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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  • ?
  • Anonymous
  • L4D
  • 01 Feb 2011

I hate when GSMArena keep comparing N8 with other phones: "The AMOLED is goot but not as impressive as Super AMOLED", "Symbian is behind Android and iOS usability standards", "640x360 is less than iPhone 4 resolution"...
Ah come on, I can't see you guys doing reviews comparing other phones cameras with the N8 camera or comparing other phones features with the N8 HDMI, USB On-the-go, FM transmiter etc!
That's so unfair.

    • ?
    • Anonymous
    • Am9
    • 31 Jan 2011

    Can anyone take a picture of an object (tidy framed A4 sheet, a business card or a barcode-needed by text and business card recognition, Pdf converts, and barcode scanner apps on Android) from under 20 cm with an N8, upload it on the internet and post the link here? Do you have such apps on your N8?

    About "lifetime free navigation".
    Can anyone find an address in "offline" mode in Ovi maps? I can't.
    I can find an address only in online mode. It's free if you are using it in your home network, but so it's Google maps too.
    Once in roaming your "free lifetime navigation" costs you money because you need to be "online" to find an address and to use A-GPS, and so it's with Google maps.
    Why is Nokia promoting such a lie?

      • N
      • NITIN
      • 7jW
      • 19 Jan 2011

      Mr Author
      Your need to update your review since nokia has provided the update for subtitles , just received two days before and working fine.
      when it comes to quality of operating system ask any developper and you will find your answer that symbian is far better than others existing and this is the reason why symbian applications are of less size and why it run smooth even on less powered chip because unlike android its more refined and optimized. Whenever there will be update can be easily updated unlike samsung depending on processor size.

        • A
        • Ariv
        • P$u
        • 19 Jan 2011

        n8 is not working, 11 Nov 2010I received the N8 from Vodafone and found that I can't type... morehey sorry to hear about ur phone dont worry Nokia will replace it just take it to Nokia store and call vodafone to change the IMEI of the new device
        u can call vodafone as well but they will take time
        personally i am not a big iPhone fan
        its all gimmiks just imagine the price is exorbitant
        for what?????
        rest your choice

          • m
          • mobileinsider
          • 2Ir
          • 14 Jan 2011

          dr.dolots, 09 Jan 2011I am using N8 4 a month now, I just got this nokia after us... moreWell,hard to fulfill everybody desire,ppl behind ovi really work hard dat I've seen much difference in s60v5 and symbian3, I don't really know what's your point but 1 thing I sure is this is the last batch of Symbian and they will go with Meego+dual core+1Gb Ram phones very soon like Q2 or Q3 of 2011. Get a life,thriw your phone cos many ppl like it. LOL...what a noob!

            • d
            • dr.dolots
            • utp
            • 09 Jan 2011

            I am using N8 4 a month now, I just got this nokia after using few SE phones for 4yrs, then again this is my first symbian phone.I just wanted to point out the cons cause there are so many articles which gives the pros for the phone..
            Cons- *symbian OS sucked and still sucks a lot, But now atleast i have learned to live with my miserable os life of N8 *VVVV.bad batterylife, 1 Day max with average usability,1/2 day with moderate usability with a couple of snaps with camera and gamin for 1hr or so *OVI pc suite and OVI store is killing me everyday.
            To end this, N8 is an excellent built phone, batterylife and its pc ovi pc sync, Ovi store, and Symbian OS shits right in ur face whenever u use the phone..

              • F
              • Frank
              • 2Ir
              • 07 Jan 2011

              I have both HTC desire HD and N8 but hey! N8 bcome my first mobile rather than desire,cos of it build design,well in recording desire HD can't even beat ip4 ( I know HTC sucks at camera),and N8 camera rocks all the way to any phones by audio and visual quality. For web browsing,it's quite smooth and fast,whoever tested outside of it they know it,don't juz look at fanboys/fangals and inuts' bias opnions, juz try it and have it. I did it to all the things like dat cos they r not my life,they r juz to make my life comfortable. They depend on me,not dat I depend on them >:-D.
              Actually both rock,N8 is better by a bit.

                • R
                • Raj
                • w4Y
                • 06 Jan 2011

                Very slow speed internet...
                Taking long time from vertical to horizontal direction
                Android is always better than symbian...

                I would prefer Iphone or samsung galaxy.....

                  • P
                  • Pawan Nandal
                  • Khr
                  • 05 Jan 2011

                  Nice Phone go for it.

                    • b
                    • barcode
                    • K7e
                    • 31 Dec 2010

                    I wonder if I am the only one experience it w/ n8
                    * slower respond sometimes need to double tap
                    * when shifting from vertical to horizontal position it took a long time before it shift.
                    * the browser surely sucks, cant zoom the pictures on facebook account.

                    if you have any suggestion on it please reply thanks =]]

                      • ?
                      • Anonymous
                      • PEq
                      • 29 Dec 2010

                      N900 user, 15 Dec 2010This N8 doesn't size up to the Maemo-driven N900, which is ... moreDude, nokia will never embrace android. Just google it, by the way the ceo has criticize the android os. So just wait for meego os and i hope it will be better than android....

                        • m
                        • mani
                        • uwU
                        • 18 Dec 2010

                        nokia is simply the best .

                          • s
                          • sandic
                          • vbR
                          • 17 Dec 2010

                          kant, 14 Dec 2010Hi Guyss, I am planning to buy a new phone very soon... but... moreConfused???

                          Just close your eyes and go for NOKIA N8("when comparing N8 with X6 only!")

                            • W
                            • Wave S8500 vs Nokia
                            • vbR
                            • 17 Dec 2010

                            "Wave S8500 vs Nokia N8"
                            GSMARENA View in review!:

                            " Now let’s take a look at the competition to put things in perspective.

                            The Samsung S8500 Wave wins a few points against the N8 on pricing and comes with a much better (though slightly smaller) display. The Bada OS offers better touch experience than Symbian^3. Again, it’s the camera that helps the N8 strike back and this time it even has the apps count in its favor. "

                              • P
                              • PylAnd
                              • pVG
                              • 15 Dec 2010

                              kant, 14 Dec 2010Hi Guyss, I am planning to buy a new phone very soon... but... moreThe best is in your mind!
                              You know what counts for you
                              -looks, -screen, -OS, -UI, -camera, -etc
                              try them in your hands and you deside
                              N8 has better camera and newer OS

                                • N
                                • N900 user
                                • Am5
                                • 15 Dec 2010

                                This N8 doesn't size up to the Maemo-driven N900, which is a far superior phone packed with innovative features..

                                Can't wait for Nokia to embrace Android..

                                Fortunally Nitdroid for N900 is almost ready for a full release..

                                  • k
                                  • kant
                                  • ut9
                                  • 14 Dec 2010

                                  Hi Guyss, I am planning to buy a new phone very soon... but i am confused with NOKIA N8 and NOKIA X6.....which is the best??????? Plssss suggest:-)

                                    • H
                                    • HELLBOY
                                    • 2SQ
                                    • 07 Dec 2010

                                    Hope der will be phone in future which as
                                    12mp camera with xenon flash and led light
                                    Multiple os just like in pc when u have option to go to windows or fedora (Symbian,Android)
                                    Usb on go support for 1tb External drive
                                    Projector,scanner,Super Amoled display with nokia clear black
                                    Battery backup for 1week
                                    100gb in built memory,
                                    dual sim
                                    slim and light
                                    :)

                                      • v
                                      • vikas
                                      • 2SW
                                      • 06 Dec 2010

                                      I am using N8 for one month. Excellent phone and real VFM.Only few improvements can make it No.1.
                                      1.Portrait QWERT typing.
                                      2.Functional speed dial( presently it restarts)
                                      3.Better Browser
                                      4.Better responsive camera interphase.
                                      5.Better file manager (X-plore does not work on it)
                                      If any one can suggest solutions before NOKIA please write.
                                      And belive me there is no perfect phone. If one has better camera ,other has better applications but 5MP camera with no flash, third brand is made for people with same DNA(apple).
                                      Thanks

                                        • p
                                        • pixelgubben
                                        • m}8
                                        • 06 Dec 2010

                                        Bikash Gosai, 30 Nov 2010I've installed kaspersky and my mobile just restart and res... moreHave the same problem.
                                        After intalling Kaspersky 9.0 and activated the program on my N8 the phone cannot be used.
                                        When I try to start a program or a function the phone reboots immediately. So I cannot uninstall the Kaspersky antivirus program either

                                        If you visit the OVI Store it informs you NOT COMPATIBLE with this device:

                                        A visit to Nokia Care Point to re-flash firmware may well be my only option.

                                        Did that today. Hope to get it back later this week.At least it is coverd by thr guarante3