Nokia N8 review: Director of photography

12 October 2010
We’ve come to take Nokia for granted in the low end or the business class but it seems it has lost the knack for killer phones, run out of royal blood. It’s up to the Nseries to fix it all up. The Nokia N8 may just turn out to be the right cure. With that kind of hardware. Update, 08.02.2012: Symbian Belle update hands-on...

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  • K
  • Kintaro
  • t7A
  • 13 Oct 2010

Thanks for the review, GSMArena. I've made a decision based on the reviews so far, and finally including this one, that I am not buying the N8.

Symbian has a long long way to go, and the inability to play HD videos more than 2GB is just one of the bigger stumblings that I thought they wouldn't have a problem with. (The interface issues obviously number 1 reason.) The weaker flash seems to hurt it as well so I might just stick to my N82 for camera purposes while I use an Android for everything else.

Unfortunately Nokia is showing no signs of accelerating their OS development or even moving into Meego anytime soon. Even if they come out with a Meego in a year, imagine what iOS and Android looks like then? Imagine their App stores as well. Sadly, time to move on for me.

    • A
    • Ali Abdulla
    • nCN
    • 13 Oct 2010

    well, for video recording, there is a new hack for autofocus, and recording 720p @ 30fps

      • ?
      • Anonymous
      • t7K
      • 13 Oct 2010

      Meego is Nokia's only saving grace for touchscreen devices. They should leave Symbian to non-touch. Sad to say, but only the camera was N8's selling point and not enough reason to lure me getting this phone. Next....

        • ?
        • Anonymous
        • FJT
        • 13 Oct 2010

        Anonymous, 13 Oct 2010n8 priced 429pounds which is higher than galaxy S. I think the galaxy s is more expensive than the n8 when you buy it unlocked. It would be silly for nokia to price it higher than the galaxy s when the galaxy s is obviously better overall.

          • V
          • Victor
          • P7{
          • 13 Oct 2010

          Best review that I saw about Nokia N8 until today. Great job guys.
          And you know if those things about text input, limitation at video playback, camera tweaks, image galery, email/message app, will have some change in future releases of firmware?
          Thankz anyway.

            • T
            • Tom
            • nyP
            • 13 Oct 2010

            eXuser, 13 Oct 2010the only bad part for me on Nokia N8 are the ffg: 1. old... moreNokia - Best UI, Battery is much better than iPhone where is also irreplaceable battery and nobody complain about it! For WTF you need lens cover ? To get dust and dirt under it ... there is highquality scratch resistant glass and it work great like that!Only a dumbass can complain about nothing.

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • TqC
              • 13 Oct 2010

              Anonymous, 13 Oct 2010Zooming. But I have it turned off so I don't really use th... moren8 priced 429pounds which is higher than galaxy S.

                • ?
                • Anonymous
                • FJT
                • 13 Oct 2010

                Anonymous, 13 Oct 2010u use iph4?? what does three finger touch on iph 4 do?Zooming. But I have it turned off so I don't really use that 3 finger gesture.

                  • ?
                  • Anonymous
                  • TqC
                  • 13 Oct 2010

                  Anonymous, 13 Oct 2010As the reviewer said, the N8 is not intended by nokia to co... moreu use iph4?? what does three finger touch on iph 4 do?

                    • ?
                    • Anonymous
                    • FJT
                    • 13 Oct 2010

                    [deleted post]As the reviewer said, the N8 is not intended by nokia to compete with the iphone4 or galaxy s. Although it does offer a slightly better camera in a way. For me, the n8 is just a step nokia took to finally release a symbian touchscreen phone that's decent, but not good enough to rival the iphone4 or other high end android phones, but it's a good step for nokia.

                    The n8 is more of like a high mid-end phone. It's good, but not good enough to be in the iphone4 or galaxy s category, but it's good enough to make any of its buyers happy, and is actually a great alternative for those who cannot afford an iphone4 or those who cannot stand Apple's controlling nature.

                    I say, congratulations to Nokia for finally getting things right. And this is coming from a happy iphone4 user :)

                      • e
                      • eXuser
                      • v0X
                      • 13 Oct 2010

                      the only bad part for me on Nokia N8 are the ffg:

                      1. old "crappy" UI
                      2. browser - same old story
                      3. no camera lens cover
                      4. 1200 MAH "irreplaceable" battery for a multimedia phone?

                        • N
                        • Nokia Fail
                        • 3Hw
                        • 13 Oct 2010

                        Mike, 13 Oct 2010Thanks for the review GSM, really useful and understandable... moreMeeGo and another maemo device was supposed to be released this year. 2011 is just round the corner and still nothing from Nokia. MeeGo is only available for developers in Beta version.

                        N8 has potential but I doubt any major update or high class games/apps will be available for it. Developers are too busy with iOS4. Do you or anyone see for example, Modern Combat 2, Mirror's Edge, Street Fighter 4 thats for the iPhone heading to the Nokia N8? Don't think so.

                        But the N8 is a beautiful device and its a shame really. I've had so many phones and I always go back to iPhone. But I do have my fingers crossed for the N8

                          • n
                          • nicksti
                          • 4mD
                          • 13 Oct 2010

                          Those are the three phones gsma could find to compete against the N8? Why is the X10 even there? What about some HTC phones? Hmm....

                            • S
                            • Styles
                            • nIX
                            • 13 Oct 2010


                            Good to see how GSMarena sees where Nokia coming from and where the brands going.

                            Great review!

                              • M
                              • Mike
                              • n5S
                              • 13 Oct 2010

                              Thanks for the review GSM, really useful and understandable as ever!

                              As a Nokia fan I think I will wait to see what they can offer us with MeeGo next year, although the N8 really does look like a great mid to high range phone if you're happy using Symbian.

                              It still isn't top of the N series though for me, the N900 still easily retains that title in my opinion.

                                • A
                                • AT
                                • 014
                                • 13 Oct 2010

                                Awsome baby Awsome!!!

                                  • E
                                  • Egy.One
                                  • fv$
                                  • 13 Oct 2010

                                  WoW, Amazing phone..

                                  thanks GSMArena.com