices.
But anyways no big difference exept the camera lens in the camera department.

[Bennish @ Oct 16th 2008 7:28PM]

Super-snazzy camera? Dude, the camera on the N96 is the EXACT SAME ONE as on the N85 - except the N85 also has a lens cover.

Did you mean the flip-out stand? If so, say it. Aren't you supposed to be journalists?

[The Police @ Oct 16th 2008 8:23PM]

Why does the review site say this phone has an 8MP camera towards the bottom of the article?

[thedesolate1 @ Oct 16th 2008 9:16PM]

No I believe it is comparing to the Samsung Inov8.. that has 8 mpx.

[jtizzlefurizzle21 @ Oct 16th 2008 9:37PM]

nokia, why must you make such great phones with no qwerty......

[pavlindrom @ Oct 17th 2008 7:54AM]

Because this phone is for people who...
1. listen to music
2. text a lot
3. do not care about spelling

aka ME! Too bad I'm not rich

[Sam @ Nov 30th 2008 10:33PM]

Check out the E71, you wont be disappointed.

[acme @ Oct 16th 2008 9:40PM]

btw, wtf is Espoo?

[lowdef @ Oct 16th 2008 10:17PM]

Nokia's hq in Finland and home to THE Jere Lehtinen

[Greg @ Oct 16th 2008 10:54PM]

Let me guess, their shtick is that it's an iphone killer too? Like it or not, the iphone is years ahead of everyone else, even if it is missing a few features nobody really uses. I'll ask my boss tomorrow if he ever cuts and pastes on his phone and let you know what he says. The world is run by Alphas, not nerds.