Nokia N95 Review

Overall Rating

- Huge high quality screen
- 5mp camera
- Built in GPS system
- Nokia

- Battery life not perfect
- Phone speaker low grade (although stereo music speakers are superb)

I have always had a smart phone. As long as it's been possible, I have been downloading symbian based software and showing off my vastly superior handsets. My last phone was the Nokia N80, the N95's predecessor. The N80 was a fantastic phone that did everything. But it had its flaws. The N95 is the solution. The N95 does more and it does it better, faster and more stylishly. OK, enough with the raving, on with the review.
The N95 has amazing specs. It's features include: a 5mp camera with full VGA video recording, two way sliding keypad, built in GPS, internet browser, wi-fi, and 160mb built in memory to name a few. The camera on the N95 is great for any general snap or a prepared photo with both automatic and manual settings. It features a lens cover to prevent scratches unlike the N80. There is a proper flash built in so the camera can essentially be used in almost pitch black (although the quality will be reduced). When you open up the lens the camera automatically activates and switches to which ever mode you where in last (video/photo). To take a photo you use the camera button on the side (so holding it like a normal camera). The button has a proper camera design with the half press focusing. It is quick to take the photo but can take a few seconds to save if you have it set to 5mp (you can also set it to 3mp and smaller). The video quality is also very impressive and matches (if not beats) that of most modern digital compact cameras. Even when watched on TV with the video uplink it is still good quality. The video also records at 30fps (frames per second), so is as good a quality as you will ever need in that respect.
The internet browser is a supercharged version of the N80's software. It works faster and is capable of handling larger web pages. You can save web pages as bookmarks or download them and save them to memory card. When you start up the browser it asks you what connection you want to use. You can either use one of your phone network's connections or any local wi-fi points. You can view the internet either in side view or in vertical mode and can use different zooms and resolutions. With regards to the different views, you can in-fact use every function on the phone either in horizontal or vertical mode but if in the horizontal mode you can not use the keypad, so you can't write a text etc.
If you slide the keypad one way you get the standard keypad, the other way and you have a media control panel that allows you to control music and video's quickly and easily. When opened this way a media control centre is activated. This gives you easy access to your photo's, videos, music, internet, etc.
The GPS is one of the main selling points of the N95; it is a unique feature for a mobile phone to have a 'built in' GPS function. It allows you to do everything a Tom-Tom can and more. It can take up to 3 or 4 mins to get a satellite lock but generally wont loose signal once it has locked on. You can get directions for driving or on foot, find your current location and be navigated step by step as you drive. The last function there requires a small annual subscription but everything else is free. You can, if you want boosted signal attach an external GPS unit. The phone has 160mb built in memory but can take up to 2gb using a micro SD card.
The music player is compatible with most formats including mp3, aac and wma. It has all the standard functions such as fast forward, rewind, pause random, repeat etc and also an equaliser. You can search by artist, album, track name, genre or you can create and manage your own playlists. You can listen to the music through the built in stereo speakers which have good quality up to quite a loud level. If you want to listen to your music in private, you can use any standard headphones in the built in jack in the side of the phone. Data can be transferred either by wifi, Bluetooth, infrared, or USB using the built in mini USB port on the base of the phone.
Making a phone call or a video on the call is simple and instrenuous. One thing though is the earpiece for making phone calls does have a noticeable high pitch ringing background noise however you get used to it quickly and soon forget that its even there. The one other partially negative comment I would have about the phone is the battery life. There has been a lot of criticism over it which I can understand but taking into consideration what the phone is cape able of I think it is an understandable battery length. You can expect a heavily used phone to last between 18 and 28 hours.
Let me put it this way; I've just got back from a walk on my lunch break. On that walk I have done the following; checked my global position, made a couple of phone calls, listened to some music, checked the football results online, got directions using my current position and taken a couple of photo's that I sent to a friend. I did this all on the N95. Now if that doesn't impress you, I don't know what will.