Actual phone performance would be a useful comparision but very difficult, as someone who purchased an iphone and was disappointed at its poor receiver performance compared to my existing Nokia phone its an important benchmark.

This years crop of Christmas phones is very disappointing. No reason the trade in my N82, until a N97-ish comes available.

Agreed. If offered any of these three, for free, or having to pay £50 extra to get an N82, I'd go with the N82. Sorry if you guys are getting bored with me going on about the N95/N82-era phones, but the lens protection, the graphics acceleration, the much clearer close-up video capture and, in the N82's case, the Xenon flash - it all adds up.

It is a pity you didn't add the N95 (Original) to that comparison. It beats the iPhone and the HTC with features and beats the N96 on the lense protection.

I can't wait for the same comparison with the N97, iPhone and HTC Touch HD.

Although these three are all 'flagships', surely it's the 5800 that's aimed at this market sector, rather than the N96? That would be a more relevant head-to-head, surely?

Probably worth mentioning how poor the 3G implimentation is on the iPhone. If you are heavily dependant on 3G, iPhone will most likely disappoint. Don't know if Apple have secretly fixed it on newer handsets but kept quiet so existing users don't get stressed ?

Been playing with wife's iPhone and love the interface and the simplicity of AppStore. But so many limitations on the basic features. Bluetooth, file transfer to other devices etc. is a joke. I'll just BT you this picture, no you can't. I'll MMS it no you can't. Have to revert to email or PC. Wife's not a techie, that's why she loved the iPhone. What it does is easy to use. She would probably never have tried half of it on an S60 or WinMob unless I set it all up for her (though I did set up the iTunes account for her). But she was able to send MMS and BT pics etc. Asking her to email or use PC instead in not an option.

Also, apart from games, the apps seam a bit basic to me. Not real power apps like you can get on WinMob or even S60. I might be wrong about this, but that's my initial impression. Still no sign of a actually released/available 'Proper' SatNav offerings. Lots of demos on YouTube (assuming they are genuine), so I guess it's just a matter of time/supplier negotiations with Apple (I really hate that Apple control bit).

I've been thinking seriously about getting the HD. Other devices are also tempting me and so I keep swaying in various directions. Just wish HTC sort out drivers for Video etc.

I really love the xda-developers community that is available to HTC users.

If I get a Nokia, I'll get a couple of bug fix releases, but other than that I'm mostly stuck where I am. iPhone may be a bit better, not sure. But with the HD, there is a good chance (no promises) that I'll probably even be able to get some form of WM7 onto it when it eventually comes out. Particularly given the high base specs on the HD.

Just my (fairly unbiased, non fanboy) thoughts.

Zuber

I'm right there w/ you ppl.

I'm happily stuck w/ the N82 heading into 2009. I guess, if I was in the market for one of the current Nokia models, it would surely be the N85(not the extremely overpriced N96 imo). Although, the absence of a xenon kills that option too, but if the N85 "refresh"(w/ xenon) was already upon us, I could easily ditch the N82.

@neil: Yes, if this head to head had been in late January. The 5800's not out yet, the firmware for it's not even finished yet etc. I wanted to compare three devices that were widely available to the masses.

In this day and age, a crappy built-in browser, or mediocre 3rd party browser, is just unacceptable. Mediocre Youtube experience sucks too. Negates much of the 3.5G and WiFi benefits. Especially for M$. If they can't bother getting this right after 6 years, then it pretty much indicates they are doing at most a mediocre job on the rest of the OS. Even poky S60 has a better browser.

Agree with a previous poster - this season's selection is poor, especially compared to what you can still find online for last year's models. an N95-3 is getting really cheap, and my friend got an N95-4 for free in the US.

Touch HD > iPhone 3G > N96

I've owned/used all three extensively. The n96 should go bottom of the pack no matter what phone you compare it with. BTW my favourite OS is Symbian... The n96 is the biggest waste of money - slow, bugger, poor battery life, limited potential because of slow cpu.

The n85 is a different story.

Looking forward to the n97.

I wish for more of an objective view instead of Nokia/Symbian always coming on top. I know Nokia do you guys lots of favours but please let's be fair.

I have to take issue with that. Free releases from Nokia and regular firmware updates on the N95-1 mean that my device currently bears very little resemblance to the device I bought about 18 months ago. In addition to what I bought I now have:
- a proper streaming media player rather than just a uPNP remote control
- n-gage games
- hugely improved RAM handling
- a whizzy search tool (that I don't use, if the truth be told)
- one-button photo uploads to Flickr and Ovi
- geotagging of photos
- internet radio
- accelerometer-based functions and games
- a Python runtime
- a web runtime

I see this as a reward for being an early adopter, and it gets Nokia a lot of brownie-points in my book.

@phonegadgetz: a) if you read my text, the N96 doesn't come out 'on top', it's merely a better all-rounder. b) I disagree with your assessment of it, given the v12 firmware upgrade, which makes a big difference.

OK,

Just a couple of bug fix releases is a bit unfair.

But alot of it is fixing unfinished/buggy software. Though as you say, there as some nice additions as well.

My point is though, you are stuck at that particular OS level. i.e. S60 3rd addition FPx.

Once they stop making them, you will get a relatively short timeframe of support and then it's onto the next thing.

With the HTC stuff (because of the excellent xda-developers communitiy, not HTC or Microsoft) you continue to get people putting together tweaks and upgrades long after the device is forgotten by the press.

Not sure if I dare say this, but a bit like the linux community I think (or my limited exposure to it).

Zuber

And now, something completely different:

Nokia N96 vs. George W. Bush

1) Popularity:
N96: very unpopular, both in the US and in Europe
GWB: very unpopular, both in the US and in Europe

2) User experience:
N96: very frustrating
GWB: very frustrating

3) Cost:
N96: extremely costly to consumers
GWB: extremely costly to taxpayers

4) Future:
N96: already a lame-duck handset, to be retired (thank God!) in early 2009
GWB: already a lame-duck president, to be retired (thank God!) in early 2009

5) Power:
N96: has too little power
GWB: has too much power

N96? LOL... shouldn't even be on this list to be honest.

I had N96 myself, really poor battery life, video play back ok but crapy QVGA resolution.
Almost all of the latest videos are 16:9 aspect ratio where N96 still use old 4:3 aspect ratio result a black bar on top and bottom.

Robert dinero videos play fine though. ;)

DVB-H :con?, last time I’ve heard back in 2005 that the O2 trailing it with Nokia
7710 in Oxford.

Internet browsing again QVGA display, doesn’t matter how good web kit you can’t see much on screen is. Keep scrolling. No copy past in web browser.

Quick office 5 paid upgrade not something you get out of the box, Documents viewer and even that doesn’t support viewing office 2007 documents.

Steve I am sorry but you really are promoting old N96. Why not i8510? what’s wrong with that after all it’s based on Symbian S60 too. Unless it’s All About Nokia. ;)

I had to switch from Nokia after 10 years.

Am happy now with my HD and Storm.

Just to remind you HD plays excelent MP4 files @ 800X480 1.5Mbit/s encoded with H.264 video codes. N96 is no where near that.

I think Steve just hit rock bottom. N96? The most biggest flop in history

IMHO, the low screen resolution is the most limiting factor of most actual Symbian phones. The 5800 and N97 won't arrive a day too early.
But on the other hand, I had a HTC Touch Pro for some weeks. But I am back on my E71. Though the HTC Touch'es have some eye candy. But I got the things, which I do on a business smartphone, done in a fraction of time on a Symbian device (and only need one hand).
But a very fair comparision for a Symbian fan site!

"But I got the things, which I do on a business smartphone, done in a fraction of time on a Symbian device (and only need one hand)."

Don't suppose you would care to expand on that with specifics ?

Not disputing (or agreeing) but would be interested in specific examples. Might help me which way to go next.

i.e. Go with HD/similar, hang out for N97 or even wait for next gen iPhone/Android.

Thanks,

Zuber

"Steve I am sorry but you really are promoting old N96. Why not i8510? what’s wrong with that after all it’s based on Symbian S60 too. Unless it’s All About Nokia."

The i8510 isn't even finished yet, IMHO. The built-in apps have some issues and third party compatibility is still quite poor. So I refuse to review it yet because I *want* to say nice things about it and I can't *yet*. Give it a couple more months, maybe.

The N96 isn't that bad, you know. It's got less issues than the N95 when it came out and look how rosily we're all regarding THAT now. Give Nokia 2 months to tweak and fine tune the N96 firmware and it'll be a very different story. It'll be up to 60MB free RAM and far less glitches and better video recording etc etc.

Steve

Perhaps you haven't setup the HD with the tweaks at XDA-Developers?

Browsing experience:
One of the best because like the Nokia E90 you can view most sites without zooming in/out. And if you tweak with the opera:config in the url you'll be able to make links click-able without zooming. I find this even better than constantly zooming in/out with the iPhone.

Video:
Plays videos better than the other two devices. Install Coreplayer and chuck large 700MB files directly onto your HD and play. I play many flash videos and avi's. No more time wasting and hassles of re-encoding videos.

The resolution and size of the screen makes videos look amazing... Full screen 3.8" WVGA vs n96 2.8" QVGA (about 2.4" with the black borders because of the crappy standard 4:3 resolution). There is no contest.

YouTube client on the HD is the best I've experienced, even better than the iPhone.

Apps:
You'll find far more apps with WM than Symbian. TomTom support for a start. :)

Phone:
This is about the only category I would say the N96 wins because of the keypad. I like real physical buttons however the other two devices can is perfectly adequate handle phone/call functions.

Price:
HD is free from £30 per month contracts. N96 cost about the same if not more... Not everyone is on PAYG or sim free as you keep promoting.

Design/size/weight
Although the HD and iPhone is larger in height x width, it's very slender so can fit in any pocket without adding bulk unlike the n96.

Battery life:
HD >>> iPhone >>> N96

I could go on but I'm bored already. lol

For reference, on my business contract (with Orange), Touch HD was free, N96 was over £60.

One major difference and advantage of iPhone is that it is iconic. Apple has been doing a good job by providing constant update of software to make iPhone (including 1st generation iPhone) up-to-date all the time. Nokia and HTC do not have such "iconic" phones. They just keep introducing new phone models that leave the buyers of "old" phone models in the lurch.

"iPhone OS" is the official name for the OS on the iPhone.

Yes, that kind of what I'm saying. Except I was refering to the ability of the user community to provide updates for the HTC devices while the manufacturers move on to the next big thing...

This article got me playing with the Wife's iPhone again yesterday. So much potential, but just missing too many basics. Anyone know when they will be releasing v3. Might be tempted by that. Though Android may have come a long way by then (Apple are just too control freak).

Zuber