Nokia N81 8GB review: N-series N-gaged

N-series on the internet

You know what we think of Nokia smartphone browsers - they are simply great. The large display makes things even better. Even the most elaborate web pages fit on the screen and look just like on PC. There is the mouse cursor, which can be operated through the D-pad. As usual, it works great and is very easy to control. A semi-transparent mini-map of the page appears on the screen when scrolling. The mini-map can also be accessed for faster scrolling by pressing the "8" key. You can zoom in and out on the page using the "*" and "#" buttons. Naturally, all those functions are also available in the options associated to the left selection key.

Browsing is very fast and even complex pages didn't cause any slowdowns in scrolling or zooming. The browser also handles Flash objects and Java scripts with ease. All-in-all, it's another great job from Nokia. The large screen of Nokia N81 adds up to a remarkable result.

Browsing with a Nokia smartphone browser is sheer pleasure

Being organized

Coming to the organizing options, we find another of Nokia N81's good sides. It has, as you might have expected, the whole package of organizer applications and features of Symbian S60 phones. The calendar has Month, Week and Day views. The four events you can schedule in the calendar are: Meeting, Anniversary, Memo and To-do. All of those have their own unique fields and settings allowing even further customization.

The calendar has month, week and day views, as well as four types of events to schedule

Applications however aren't as many as we would have liked on Nokia N81. The Quickoffice is missing, and so is the ZIP manager. At least the PDF reader is present but we do hope that in the retail version more of the office applications will be loaded. Else, you'll have to go to Nokia's download center.

The PDF reader is doing a nice job

On a different note, a converter, calculator and voice recorder are available, as well as the Notes application. They offer the usual decent functionality.

Some of the other organizing applications: converter, calculator and voice recorder

N-gage gaming

Welcome to the new N-gage world

Nokia N81 will come with three preinstalled games. All of them are based on the new N-gage platform and even the demo versions promise a pleasant pastime. The keys above the display also contribute to the improved gaming experience. You can take a look at our videos for a feel of the games on N81. At this stage purchasing the full games from the N-gage site is not yet available but it's expected to start in the nearest future. Then we'll also know what a game would cost to buy. It is sure however, that these games will excel at both graphics and interface and, as the list of expected titles shows, there will be something for everyone.

Space Impact Light on Nokia N81

FIFA 2007 on Nokia N81

Asphalt 3 Street Rules on Nokia N81

Game over

Reviewing the Nokia N81 was fun, except for the short periods when it got on our nerves with its awkward D-pad. Having in mind that some of its disadvantages will be fixed, we think a strong and able Symbian device is joining up the ranks. A screen of this size is not so often seen, while its gaming powers add up to a really exciting gadget. There's no doubt however that the N81 is quite a niche product, even if it's not as outspokenly eccentric as its N-gage siblings. It's worth considering how many people will be tempted by the rich smartphone functionality and turned down by the excessively youthful image of the gaming-happy N81. The hefty price tag is no surprise but it may cause many to think twice before choosing a Nokia N81 over N95 for example. If you ask us, we'll definitely go for the N95, never mind its inadequate battery. Plus, the N81 is the game-centered device in the N-series, but many of its teammates are compatible with the N-gage games anyway.

This Nokia N81 8GB review comes to you thanks to importgsm.com.