Nokia N96

Nokia seems to have another winner here. Not only has the redesign resulted in a slimmer and lighter handset with a larger screen, the improved feature set and DVB-H reception (availability depends on the region and country) will certainly attract new users as well as upgraders from the N95. The N96 is expected to ship in Q3'2008 and we should have a full review of the unit by then.

Frankly, we were a little relieved that Nokia did not go the way of a certain US phone maker (motorola) which latched onto a popular RAZR-thin design for too long, performing just minor upgrades for years. Though the first thing to strike you about the N96 is its generous 16GB of internal storage, the new phone is lighter and slimmer than the two N95 models that came before it. We took a pre-production model and gave it a brief once-over for an initial impression.

Upside: The redesign didn't just stop at the physical dimensions. Both the front and rear of the phone are now coated in a glossy black paint, while the slider rails on the sides of the keypad are now gone. This omission is greatly welcomed as it prevents the flank-side keys from being obstructed.

A kick stand has also been incorporated around the rear camera lens, while the 3.5mm headphone jack has been relocated to the top (like on the N82). The only design similarity it has with the two N95s is that the N96 is also a dual slider, though the keys have now been replaced with glossy black backlit keys instead of rubber buttons.

The N96 has a generous 16GB of memory (twice the capacity compared with the 8GB N95), which can be extended via the hot-swappable microSD expansion card slot on the side. It has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth with support for A2DP profile, HSDPA, built-in GPS as well as an FM radio. Nokia has also introduced a new geotagging feature on the N96 which we will be keen to try out once we have a commercial set. If it works like it's supposed to, it could give external GPS travel loggers some competition.

The media player has been upgraded to handle more audio and video formats than the older model. In fact, the N96 can now handle flash videos on YouTube sites like the iPhone. There's also a TV-out feature which allows the display to be projected onto a larger screen.

In some regions with DVB-H service, the N96 has an integrated chip to receive these signals. It can even record programs for future viewing. Hence, you may find yourself easily filling up the 16GB of internal storage in no time at all. The stereo speakers are also a welcomed addition for improved audio output.

Downside: Whereas the N95 and the N95 (8GB) used the common mini-USB port for data connection, the N96 went with micro-USB similar to the N82. Though Nokia includes this cable in the package, nonetheless you may start missing the use of the ubiquitous mini-USB cables you have lying around.

The 5-megapixel CMOS camera on the back now comes with two LED lights. Considering that the N82 has a Xenon flash module which we found to be more powerful than the one on the Sony Ericsson K850i, we are a little bit disappointed at this omission from the company's latest flagship handset. In addition, it also appears that the N96 may not have a front-facing camera for video calls.

I think it still looks like a mobile phone.

I will still stick with my LG Viewty for now till September when singtel bring in the i-phone S$690.