Nokia N95-3 US 3G Edition: History Lesson

The N95 first hit the market back in 2007 just before the world was shocked by the iPhone. The N95 was defined as multimedia computing and literally brought nearly every possible feature to a single device; digital camera, gps, radio, tv output, mp3 player, video camera. There are currently 4 models of the N95, all of which are notated by the number following the N95 naming structure (N95-1, N95-2 8GB, N95-3, N95-4 8GB). Both the N95-3 and N95-4 are designed for US 3G bands while the N95-1 and N95-2 were designed for the European 3G spectrum. The biggest criticisms involving the Nokia N95 revolve around the lack of a QWERTY keyboard and the $699 price tag, but are these truly flaws in the device or exaggerations? After thorough testing and using the N95-3 exclusively for a 3 week period which is unheard of in the ever changing world of cellphones I will weigh in my results.

Nokia N95-3 US 3G Edition: Specifications

The specs on the Nokia N95-3 pack features starting with a 5 Megapixel camera with 640×480 Video Recording, GPS & A-GPS capabilities, TV-Video ouput with included cable, dual sliding for both a standard 10 key and seperate multimedia buttons. I will not recycle data here so I will direct you to the Nokia Spec list instead N95-3 Nokia Spec Sheet

Nokia N95-3: My Thoughts Value vs Features
My background in cell phones has generally been geared towards QWERTY devices so my initial opinion of standard T9 based devices has been skewed in the past. With that being said, it would take a remarkable device in order to convince me to leave behind my keyboard and opt for a more feature rich device as my primary phone. The Nokia N95-3 accomplished exactly that and it did so by doing what Apple iPhone commercials hyped up. It replaced my mp3 player, my digital camera and video camera into a single device and gave me nearly unlimited potential in my multiemdia endeavors.

The biggest selling points for the Nokia 95-3 started with the GPS. I immediately added GoogleMaps to the N95-3 when I first setup the device because I have used the Maps applications on previous Nokia devices such as the Nokia E90 Communicator. Since I previously owned a Helio Ocean I felt comfortable doing my mapping and directions with Google Maps and I must say the GPS was very quick in response time. With the exception of a few instances where I was attempting to plot my position indoors, the GPS was able to locate my location within a few meters in only a matter of seconds. I was immediately a fan of the GPS and realized what I was missing using the HTC Mogul and HTC Touch over the past few months.

Nothing can reiterate the ability of a phone packing a 5MP camera and record 640×480 video. The possibilities with this caliber of a camera/video camera combo are endless in the world of multimedia, blogging, and reviews. I know the iPhone sells itself on being the all in one device, but there is no competition when its comes to creating print quality photos and Youtube ready film from a camera. With a decent 5Mp camera running roughly $200 it is easy to understand the hefty price tag of the Nokia N95-3. Take a look at the sample gallery of pictures I took using the Nokia N95-3 over the past few weeks here

Nokia N95-3 Sample Pictures

To add fuel to the fire when it comes to multimedia, the Nokia N95-3 comes equipped with a tv output cable in the box. You are able to watch slideshows and share the phone interface with the TV although the included output cables are Composite cables (Red Yellow White) the feature is impressive. Being able to leave a small cable in the car for those moments when you want to show off a video at a party or event are priceless. I found this feature to be very useful and it immediately made up for the fact that the Nokia N95-3 only packs a 2.6″ screen which seems dwarfed in comparison to the screen of the Apple iPhone.

The Nokia N95-3 is a S60 device which basically means that there is plenty of software and 3rd party support for the phone. You are free install applications at your own leisure either by downloading sisx files to your phone or via the PC link established when you use the included USB data cable with the Nokia N95-3. The most interesting applications I found useful were the Sports Tracker application which monitors your exercise or travel using GPS data as well as the Lifeblog application. Being a blogger, makes the lifeblog application very useful and functional in being able to instantly post pictures, videos and text directly to a website. I feel that these applications really push the limits of mobile blogging.

Beyond the camera, gps, and 3rd party software the improved battery of the Nokia N95-3 over the original Nokia N95-1 really made the difference in choosing the phone as my daily driver. Pocket PCs are great devices, but the biggest weakness in packing features and increased data speeds is battery life.

Battery: Nokia Battery (BL-6F) 1200mAH

Talk time: up to 160min (WCDMA), up to 240 min (GSM)*

Stand-by time: up to 200 hours (WCDMA), up to 225 hours (GSM) *

With all of the features on the Nokia N95-3, the battery capacity is excellent without adding bulk to the device. In the end I have realized that the capabilities of the Nokia N95-3 far outweigh the price tag and the lack of a QWERTY keyboard by creating a truley do-it-all device without requiring carrying a 2 pound device. Not having to fill my pockets with several devices to accomplish the same task that the Nokia N95-3 can do in a single lightweight and compact phone is simply excellent. Even with the announcement of the Samsung G810 Smartphone hot on the heels of Nokia N95-3 success.

On a sidenote: keep in mind the Nokia N95-3 fully sports youtube.com so do not worry about not having a Youtube application like your iPhone friends.

Nokia N95 Photo Gallery