Nokia N8 hands-on
By Vlad Savov 
posted May 11th 2010 7:05AM
posted May 11th 2010 7:05AM
The anodized aluminum shell feels very well built and is remarkably light. So much so that our first instinct was to ask whether the battery was inside or this was just a hollow mockup. We'd compare it to the feeling of picking up the Zune HD for the first time, it's a strikingly light device. Plopping it into our pocket also felt extremely natural, which might be attributable to the particular curvature of the N8's sides. Attention to detail in the physical design, as Marko said, was of paramount importance to Nokia. That doesn't come without sacrifices, however, with the user replaceable battery being substituted by an integrated cell, but to quote the man himself, the "overall design concept overruled" such considerations. We found the home button on the front a bit of a pain to press in, but it's still very early to form conclusions about the experience on this device. For now, just go gawk at it below and look out for the in-depth writeup of our chat with Marko Ahtisaari later today.
Aside from the small home button, that thing looks nice.
@calluskings: i had my hands on on the nokia n8 last week, and i was impressed by the smoothness of the symbian^3 os. multi-touch and multi-tasking also worked superb on this device. so not just the device, also the OS looks really nice.
@dartox i second that ! multi tasking is really well implemented !
@dartox
I have to agree with you, S^3 brings so many new capabilities, it is really promising. It is really fast as well, as the UI is hardware accelerated. The Broadcom GPU in there pushes 32 million triangles. Thats is more than the 3GS and 4 times the Droid. I have no doubt it will be smooth.
@dartox
yeah i'll be excited to see how the OS runs with it, haven't messed around with it yet
@calluskings I want the Orange one
looks pretty thick to me..
@N900androidOS
I am guessing it is because of the images. It is actually very thin, which I think comes across well here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQ-5WAcj6o0
@N900androidOS
COMPARE THE SIZE HERE.. Its very very THIN!!!
http://www.phonearena.com/htmls/Nokia-N8-phone-size-compare-pc_4543.html
@Mr w00t I see what you did there.
@calluskings
Looks like a phone in a dock, the dock being the green shell. It's the silver accent around the screen, just doesn't fit right to me. The back looks good though. What definitely fits right is the camera! Wish there was something half as good in my Hero!
@Mr w00t I agree, the orange one is super sexy. I just hope that QWERTY version of this is true.
@Apple Google Microsoft I have to agree - looks like a phone in a case or something. The something being the hidious green bit!
@calluskings The hardware looks really really nice. Too bad we haven't seen a proper demo of Symbian 3 yet, but I'm fairly sure at the very least it will do everything it should, it just comes down to polish after that.
@David Bailey And the widget style of multitasking is awesome btw.
@calluskings i just dont get why nokia is venturing into the thick phone market lately... what happen to the sleek ol' nokia?
@N900androidOS i think that lady has small hands (first few pics). When it's held by a man in the later pics it doesn't look too chunky.
@N900androidOS It is actually thinner than the iPhone 3GS.
@David Bailey I take that back, it's actually 0.5 millimeters thicker. That's nothing you could even feel.
Looks very solid and well made. I like it. :-)
@dartox
How on earth did you get your hands on an N8? Did they have a preview event in Europe or you are just pulling at iFan's heart strings ;-)
@naashak Imagine the green borders aren't there at all and the N8 would look even better
@calluskings Thats not the home button. It's not an iPhone for cyring out loud.
It's the S60 Menu Button.
@tpbftw, actually yes and no - when you are in the menu, you can use it as a home button, when you are on standby screen or within some application that doesn't capture events from it you can use it as a menu button, and long press on it will give you taskbar. At least that's how traditional Symbian operates and I don't think they've changed that.
That being said, the only design-wise thing that looks a bit off on this package is actually that menu button...
@naashak: i've met a nokia manager who had the n8 as his regular mobile device (because of testing the OS and so on).
@N900androidOS That's what she said ....
@calluskings
I want one.
@calluskings Perhaps change the color as well then it will look more sleek. If they can lower the price a little bit more then this would be good.
Reactions. http://j.mp/nokia-n8-compiled-impressions
What is that other hand doing in all those pictures? Is the phone that heavy?
@Mikkis74 It's there to make sure the wind doesn't blow the Nokia away.
@Mikkis74
Yes, it is VERY heavy, so much so that Mr Savov wrote that it is surprisingly light. :)
@Mikkis74 It's too precious.
butt ugly and why would I need an HDMI connector on my phone????
@jamiesim: for watching hd-videos on your tv over the hdmi cable... also included in the nokia n8: dolby digital plus surround sound!!
@jamiesim
Typical iphone fanboy answer, you will never love anything which is not from apple and as dumb as they are.
@dartox: and i was also saying "shit, this phone looks ugly". but when i had my hands on (seeing this phone in real), it looks really sweet. aluminium and glas doing very well, it feels really expensive!
@dartox
never had the need to plug my phone into the TV! maybe that's just me.
And how much storage does one need to carry around movies at 1080 with Dolby Digital Surround????
@jamiesim
Its supports 32 GB micro sd card and has 16GB in built.. What else will u need??
@jamiesim
Depends on the format of the video, luckily there are ample options here. Besides video, this brings benefits for gaming as well. Since this is the first time there is a strong GPU in a Symbian device, putting out 720p gaming on your screen is pretty smooth as well.
@brararsh
Have you seen the retail boxes with 32GB storage on them?
@JFH
Yes bro, but i think 32 GB will follow soon after the 16GB release as it will have higher price as well..
@jamiesim It takes HD video (720). What's the point of taking HD video if you're only going to watch it on your phone? Plus gaming is pretty sweet. Hook up a bluetooth controller, and connect to your TV. Nokiahas always had vdeo out for their N-Series devies. Used to be RCA, now it's HDMI. You have to change with the times.
@jamiesim Mr Jobs will tell you why in a few years when he finally decides to integrate it in a future iPhone model
@Schmich
seems like Nokia are the party reacting to claw back smartphone market share! Can't see Apple quaking in there boots over that very good looking brick...
For the record Symbian is a great OS - dint I use it on my Psion 10 years ago!
@jamiesim
Come on dude, at least try harder. You do not claw back market share when it is steady. Smartphones needs to be stratified in price ranges.
600+ Apple is nr 1, Nokia is nr 2
Around 300, RIM is nr 1 Nokia is nr 2
Under 200, Nokia is Nr 1, by a wide margin.
I am sure Nokia would like to regain first spot in the premium 600+ level, but this would not be the phone to do that. The next N900 will be. Their E series is fighting RIM very succesfully, and below $ 200, they have no competition really. Also consider, they make handsome profits while not having stellar high end devices out. Things will only improve. It is much easier for Nokia to develop high end devices than it is for any manufacturer to replicate Nokia's strength in the low end.
@JFH
Nokia's relevance is selling simple mobile phones in emerging markets mainly Africa and India...
As all the analysis shows Nokia are in a confused state which is characterised with them not being sure of which OS route to go down.
There time has come and gone... In the UK the owned the market 10 years with their 6110 and similar handsets, they are just irrelevant now.
Nokia Fanbois face it - you lost, your irrelevant and even RIM has got you! even Motorola manage to keep up with the market trends!
@jamiesim
Again, it would be better for you, not to get bogged down in us versus them thinking and stick to numbers.
All the analysis does not show that. Analysis shows quite different things. Also, strategic analysis of the OS roadmap they have, actually indicates, it is a pretty smart move.
Do you not think that if they would see not better alternative, they would put, lets say Android on there?
Nokia sell a lot of cheap phones yes, but also more Smartphones than Apple, RIM & HTC combined. It is hardly justified to call them irrelevant in that space.
You are trying to find arguments to reason to a secretly desired conclusion. Stick to numbers and control your gut.
Oh, I seem to have thrown up in my mouth a little.
@Oh Dear
...and on the phone by the looks of it!
Looks very swanky, if Symbian 3 turns out to be a good OS, that would be a huge win for Nokia's smart phone sector :)