Why The Nokia N97 Is Better Than The iPhone
Although it has not yet gone to market, the Nokia N97 has already given a lot to talk. With expectations that will be the smartest smartphone on the planet, the N97 has been subjected to comparisons with several smartphone devices from other manufacturers, including the Sony Ericsson X1, the Samsung Omnia HD, and finally the Apple iPhone.
In fact, the iPhone was the chosen one by “Erazo”, from NokiaN97.com, for a comparison with the N97.
Not neglecting the capacity and the iPhone phenomenon, we discovered some advantages that make the N97 a much more interesting device than it’s rival:
- The differences in display and camera are obvious, and the N97 has a 360 x 640 screen resolution and a 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss lens, LED flash and autofocus, against the iPhone screen resolution of 320 x 480 and a 2 megapixel camera without flash and autofocus. Yet, the Nokia N97 has a front camera, the iPhone does not.
- On the keyboard, the iPhone only supports the touchscreen technology, while the N97, in addition also has a QWERTY keyboard, facilitating a lot the sending of SMS or E-mails, in addition to a greater writing speed.
- The N97 has an internal memory of 32GB, with the possibility of expanding the memory using a microSD card, while the iPhone has only 8 or 16GB of internal memory, without the option of using memory cards.
- Finally, the N97 loads the Symbian S60 (5th edition) platform, which is much more popular and mature than iPhone OS, providing a much wider range of applications, games, among others, to use on your device.
We at the s60blog are of the opinion that the N97 is a better all-round phone as it is GREAT LOOKER as well as a PERFORMER.
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What do you think of this comparison? Share your opinion with us in the comments section below. If you want, read this article in Portuguese here.
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March 29th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
i totally aggree with all of these! Before the n97 came to the picture, iphone always won in the aspect of media and entertainment…but with gigs of internal memory and hardware like that, i think the iphone killer has been really born!
March 30th, 2009 at 7:00 am
Umm… I think the first 3 points are great comparisons, but the 4th is a little subjective. There are quite a few quality games and apps for the iPhone if you haven’t noticed. I’m a big fan of Nokia phones (I use N85) and would really like to try the N97, but they have a ways to go to catch up to the iPhone OS.
March 30th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
it is so fucking stupidly naive to say that S605th edition is more popular than Iphone, I am personally the 5800XM user, but I find my phone sucks at speed and especially, the stupid look of s605th UI, it is so slow, lagging, and ugly, and totally not intuitive.
my point is, nothing is ever perfect, iPhone is too expensive to buy, it is dont even have a front camera, WTF?
in a simple line, I love N97′s hardware design, exterior, but the software is lame.
March 30th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
you know what, iPhone’s hardware exterior design sucks, but its software UI and workflow rocks.
so fuck it S605th Nokia OEM edition, even Sony Ericssion’s Idou has a better interface.
March 30th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
i think it’s no point to compare N97 with iPhone especially in front of iPhone users. even they find N97 offers a lorry load of great features that cannot be found in their beloved iPhone, they won’t switch.
the point is Apple has the magic to turn users into evangelists, while Nokia has not. moreover, what iPhone impresses people is not the number of features, but the way people could enjoy the feature.
i’m also a 5800 user, i feel satisfied, but i could be tempted by other handsets; while my friends with iPhone won’t share the same feeling.
March 30th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
I agree 100% with ben. I have been saving all my money for the N97 , but have several doubts on the device itself now after seeing Omnia HD and the Iphone 3.0 OS
All the major gripes we had of the iphone (copy/paste, MMS, Bluetooth etc etc) has been ironed out in the new OS upgrade, where as the Omnia HD trumps the N97 in ALL the hardware specs.
The N97 is bettwer than iphone for now, but once next version iphone will come out(somehwhere between july and next jan) then this wont matter. What I feel is that the major diference is how Apple has handled the developers, and hats off to the App store, there is nothing like that in Symbian or in Nokia’s Kitty.
I strongly belive Ovi store is a right direction, but as always after the Iphone had been launched, Nokia is trying to catch up, which wil not work out so much because of the domination and fan folllowing apple has and the popularity of the app store.
So do I think the N97 is better than Iphone, am afraid not at the moment, because its too little too late by nokia.
March 30th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
I wish someone would just do a straight fact-by-fact comparison. Not seen one yet. For example:
Size:
Weight:
Battery:
Camera:
Memory:
Talk-time:
etc.
You know, typical phone stuff with nothing subjective. This way, I am sure that the N97 will look very favourable in many areas but in others, like size, it will appear to be a veritable brick!
March 30th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
Tell the N97 is better than the iphone because of the hardware is the same as compare Playstation3 with the Wii…
I had the 5800 is and is damn buggy and slow. The iPhone is far easier to use. Also nobody cares about 16 or 32 gb (tell that to my grandma) so stop using the hardware.
Hope nokia solve the software part, the learning curve for Symbian on these new touch S60.
March 30th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
uhhh…minor problem with this review – you CAN actually get an iPhone now and canNOT get the n97.
March 30th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
It’s interestong how far this article is going. Guys, I have made those questions to myself too, but I want to see how good will N97 be against iPhone or any other device. Sony Ericsson Idou and Samsung Omnia HD are very strong competitors along iPhone against N97, so let’s wait and see what Nokia is preparing for us.
March 30th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
n97 will beat iphone in hardware specs. but omnia HD is NOT better then n97. it has no 32 gb, no hardware qwertz, not that laptop style opening. it has a better camera, a better screen and maybe better cpu gpu. that was it. and video recording with omnia hd is horrible. asyncron and a lot of framedrops.
March 30th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
@ Ganxta
Like someone said before, who needs 32Gb storage?! You guys talk some bad things about iPhone, but I don’t know anyone who owns an iPhone and says bad things about it.
Actually, they love it, everyone says it’s the best mobile phone for professionals, etc. I would prefer a N97 instead of a iPhone, but I want to get it in my hands first and then decide, because sometimes what it looks like, it’s not what it is.
March 31st, 2009 at 1:46 am
I am a proud, happy N95 and E71 owner but lets get a reality stop here. The n97 hasn’t been handled by anybody except a privledged few. Who knows when it’s coming out. When it does, my guess is you will have to part with 7-800$ or somewhere therabouts. At that point, wouldn’t you be expecting a device that is head and shoulders better? You can buy 2or 3 iphones for that. Also, it takes a great leap of faith to just poopoo the apple os and app store for symbian. Granted there are a lot of useless apps for the iphone, but the same can be said for symbian. The ovi store (another aspect that NOBODY has seen or tried yet) will have a 2 year catching up period. I hope it all works out as I am looking formward to getting an n97, but I will be a bit wary of parting with that much cash at the start. I tell everyone I know that the e71 is my favorite phone I have ever owned, just surpassing my n95. I hope the streak can stay alive when the n97 hits town.
March 31st, 2009 at 2:47 am
@ Bill
That’s the point, the N97 might be an excellent device but just a few have tried it yet, and for sure all of them are “Nokians”, so their opinion may be influenced by that.
The iPhone is maybe the most intelligent device available now, even the other day I read that more than 50% of all internet connections on mobile phones in the US are made through iPhone devices. lol
I think that if people didn’t like it they would just buy another mobile phone.
March 31st, 2009 at 3:18 am
Carlos,
I don’t think judging the public acceptance of a device is a true barometer of that device. I have iphone owners who show me how they can get on the internet and are shocked when I explain to them that I was doing that 6 years ago on my Moto mpx200 while playing the godfather from my sd chip. It’s just that certain folks can’t handle the techological saavy needed to properly use certain devices. That’s where iphones come in, and that’s great. I own the ipod touch and dabble with the wifi around my house every day. I find some things just work well. Others, such as that damn keyboard, are relatively useless to me. I can type an email in a quarter of the time on my e71. But that’s just me. As long as your happy with it…..
March 31st, 2009 at 5:15 am
@ Bill
I agree with you. In fact, it’s obvious why did iPhone has so much success when it was launched (and it keeps having success as we all know) but I didn’t understand why people were so “Wow” about the internet access. A lot of mobile phones had Internet on it’s software for years, like your old Motorola device.
The thing is, a lot of people make comparaisons between Nokia and other manufacture’s devices, but… comparaisons not too clear. Which means, a lot of their opinions are influenced by their love for Nokia, and don’t get focus on what it matters, because Samsung, Sony Ericsson, IPHONE, Blackberry.. any one of these manufactures they have good devices that do what people want: shoot pictures, listen to music, internet/e-mail access. The iPhone and BlackBerry are maybe the best examples.
That’s why I say that, despite I do believe that N97 might become the “smartest smartphone” of all, on that time there will be another iPhone version, or more “Samsung Omnia Hd’s” that may beat the N97.
April 1st, 2009 at 12:40 am
@Carlos
The problem with N97 or any other phone Nokia comes up now, is that it has to compete with the iphone. No matter what class you put the “smart phone”‘s of Nokia it will invariabley be compared with the Iphone. Thats where the real worry is, because what the Iphone has shown is that SOFTWARE is the major part of the “Smart phone” package, and with all fairness to Nokia and Symbian, S60 (touch) has to catch up a lot with Iphone OS in the usability department.
I say this because I TRIED liking the 5800 and the S60 V5 (touch) , but it was in vain. I was getting frustrated after just 2-3 minutes because of the inconsistancy of the menus and confirmtaions etc. THIS IS fine in case of my N95 which I have for last 2 years, but putting a touch layer on top of it just is not going to work when you are competing agianst a interface like the Iphone has.
Also with the Iphone 3.0 release they are catching up with most of the major features of the top phone OS out ther(symbian,blackberry,Winmo), but they still have to catch up a lot (especialy in the background app scenario,,,I mean push notification WTF??)
So invariably Nokia has to put their noses ahead by doing good with the software in hand, and unless they show HUGE improvements in the N97 version of S60 and also promote the OVI store extenseivly, I dont see them catching up with the juggernaut thats Iphone.
April 1st, 2009 at 7:04 am
@ Bossrulez
Like you say, I hope they to promote extensivelu the Ovi Store, otherwise… it will become another dead service in a manner of time..
April 1st, 2009 at 8:07 pm
I want to add one point that, since 5800XM or N97 is smart phone, but the music player isnt good enough to compare to iPhone.
April 14th, 2009 at 7:32 am
People people. Please listen. Do you still think the N97 will be better than the Iphone with the next software update coming in June? the Iphone 3.0. update?
I'm really doubting if I should buy the Nokia N97 or an Iphone. Can you help me to choose. I just want the best;)
April 14th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
People people. Please listen. Do you still think the N97 will be better than the Iphone with the next software update coming in June? the Iphone 3.0. update?
I'm really doubting if I should buy the Nokia N97 or an Iphone. Can you help me to choose. I just want the best;)
June 24th, 2009 at 10:31 am
I'm planning to buy N97 but I don't know yet if nokia would be launching new firmware updates, or improvements to the S60 5th ed UI. Does anybody know? Are patches/updates in the works?
December 10th, 2009 at 7:32 am
The I phone might have a better reputation but n97 has a better everything. trust me i own one. the only draw back is the price
May 21st, 2010 at 3:06 pm
i think that the better phone is n97 brcause it hase alot of things that no phone has but iphone its to cool & both are for bussnise , so i think i will buy n97
May 21st, 2010 at 3:16 pm
n97 is the unbelivible phone in the world i recamend that all the peaple buy an n97 , but i think that the apple iphone is for the teenage ,but the iphone keyboard its to hard to type on it exapt for n97 keyboard its to easier keyboard , but the iphone has better GPS than the nokia n97 , but i think i will buy nokia n97