Is this the Nokia N98, or the twisted brainchild of a Sidekick fanatic?

There's no shortage of reasons why we should throw this render in the trash. First is the simple fact that it's a render at all, and we all know how extraordinarily talented the world's artistically-inclined phone fanboys and girls are. Second, we're hearing that this is known as the N98, which runs counter to other rumors (and retail evidence in the X3 and X6) that Nokia is moving to a one-letter, one-digit naming convention across its smartphone range. Third, this looks like a straight-up cross between a Sidekick 2008 and a Sidekick LX 2009 (save the tilt-up display, of course). All that said, we can't help but feel that a device exactly like this makes sense for Nokia's high-end, multimedia-savvy Symbian range -- a proper successor to the N97 that might clear up some complaints like the off-center spacebar.

Anyhow, rumor has it the so-called N98 features a 4-inch touchscreen (likely capacitive, considering the precedent set by the X6) with 32GB of internal storage and a launch date in time for holiday 2010 at around €450 ($617) -- and we're even seeing an HDMI logo silkscreened on the side, too. This actually mixes pretty closely with another recent rumor that says we can expect an N8 model this Summer with a 3.5-inch capacitive display, 12 megapixel sensor, and Symbian^3, so an alternate possibility is that we're actually looking at that N8 here. Either way, if any of it is real, it could see a debut anywhere between MWC next week and Nokia World later in the year -- but admittedly, our fake-o-meter's reading pretty high on this one until we see an announcement. Nokia fans: is this what you're looking for in a next-gen device?

[kLid Posted Feb 11th 2010 3:10PM]

I don't know about you guys... but if you look closely at the top left corner of the screen (on the left of NOKIA) it says 'N00' and not 'N98' hahaha.

I' guessing it's just a fanboy/girl render, a great one nonthelss ;)

[Pdexter Posted Feb 11th 2010 3:16PM]

@kLid Actually either the guy who made this is clever or it really is a real deal.
All the prototypes N series got that N00 labeling. Hmm this might actually be true.
Example N96, 5800(while it wasen't N series phone) and N900 was N00.

[Pdexter Posted Feb 11th 2010 3:18PM]

I'm talking about pictures that where leaked before the announcement of course.

[Gery Posted Feb 11th 2010 3:19PM]

@kLid It seems this is a name for the (early) prototypes at Nokia, the phone later to be known as the N85 was also leaked with the N00 model name: http://www.symbian-freak.com/news/008/06/mysterious_nseries_phone_appeared_in_the_wild.htm

[Gery Posted Feb 11th 2010 3:21PM]

@Gery Hmm, seems that searching for that link took too much time ..

[kLid Posted Feb 11th 2010 3:25PM]

@kLid
haha thanks for the heads-up guys! :)
that's my bit of info for the day haha

well this is one phone i'd definitely keep an eye on!

[Electrofreak Posted Feb 11th 2010 3:24PM]

I'm waiting for the N910... but it probably won't be coming until the end of the year. It's getting so hard to pick between smartphones now!

[Malkmus Posted Feb 11th 2010 3:25PM]

Anyone else notice it says "N00" in the corner and not "N98"?

[Pdexter Posted Feb 11th 2010 3:29PM]

@Malkmus Like explained already Nokia uses N00 in it's N series prototypes.

[JayTBennett Posted Feb 11th 2010 3:39PM]

There's no denying it's a beautiful Render, and I'd definately look into one to replace my N97 (assuming that Nokia got Symbian ^3 right, there's no way my next phone will be S60...)

But the biggest fake-o-meter reading comes from the watermark:
Nokia - Secret Copyright Q4 2009

That just doesn't seem right at all...

[fotisg24 Posted Feb 11th 2010 4:17PM]

this recolours don't seem so "N series" to me...
N98???this??? i don't think so...........

[POZ Posted Feb 11th 2010 4:32PM]

Those slopping catapulty screen things are flimsy and I break them with my TEETHS!

[minimatt37 Posted Feb 11th 2010 4:36PM]

Not a huge fan of Nokia, but if it depended on the software I would definitively consider this for my next cell phone. Although I would also have to see the specs.

[FrankLucas Posted Feb 11th 2010 4:46PM]

with this cor, looks like the new oficial phone to the Iran invasion :)

[Hydra Posted Feb 11th 2010 4:55PM]

Lets guess, 428mhz with 128mb of ram, and a few apps thrown into the normal Symbian os

[AlienSix Posted Feb 11th 2010 5:34PM]

Is that Android OS I spy. Looks like it

[CMA Posted Feb 11th 2010 6:48PM]

I want to believe.

[ALBGunner04 Posted Feb 11th 2010 7:05PM]

Holiday 2010? I think I found my successor to the N95 8GB. I'm excited to see what Nokia does with the Symbian OS also, considering the fact that they're planning a major redesign.

[nickyP Posted Feb 11th 2010 7:18PM]

Nokia Symbian^3 and Windows Mobile 7 will have to kick it into gear to stop me from getting the next palm device this summer.

[LessThanDug Posted Feb 11th 2010 9:08PM]

Aside from that ugly green color, I'd say it's not that bad. It's got that 4" display I've always wanted, plus it tilts, and the 4 row QWERTY. But a proper QWERTY is pointless if it doesn't offer good feedback, which a picture simply can't show. Where's the microUSB and 3.5mm jack though, and what's with that flat top design? 32GB of storage built in, seriously, that's all?

This is fake no doubt, as are all the things written about it, but the idea of it is exciting, and yet underwhelming at the same time.

[aoi tsuki Posted Feb 11th 2010 10:01PM]

Maybe it's the angle, but the top of the top row of keys is flush with the bottom of the screen, which would make the top row difficult to use. After the N900, i doubt Nokia would make this mistake again.

[theinsider Posted Feb 12th 2010 2:13AM]

Great to see people actually like the device!

[gigi82 Posted Feb 12th 2010 8:42AM]

i work with sidekicks the only thing similar to the 08 is the side of the device it doesnt have a 5 row keyboard or even the volume and powerbvuttons where they're supposed to be