The Nokia N82 on a Belated Pedestal: Out in the Real World again

I have been using the N82 for over a year and I found it to be extremely stable and reliable. Its photographic abilities have not been matched yet as far as I know and it performs well as a phone, organiser and multimedia device. Its main limitations are screen size which renders internet browsing awkward although still possible if necessary and the lack of a full QWERTY keyboard. Although my contract is due for an upgrade I don't intend to do so any time soon as I don't think there's been any major leap in mobile technology since the N82 was released. I would rather wait and upgrade to something which will not be much outdated technologically in 18 months time when my next upgrade will be due.

I own a Nokia N82 too and so far have not found a viable upgrade path. As you mentioned, the xenon flash is invaluable. Using the phone indoors produces the best pictures I have seen from a camera phone. I recently bought a Nokia N79 for my wife and the LED flash is really found lacking compared to the N82. The GPS also works brilliantly, finding a signal very quickly and performing on par or better than my standalone tomtom. Obviously you don't benefit from the large touchscreen that the tomotm has, but it certainly holds onto a signal better.

I was also very sceptical regarding the thin keys but soon got used to them. More than anything the phone just feels very solid and I've been bashing it around for over a year now. I too thought that by now there would have been a phone that had all of the N82 features but better, but to be honest it has just not happened. I can see my sticking with the phone for some time yet.

Complete agree with Steve. I try other phones, like G810, N96 (the worst one), E71, E90, 5800 (the second worst...) and always return to N82. Like the previous comment I thing keep my N82 for more time, or even buy a spare N82, since the price drop and it´s a good deal now. It´s the best camera, GPS, Podcast, and a lot, lot more, always without any reboot and with good battery life (like Steve Said, the low level it´s the screen - dimension and resolution). Sad to see that Nokia it´s on a innovation limit... the time goes away, and nothing match N82.

Couldn't agree more.

Normally around this time of year I would be pondering my next phone but this year there is no incentive to move on from the N82. Even last year I "downgraded" from the N95 to the N82 and it was such a shrewd move.

I'd live to have the iphone interface but I know that I'd be bitterly disappointed with the camera as photos and video capture are a must (young family). I cannot see an S60 device that I'd want to move to and I certainly am not brave enough to dive into any other flavour of smartphone - I've been there done that and got the finger burn marks to show it.

Rock on N82

Yes, you are completely right to put the N82 up on the pedestal, where it belongs!!!

Better late than never... :D

It does belong on a pedestal! I haven't found a greater phone still... My only gripe would be the small screen, but it helps to keep the petite size on the phone. I've tried the N96, 5800, Touch Diamond, Touch Pro, Omnia, G1, and I always go back to my trusty N82!

Wow, completely amazed, this is a very good article and I have to say that I enjoyed reading it very much. Sadly the N82 does not have USA 3G :(

Herself and meself both have one and have never looked back. A sweet, sweet handset and ridiculously cheap with it. To think that none of the Irish operators carried it makes me sad.

Completely Agree. I cant do without my N82, and there's still no S60 device that I consider an upgrade to it. Once you use the Xenon flash, you simply just cannot do with LED (single or Dual) at all.

G810 matched it all the way, and added 3X OZ in to boot :)

My N82 has been my portable media player, a dig cam and web browser. Am sure that the N82 will still remain the best imaging smartphone despite the nearing arrival of the Nokia N86!

i got one (silver) very cheap from subscription...was forced to trade though to "upgrade" to e71...now am back to n82 (black this time)...so far so unmatched: will readily play ipod-sized free video podcasts downloadable from itunes, 5 megapixel of good quality pics, candy bar form (the most rugged, stable, lasting, & durable form factor), long battery life (4 days for me), has all the applications/software i'll ever need (games, bible, office & dictionary). the only way/s it can improve? add dual-led for videos (but retain the xenon for photos), improve screen size to 2.6" or 2.8", amoled, scratch resistant, increase internal memory to 8gb, increase battery capacity (to offset the bigger screen size), replace with qwerty ala e71 (e71 width is still ok for one hand operation) and improve stereo speakers. i dont mind if overall size will increase (heck, i've had the brick e90). i dont want the touchscreen.

long live n87?

Come on Steve,

It's bad enough when the Tabloid Press do it.

Do you honestly think putting a rectangular block over the the eyes of someones face really stops them being identified ?

I always found it a bit silly.

I think some scientific research needs to be done into this. Anyone able to recognise any of the children in the picture ? :)
Zuber

I totally agree.

I also find it a bit depressing that a ~18 month old device is still the best out there. And really, it still have all the features I want from a mobile device, I just wish for something slimmer (13-14mm instead of 17mm) and with another keypad (the N86 keypad looks very good to me).

A new N82 with the N86 keypad, FP2 and the looks of the E51 would be perfect, although I doubt it's possible to make a good xenon flash device that thin as the xenon flash occupy quite a bit of space. Oh, and the damn media key should go away. No extra keys, I want my symmetric look.

if the device has to be 17mm thick for a xenon flash i REALLY do not mind it bein 17mm thick...

It doesn't. 6220 Classic is 15,2mm and I'm sure they would be able to get it below 14mm if they tried, and still give the phone a decent 5mp camera.

After trying different phones such as iPhone 3g, samsung omni, blackberry bold, etc. I must say that I'm very found of my n95 8gb nam and wouldn't trade it in for nothing. Can't have it all on a device but n95 comes close.

Jon Pritchard

I agree that the N82 is one of the best devices out there still. You cannot match the quality of the shots, although in night shots I get really bad red eye even with the reduction turned on. The keypad was also an initial sticking point for me when I was considering buying it, but it's proved to be fine in day-to-day use.

The only things I wish my N82 had were the battery life that everyone else is talking about, I get barely a day out of mine... thinking about replacing the battery there.

I wander if the Sony Ericsson C905 can compete with these shots, as it too has a Xenon flash but an 8 Megapixel camera.

Despite hardware acceleration FP2 phones like the 5800 and N85 feel faster in day to day use and in video tasks that you would expect the N82 to do better in.

After getting my N82 I wouldn't buy another Nokia without Xenon flash, I don't care if it adds a bit of thickness, the N86 should've had a Xenon flash with a protected lense, and then bar the horrible face keys, it would've been the mobile to get.

I agree, this phone is Da Bomb. Specially now that there is a brightness hack.
But a tiny 2'4 screen is a crime.

Its about time Steve, N82 has been drawing legions of supporters all over the world specially now that the price have dropped significantly, I could now see more and more people using it and read more and more positive feedbacks and comments about it. This is the only phone that has this effect after a year or so of existence. Usually support wane out as time pass by but its totally opposite for N82. I could read several comments from people who have been to N95, iPhone, N96, N85, N79, N78, Omnia among others who are now using N82. Isn't that fascinating?

You are absolutely right Steve..and you sure do have good eyes!
I have been looking at the current models of the N series (apart from the N97 of course), the only ones worth buying are either N82, N95/N95 8GB, if you want a true monster phone that is..
Thanks for the review, it makes me more convince on recommending it to someone who is new to S60 phones =D

Is it worth getting with the N97 so close?

I already have an N95 8GB (and a 5800) but it's getting a little creaky around the edges.

Thoughts?

It is sad that after creating such a fantastic device Nokia went braindead and haven't been able to create anything better. I really hope their creativity hasn't peaked.

N82 is also my weapon of choice and I don't see another device in the market I could 'upgrade' to.

do you think that it is worth to upgrade my n82 to omnia hd?

n82 is really a good phone, but omnia hd looks very promising

I'm interested... take away the 5MP camera with Xenon flash and lens cover - is the N82 fundamentally better than most N-series phones of the same era?