Nokia N95 with US 3G Cell Phone Review
By Alfredo Padilla
Reviewed.com Editorial Staff
Published on December 30, 2007
The Nokia N95 with US 3G is an updated version of Nokia’s tremendously successful do-it-all N95. This model improves on several draw-backs from the original, including a bump in memory, higher capacity battery and support for AT&T’s fast 3G network – the previous model only suppoted the slower EDGE network. Physically the handset is little changed, with the only major difference being a slight increase in the thickness to accommodate the larger battery and the loss of the camera cover . It’s still a dual slide design with a keypad in one direction and media controls in the other. The new N95 is only available unlocked and will set you back $699 from Nokia USA.
Making calls on the new N95 is just is simple, just slide it open to reveal the keypad and start dialing. The skeypad and the end and end buttons are a little small and the need to slide open the phone will slow you down a bit;this isn't the quickest slider phone we've tested. As a Series 60 smart phone the organizer features are robust; it can handle everyday organizer tasks without breaking a sweat.
The audio quality of the new N95 is a little mixed. Sound sent by the phone was good, but sound received was reduced in lower frequencies and too exaggerated at higher frequencies. This means that voices may sound a little thin and reedy.
Like the first iteration of the N95 this new version is a multimedia powerhouse. Not only is there good support for music and video playback but you can also capture excellent photos with the five-megapixel auto-focus camera. The N95 put up some of the best scores we’ve seen from a cell phone camera. Although it doesn't compare with a dedicated high-end camera, it's definitely good enough for snapshots. Video capture is also excellent at 640 x 480 and thirty frames per second. This isn’t as good as a camcorder, but is as good as the video captured by high-end digital cameras. Those looking to create and consume media on the N95 will be very happy with its capabilities.
The Symbian Series 60 software used on the N95 has been slightly updated from previous versions but should still be largely familiar to anyone who has used the platform before. Nokia has improved the new N95’s multi-tasking capabilities by doubling the amount of RAM over the previous version. This means that “out of memory” errors that were common on the original N95 are no longer a problem on the new version. This update also improves the overall responsiveness of the device. As with previous versions the new N95 also supports GPS functionality, and offers turn-by-turn directions for an additional subscription fee.
The web browser on the N95 is one of the best we’ve seen on a mobile device. It renders web pages like you would see them on your desktop and provides a handy “mini-map” that shows the entire page, while still allwing you to zoom in on the content you want. Helping to improve the browser experience is the support for AT&T’s 3G network. Previous versions of the N95 only supported 3G in Europe and Asia so customers in the U.S. were relegated to slower speeds. The new N95 supports download speeds up to 1.8 megabits per second and this makes browsing the web a much faster and more satifying experience.
One of the costs of using a high speed 3G network is that they are notoriously battery hungry. This means that despite the larger battery found on the new N95 it actually performed worse on our battery tests across the board. Talk time was only three hours forty-two minutes. This means that if you spend a lot of time talking on your phone or you use all of its varied features you may find yourself looking for a wall charger rather soon.
The new Nokia N95 with support for AT&T’s 3G network addresses many of the problems that plagues the original iteration, but not all of them. We were very pleased to see support for AT&T’s 3G network, but the impact on battery life was significant. Those looking for a phone with excellent still and video capture capabilities will be very pleased with the N95’s five megapixel camera and its an excellent multimedia device overall. We were also pleased that the increase in memory means that you can use all of the functions it offers without worrying about “out of memory” errors. Those looking for the ultimate all-in-one device (and who don't mind paying extra for these features) will find a lot to like with the N95, you just might want to keep a spare battery handy.For a more in-depth review, visit the Nokia N95 with US 3G Review at our partner WirelessInfo.com
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