Nokia N96 vs iPhone 3G
Techtree News Staff, Aug 20, 2008 0829 hrs IST
We take a close look at their specs and features and try to gauge which one of the two offers better value
The Nokia N96 will be going against the Apple iPhone next month. The release date of N96 has been advanced -- it was only expected sometime past October. The N96 has all the right specs to go against the iPhone, which will be officially available on August 22nd.
First things first -- price? Well, the official price of the N96 is currently unknown. The N96 can be priced anywhere between Rs. 28,000 and Rs. 36,000, and the iPhone will sell for Rs. 31,000 for the 8GB version and Rs. 36,100, for the 16GB version. Although, as we note later in this piece, it would be wise for Nokia to price the N96 significantly less than the iPhone 3G -- it is, after all, Nokia's market share to lose.
On to the comparison then. While the iPhone includes a 3.5-inch screen, the N96 comes with a 2.8-inch one -- the iPhone's is a multi-touch screen, while the N96's isn't. The iPhone seems to enjoy a better footing as far as its user interface is concerned; especially with that 3.5-inch screen. In every other aspect however, the Nokia N96 seems to have an upper hand.
- The Nokia N96 has dedicated keys for dialing and SMS. The iPhone 3G comes with a virtual keyboard.
- Both devices will come with 16GB of internal memory. However, the N96 supports the microSD format which will allow for an additional 8GB of storage. The iPhone has no expansion slots.
- Both devices will support 3G.
- The N96 supports Bluetooth with A2DP, the iPhone does not offer A2DP support. Both phones offer WiFi.
- The N96 sports a 5MP Carl Zeiss lens with auto-focus and an LED flash. Compare this to the iPhone's 2MP camera. Both support photo geotagging.
- Both devices will support A-GPS. The N96 adds value to this feature by bundling maps from three countries along with the unit. India, Singapore and the UAE will come bundled with a 3 month navigation license across eight Indian cities: Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi/NCR, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Mumbai and Pune.
- N96 comes preloaded with Wave Secure, a S60 security application that allows consumers to track their handset in the event it is lost or stolen. It also allows them to backup their phone data over the Internet.
- Both devices support multimedia features and play videos and music. Here too, the N96 will add value to its proposition: it will come bundled with a full-length Hindi feature film -- Om Shanti Om, 50 music videos, and a mix of 100 Hindi and 100 English songs.
- The N96 will also pack along three N-Gage games, with an unlimited license on for the 3rd edition of Asphalt Urban.
- The N96 also comes with an additional VGA camera on its face for making video calls. Handy when we do get 3G connections.
- The iPhone has the App Store for third-party applications, while the N96 has the plethora of apps made for the Symbian S60.
If you are wondering which of these phones to pick up, we suggest waiting a bit until our labs does a thorough job of testing both of them. The iPhone's review should be ready for your perusal on the 22nd of August; the N96's not too long after that.
It's a shame that we have no official word on Nokia N96's price -- that would make a value comparison much easier at this stage. It looks like both parties are playing the price card very close to their chest.
Our take on the price equation: Nokia cannot afford to let the iPhone get the upper hand in the consumer market that both are targeting. While Nokia holds about 60% of the market in India, it will certainly need to guard against the Apple juggernaut. Note that the same retailers that pushed Nokia products will now be carrying the iPhone as well. Considering that, it would be wise if Nokia prices the N96 at a significantly lower point than the iPhone 3G.
Which one would you go for -- the iPhone 3G or the Nokia N96? You can book your Nokia N96 at www.nokia.co.in/N96. Note that you will need to pay a pre-order amount of Rs. 4,000. The N96 will be available come September.
Pics from the press conference. The real phone is expected to be much smaller:
USER COMMENTS
it seems to be absolutely difficult to compare these 2. N96 wins on functionality..iphone has a great coolness factor.. http://binaryday.com/2008/08/26/nokia-n96-vs-iphone/
by binaryday, mumbai, on Sep 18, 2008 01:53 AM, Report abuse Reply
This is unreal competition just because Nokia is toper in mobile handset sells and N96 is their topmost model it cant come to compete with iPhone Have Nokia ever given a successfull touch screen fone 6708 was just a flop a fone cannot complete with iPhone unless and untill it has touchscreen or atleast qwerty keypad N96 has none of these features on the otherhand it is as bulky as its precedor USP of n96 is 5MP cam. which iPhone doesnt have But this is not innovative feature it is just an upgrade of feaure has nokia ever innovated anything useful that changed something Here with iPhone Apple changed atleast something there are drawbacks for sure (which techtree would always love to point out ) but iPhone is breakthough in mobile Technology after 10yrs we would remember iPhone for its innovation in touchscreen and not N96 because it had 5MP cam. if nokia gives a phone without touchscreen and says this is our topmost model then i have something to say Nokia go get life!! _Sandy
by Sandeep Shete, Pune, on Aug 20, 2008 08:55 AM, Report abuse Reply
Hey Sandy, you are very sentimental about iphone. Relax man, its just a phone.
by Zuby, hyd, on Aug 20, 2008 01:52 PM, Report abuse
No perhaps i am just realastic about N96..which is unnecessarily causing hype_Sandy
by Sandeep Shete, Pune, on Aug 20, 2008 08:13 PM, Report abuse
Hey Sandeep, don't say NOKIA doesn't know innovations...nokia created first handheld phone in the world also first car phone ever. Nokia pioneered the GSM networks and ..foregt it ..just want to tell you boss..think before you talk and write. iPhone may be having killing looks(for atleast some people) but when it comes to mobile phones, NOKIA is the best. we are comparing N96 with iPhone3G and N96 is definite winner. If iphone comes up with some good features, which are basic for a multimedia mobile phone then it will stand the competition. And as always there is a market for people who love to flash their looks or want to be on page3.. Apple will surely do well.
by Anant, Watford, UK, on Aug 20, 2008 09:53 PM, Report abuse
So why does "major innovator in mobile" doesnt have touchscreen in their portfolio till today.... let me say it as far as i can see it as consumer .. SE was first to come with gud Music player fone... MOTO was first to come with sexy fones with gud conn features .. Samsung was first to come with ultraslim things.. these companies were not followers they came up with something and established their brand on it ... Nokia on the otherhand has been more or less follower.. till today Nokia is not recignised for music quality ..nokia tried out slimness with 6300 as slimness being USP??? Still Nokia survived because Nokia doest have competition in Lower segment 1100 and all also Their handsets are supposed to have durability .,. now amongst this i wont agree on second (had a scary experience with 66000 bluetooth IC) and yess abt n96 so u say its gr8 u r just putting all features known to a fone then it comes out with bulky size and gives poor battery life then u come with other fone with even more bulk and upgraded battery is this what u call innovation???even kindergartens can think abt it!!!_Sandy
by Sandeep Shete, Pune, on Aug 21, 2008 07:17 PM, Report abuse
Man.. you seem to be sooooooo impressed with multi-touch tech, which was invented by company 'fingerworks' bought by APPLE(A copy cat). The things you mentioned like sony with music players or samsung with ultraslims.. are the most important strategies from these suppliers to stay in mobilephone market dominated by NOKIA(40% in world). And you know why NOKIA is world leader, because they are the makers ot even the term called mobilehandsets. To again remind you some things..Nokia created first smartphone in 1996 (Nokia 9000) which was with first PDA fun. on a mobile...Nokia was first to make Satelite call..it was first to introduce WAP in a mobilephone(nokia 7110)..even first mobile game(Snakes)...NOKIA started using microprocessors in the mobilephones... boss you know what others do... they copy what NOKIA started and then put it in a glittery box and sell! ...IF somebody should believe you then why all these handset providers with so good features are not able to catch NOKIA? ...you will say nokia 1100 is great and all sale comes from such small phones..but dude..go and read the mobile phone market reports..you will know which handsets are doing great..! N96 may not have multi-point touch screen like iphone... but with all other features..it is indeed a superior and a great phone.. and hellow its less in weight than iphone..just FYI!
by Anant, Watford, UK, on Aug 22, 2008 06:42 PM, Report abuse
May be u r biggest fan of Nokia"leader in sales"... may be u r frustrated with iPhone hype.. Let me clear some points 1)I m not claiming iPhone to be perfect device or dream device.. But it is attempt in right direction and u will have all phones like iPhone 10 yrs down the line..what i mean by all phone like iphone is a phone with all touchscreen (which can be used with fingers flawlessly) a phone with gud music capablity a phone which will give me highspeed internet on the move(This last concept still stuns me as it stunned for first time).. These are reasons why iPhone got so much publicity
by Sandeep Shete, Pune, on Aug 23, 2008 01:20 PM, Report abuse
Now abt multitouch : its not multitouch why i liked iPhone interface if u have seen Steve Jobs address at the launch of iPhone, what he pointed out was with key based inteface lot of area in front is wasted also if qwerty keypad is there phone goes on to become bulky .. Now full touchscreen is only solution .. It is not that there are no other phones than iPhone which have touchscreen but mostly they are(only) smartphone also they are manufactured to be only used with Stylus.. Now abt Nokia Most of the things u have pointed out i never knew abt it,, but still these too old to point out... in current market i know one things if u r not replying head to head in competition u will be loosing.. If u r repllying to iPhone with N96 i will say u r deep trouble N96 is just a fone with all features doesnt mean it is REVOLUTIONARY thing .. what i mean by revolutionary is something which will change whole industry N96 is not a compettion for iPhone(it might just reduce iphone sells for now but not for long) IF nokia had somethin called innovation Given with amount of money & exp.they have they should have done what apple did Now the question why nokia is leader.. Its all abt brand .. there were touchscreen fones b4 iPhone but what apple did with iPhone perhaps HTC or i-mate wont be able to do with their lower brand values Same is case with nokia which has brand for durability .. its is something other can also achieve with time and then u will know who is in trouble_Sandy
by Sandeep Shete, Pune, on Aug 23, 2008 01:29 PM, Report abuse
Now abt dimensions i never said N96 is heaviour than iPhone and to be precise it is just 8 gms higher one more thing n96 has introduced accelerometer in N96 which was not there in N95 NOW WHO IS COPYCAT?/
by Sandeep Shete, Pune, on Aug 23, 2008 01:35 PM, Report abuse
Sandeep, I admire you being a fan of iPhone, its just ones tastes/likes. For me Nokia wins all the time, but thats me. But I have to say one thing straight to you as everyone said above, know the facts before babbling all around. Nokia N95 does have accelerometer and I use a N95 and I have applications which use that feature. If you ever buy iPhone 3G, good luck with it. Touchscreen is the most stupidest feature you ever wanna use to dail a number while driving. I totally agree its UI looks coool. Some companies know whats better to use and whats not in real-world situations, thats exactly what Nokia has been doing. Do you think it is stupid enough to loose market share without having a single touch screen phone in their line-up? I am sure they have alot better strategic personnel in their arsenal than people who think like you. I still respect iPhone for bringing touch screen feature into mobile market, but thats not my catch and the phone design is just plain nothing innovative, there are many phones on the market which are slimmer , lighter and better looking than iPhone. Good luck with your "iPhone".
by From Berkeley, Berkeley, on Sep 06, 2008 03:31 AM, Report abuse
just to clarify from my above reply, by touch screen I mean multi touch and remember multi-touch is not the only thing that makes a phone coool and its not important to be a good "mobile phone".
by From Berkeley, Berkeley, on Sep 06, 2008 03:36 AM, Report abuse
No other comment on techtree has these many replys.... neways guys u r assuming me to be Apple spokesperson... u might be ""suprised"" to know I till today have used Nokia phones (not because i m fan but liked those devices indivisually) only.... Neways my problem was with comparison of iPhone with N96..and its still there.. To me this is like comparing apples with oranges ...there is no way N96 can grab iPhones market its like saying Because Yamaha R15 there will be decrease in sells of Nano(Just to clarify i m neither Tata Fan Nor Yamaha Hater)... Apple iPhone is breathrough device which perhaps i wont buy but this device will take mobile industry ahead in future on the other hand Nokia N96 is just an upgrades of feature which they would have done otherwise also.. I will repeat what i said b4 I M NOT CLAIMING IPHONE IS FLAWLESS OR PERFECT DEVICE BUT IT IS MOVING IN PERFECT DIRECTION _Sandy
by Sandeep Shete, Pune, on Sep 15, 2008 11:35 AM, Report abuse
Difference between them is digital keys n96 has tv application you can stream live tv note:the most of people in india trust nokia 43% of indian people have nokia majority of consumers is in asia than rest of world till january price falls down of nokia than apple
by Mouzam, Hyderabad, on Sep 02, 2008 11:13 AM, Report abuse Reply
nokia warranty and gurantee not specified and exact date of availability in hyderabad market
by ravinder reddy, hyderebad, on Aug 31, 2008 11:51 AM, Report abuse Reply
please send me review & prices for both models.
by Deepak Kale, Pune, on Aug 30, 2008 12:50 PM, Report abuse Reply
Voidafone Daclared its iPhone price @31k for 8GB n 36k for 16GB. Its too much cost. And I will surely wait for few months
by Raj Guptta, Mumbai, on Aug 20, 2008 09:58 AM, Report abuse Reply
Nokia N96 is better Option compared to I-Phone, I-phone is a hype without features.I-phone is ok for people who like look more than quality and features.
by Navnath, Redmond WA/USA, on Aug 28, 2008 04:05 PM, Report abuse
EVRY ONE HAS HIS/HER CHOICE SO V CANNOT COMPARE BOTH PHONES ...ONLY WE CAN WATCH IS OUR POCKETS ..HOW LIGHTER U WANT THEM TO BE ...I M DIE HARD FAN OF NOKIA .SO I M JUST WAITIN TO GET MY HAND ON N96 AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE .......
by DEV, DEHRA DUN, on Aug 23, 2008 06:03 PM, Report abuse Reply
Is the iPhone tied to the operator, like in US? If it is, and N96 isn't...I would prefer the N96!!
by Manish, Bangalore, on Aug 22, 2008 10:15 AM, Report abuse Reply
why a phone of 199$ was launched for 31,000rs. And who is pocketing these extra 22,000rs.
by sunny, delhi, on Aug 21, 2008 05:38 PM, Report abuse Reply
humko to bhaiya n96 he pasand aa reha hai re sasura .....humko ye apple ka bilkul pasand nahi hai
by wicked sunny, khandwa/indore, on Aug 21, 2008 12:34 AM, Report abuse Reply
features and the performance does matter I can tell u. Apple is the best, Using since July 2007 with AT&T
by Ayaskant, California, on Aug 21, 2008 01:29 AM, Report abuse
Mr California, you are using a mere first generation iphone(not even 3G and with new features...got it because you are using it from july 2007) and still want to compare with N96? I cant understand which features you have enjoyed with iphone in USA without 3G, which made you comment on N96. Boss grow up...multi point touch screen and glittery looks are not everything, be realistic and dare to compare feature by feature. I hope you are really happy with ur At&T 2 year contract and more than $1200 in price overall for a dumb piece of phone. BTW have you even heard about blackberry? no just wondring ...why somebody will stick for feartures when defending apple IPHONE.
by anks, denver, on Aug 21, 2008 04:18 AM, Report abuse
Get your facts right. iPhone has a 3.5 inch screen and not a 3.2 inch one. I wonder how qualified the author is. He is comparing two phones and doesnt even know the specs correctly.
by Pat, Mumbai, on Aug 20, 2008 12:50 PM, Report abuse Reply
by ttnews, mum, on Aug 20, 2008 02:13 PM, Report abuse
You only fixed it at one place. There is one more reference to the 3.2 inch screen. Please check again.
by Pat, Mumbai, on Aug 20, 2008 06:10 PM, Report abuse
and it was in the same sentence too :( thanks again
by ttnews, mum, on Aug 20, 2008 08:00 PM, Report abuse
better go for Intex 2222 for 2000 :P
by Chintan, Mumbai, on Aug 20, 2008 06:38 PM, Report abuse Reply
Nokia n96 simply scores on vast range of features. iphone lacks camera/expandable memory/video recording/an adequate camera/NOKIA maps for Mumbai and pune/ bluetooth for file sharing and many more! someone will say look how cool applications iphone has from independent developers called webapps, but hey dont forget symbian OS started this trend and there are lots similar or even better on symbian. I will simply go for Nokia considering features only forget the price. One more thnig for Apple lovers, everything that glitters is not gold...Inovation is one thing, bundling them in a good combination to market is another. I am sure Nokia n96 is a definite threat for iphone, unless steve jobs releases new version to compete with nokia.
by Anant, Watford, UK, on Aug 20, 2008 06:10 PM, Report abuse Reply
the 'i' letter is what apple tends to take very seriously as always.. i for innovation... yes.. i phone is innovative.. but as a consumer between the n96 and iphone, i will always go for the n96... moreso as both device coming into india and their speculated prices in every other department apart from screen display, the n96 seems to have a upper hand.. 5 mp cam vs. 2 mp on iphone 24 gb expandable memory vs. 16 gb in built memory without any external slot advanced utility tools like adding multimedia content from gallery in your message and send it as a MMS vs. iphone - NO SMS FORWARDING! A2DP support vs. no support on iphone i have even heard the iphone has some serious network problems in other markets. leave aside plethora of other apps and features available on new S60 F2 platform plus preloaded apps like wave that protects your phone and data. top it all! speculated price of iphone between 31-38 k for both 2g and 3g models, while 28-35k. the choice is simple.. even though i was planning to pocket a iphone, now i have to give it some serious thought.
by gaurav, new delhi, on Aug 20, 2008 04:29 PM, Report abuse Reply
hlllo ji hamko noika n73 cahia
by harishtiwari, f, on Aug 20, 2008 04:26 PM, Report abuse Reply
these co. have taken a leaf out from apple`s marketing. gr8 dont get surprised by the muted response. indians will wait and watch. pricing is too steep. are indians f@#$%$g richer than others. u dont have 3G, plus there will be a binding contract. for heavens sake dont cheat us. best of luck to vodafone and airtel. prepare for the best. and u have lost a customer.
by pankaj, darjeeling, on Aug 20, 2008 02:22 PM, Report abuse Reply
nokia interestingly have lounch n96 3 days before the official launch of apple iphone 3g. they also priced it bit lower than iphone3g at 32000rs.
by pankaj, new delhi, on Aug 20, 2008 12:35 PM, Report abuse Reply
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hey guys i have a iphone and i have used a nokia N96 but i feel the i phone is much better may be nokia is user friendly
by adityan, coimbatore, on Sep 21, 2008 08:07 PM, Report abuse Reply