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Nokia N81 8GB

Frazier Barretto, Dec 21, 2007 1733 hrs IST

Here's the reincarnated Ngage/QD. Will it match upto the expectations of mobile game enthusiasts?

Expert Rating:

ARM 11 369 MHz Processor, Sound Quality, 8GB internal memory, Gaming Keys, 3G, Video recording VGA @ 15 fps.

Poor Build, Poor Battery, Bulky, 2 MP camera, No Card Slot, Expensive, Doesn't do justice to the N-Gage phone.

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EXPERT REVIEW

Connectivity

The N81 is fully loaded to offer the best in the class of connectivity. It has Class 10 GPRS with HSCSD which makes for a faster packet transfer. The N81 is 3G-ready and also has Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g with UPnP for easy and secure connectivity to office, home or other Wi-Fi networks. The phone has Bluetooth v2.0 and being a music phone, it supports A2DP as well. The USB is a microUSB v2.0 and self installs the device on a computer. The N81 requires Nokia PC Suite to synchronize contacts and backup phone data. Else, the 8GB of space can be used as Mass Storage, Multimedia Transfer (Music & Video transfer), and also as a Modem. The transfer speeds are USB v1.2 and not the quick v2.0.

Battery Life

The N81 has a poor Li-Po 1050 mAh battery. The battery can barely last for a day with heavy use of the multimedia features that the phone has to offer. Overall, in a day I must have used the phone for under 3 hours of phone-calls, 20 minutes of WiFi, 2-3 hours of music playback along with games being played, and about 20 odd clicks with the camera. The battery low warnings wouldn't stop until plugged for charging. Poor battery life for a powerful phone, and even more disappointing for a gaming device.

Conclusion

The Nokia N81 8GB sells for around Rs.23,000 with a 1-year warranty. The phone is an expensive deal for its poor build and battery life. The only saving factor for the phone is its 8GB of storage and its descent music playback. But that's not what one is looking for when looking to buy the N81. I might as well go in for the standard N81 version which supposedly bundles a 2GB card and is priced about 2-3K less. If it's for the gaming bit, I don't suggest to buy this phone because a gaming device needs to take a lot of strain as seen in the case of a PSP or the controller of a console. The N81 can't take such beating and will fall apart within a couple of months. The N81 sadly doesn't do much justice to revive the benchmark that the late N-Gage phones set.

USER COMMENTS

Iwant to buy NOKIA N812GB cell phone but the mode of payment would be in installement please contact me as soon as possible +919411456381

by Ankur, Saharanpur, on Oct 16, 2008 02:59 PM, Report abuse Reply

try the planet m stores. they offer the emi facility.

by dude, kochi, on Apr 12, 2009 08:15 PM, Report abuse

Tell me the price I am Interested to buy it dude

by Ankur, Saharanpur, on Oct 12, 2008 09:14 AM, Report abuse Reply

Iwant to buy NOKIA N812GB cell phone but the mode of payment would be in installement please contact me as soon as possible +919967484558

by AYUB KHAN, MUMBAI, on Aug 30, 2008 09:56 AM, Report abuse Reply

Hmm.. n81 has WLan/wi-fi....no mention of that.... wat does it cost now?

by nastyz, cochin, on Aug 09, 2008 02:56 PM, Report abuse Reply

I have the N81 2 GB model its cool too good and ofcourse the battery life is better than SE

by madhu, bangalore, on Jul 26, 2008 11:41 PM, Report abuse Reply

This is sweet hand set.they working properly Battery life is good

by kannan, kanchipuram, on Jul 13, 2008 10:58 PM, Report abuse Reply

this is sweet hand set.they working properly

by sagar, nagpur, on Jul 03, 2008 07:37 PM, Report abuse Reply

going to buy a n81.................

by voltagefreak, mumbai, on May 22, 2008 09:53 PM, Report abuse Reply

nokia is a most famous company but i am surprised that now nokia bettery and charger is more complain, my 2630 set's bettery is very bad and charger damaged, i go to my nearest nokia care but they are not respone me. i am a service person of Jaquar & Co. Ltd., i also means my Company also provide free service.

by Balendra Sharma, Guwahati, on May 20, 2008 07:26 PM, Report abuse Reply

nokia is overrated and literally plays with the customers mindset since they are nokia they can launch any shit and get away with it looking at this handset u feel they have seriously crippled a amazing handset why do they fcukaround with the Ngage platform is really beyond me , they can become the leaders in the field but decide to play smart and fall on their face everytime

by rahul, mumbai, on Dec 21, 2007 07:50 PM, Report abuse Reply

yea.. thats true... people here are addicted to nokia and donot know what others offer at much lower price....nokia is deep sh**

by Dino, Nashik, on Dec 23, 2007 09:48 AM, Report abuse

Its true.SE rockssssss.

by vaibhav, mumbai, on Mar 10, 2008 04:39 PM, Report abuse

NOKIA is NOKIA not compare other company I PROUD NOKIA..

by AJAY, Bokaro Steel City, on Dec 24, 2007 10:51 AM, Report abuse Reply

nokia sucks!!!!!!!!!!!

by vaibhav, mumbai, on Mar 10, 2008 04:37 PM, Report abuse

i like d phone

by Vijay Graca Pin, Goa, Panaji, on Feb 29, 2008 09:56 AM, Report abuse Reply

hi i am surprised why nokia is not making phones with good batteries and good sound like sonyericsson phones

by kamlesh, mumbai, on Feb 28, 2008 04:37 PM, Report abuse Reply

ITSZ STYLISH

by SHRAVAN, HYDERABAD, on Feb 17, 2008 02:43 PM, Report abuse Reply

the screen size is 2.4 inches and not 2.8 inches as written on Page no. 1

by viraj, delhi, on Feb 14, 2008 07:56 PM, Report abuse Reply

Any chances of Nokia launching a plain vanilla Ngage fone for less than 10k? I mean to say a fone with reduced features?

by Chappar, Bangalore, on Feb 05, 2008 05:48 PM, Report abuse Reply

asfgdhfjh

by adsfdg, arsaett, on Feb 05, 2008 01:50 PM, Report abuse Reply

Good One

by AJit, New Delhi, on Dec 22, 2007 03:13 PM, Report abuse Reply

hi ajit .. .... mujhe second hand fhone ...ki sale karni hai aap ke pass se mill sakte hai..jayada se jayada plz call me ..9869776209

by santosh, mumbai, on Jan 24, 2008 03:55 PM, Report abuse

HTC S710 selling at Rs. 11.5K in scratchless condition with box + warranty. Even the original screenguard is intact. Kindly reply if interested.

by Mukul, Mumbai, on Jan 10, 2008 11:46 AM, Report abuse Reply

I want to Buy This Nokia N81 in Installment Basis With Easy Down Payment..so any shopkeeper who is giving it in Installment plz contact me on 9911887459

by Sambit Kumar Dw, Delhi, on Jan 07, 2008 05:34 PM, Report abuse Reply

long live the iphone

by Steve Jobs, Cuppertino, on Dec 26, 2007 05:30 AM, Report abuse Reply

its a real shit phone, the navi-wheel is decent but limited only to gallery and music player... go for n73 with a 3.2mp cam instead. much better functionality, cheaper cost.

by ozzy, mumbai, on Dec 25, 2007 01:02 PM, Report abuse Reply

Nokia is Nokia no one can compete Nokia as i am the big fan of Nokia , I love all the models of Nokia specially N81.

by Shubhangi, Mumbai, on Dec 22, 2007 10:36 AM, Report abuse Reply

ITS time u should start reading before writing the comments sweety.The N81 has a poor Li-Po 1050 mAh battery. The battery can barely last for a day. The battery low warnings wouldn't stop until plugged for charging. Poor battery life for a powerful phone, and even more disappointing for a gaming device.

by Nokia, NOKIA, on Dec 23, 2007 03:59 PM, Report abuse

Undoubtedly Nokia is the Best, Symbian OS, Rough and Tough, Best Resale Value, Good Battery Backup etc.

by Arnov Sarkar, New Delhi, on Dec 22, 2007 10:53 PM, Report abuse Reply

The N81 has a poor Li-Po 1050 mAh battery. The battery can barely last for a day. The battery low warnings wouldn't stop until plugged for charging. Poor battery life for a powerful phone, and even more disappointing for a gaming device.

by Nokia, NOKIA, on Dec 23, 2007 03:58 PM, Report abuse

at present I am having nokia 5300 purchsed on Mar 07 and i want to switch to nokia n81. can i do that and what would be the diference i have to pay please guide

by Birendra Thakur, Ahmedabad, on Dec 22, 2007 10:32 AM, Report abuse Reply

Yes you can. there's not a soul in the world who can stop you. It's your phone, your money. -.-

by fanboy_hater, fanboy_doom, on Dec 23, 2007 03:19 PM, Report abuse

Sony Ericsson is the best! I have been a Nokia user for long and now regret all those futile years! There aint no phone like the W880i. This N Series is all marketing hoopla!

by Somil Mittal, Bangalore, on Dec 22, 2007 06:09 PM, Report abuse Reply

i have no words for this modele this is oll in one

by mandan, jaipur, on Dec 22, 2007 12:30 PM, Report abuse Reply

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by sdfsd, asda, on Dec 22, 2007 01:28 AM, Report abuse Reply

hey Frazier,when you say " I used a pair of headphones lying around to check the quality of the N81 which didn't disappoint" you should have mentioned what headphones u were using.I was expecting EP 630 with N81 u would compare with SE walkmans since SE sound good mainly due to good headphones.also are u sure screen is 2.8 inch and not 2.4 inch?

by sachin, goa, on Dec 22, 2007 01:10 AM, Report abuse Reply