Got An N81? Part 3 - Get An N95
That sounds like a harsh title, doesn’t it? Well, unlike what you may think, I won’t be criticizing the N81 nor praising the N95. So why do I think you should get an N95 if you have an N81, because these devices are perfect opposites.
Yes, I know what I am saying might be a little bit dangerous, since both are Nseries, black sliders, have an 8GB version, have built-in WiFi, are N-Gage and Music Store compatible, are almost the same size, function on S60 3rd Edition FP1 and both were announced at the same time. But apart from the obvious, everything and I mean everything on these two mobiles is completely and totally different. The weaknesses of one are the strengths of the other, and vice-versa.
When I first held the N81 8GB in my hands, I felt this pattern of opposition and complementarity, in all matters, with the N95 8GB. I thought then it was just an impression, but day after day, I was blown away by the facts and right now, I sort of have some trouble explaining that the same firm delivered these 2 devices. Jump after the break for all the dirty details.
So how and were are the opposition patterns between the 2 black spiders? Here is a list of 10 of my findings so far (going from the obvious to the not-so-obvious).
1 - Camera: The N95 is a much powerful camera. With autofocus, better flash, 5MP, a close-up mode and 30fps video recording, it delivers a quality much higher than the N81 with its 2MP camera and lousy flash.
2 - 3G and GPS: The N95 has GPS and 3G, features that the N81 doesn’t offer. I don’t mind the absence of these since they aren’t any helpful in Lebanon, but I know most people really need them.
3 - Build Quality: The N95 is much better built, with less shiny parts and a leather-feeling back. The N81 with plastic material and lights squeezing out around the keypad seems like a cheaper device. I wish the sand-colored material used on the sides of the N81 covered the whole unit.
4 - Looks: The N95 8GB is fairly a guy’s phone. When I had the N95 8GB and was roaming the streets with it, I ran into extremely few girls who said they would carry it. When I got the N81 8GB, the first comment I got from my entourage (which is pretty much 80% girls) is that it looks much nicer and sexier and that they actually see themselves carrying it it.
5 - Missing Keys: The N81 misses the Gallery and Pen keys that are present on the N95. The gallery key isn’t much of a deal, but the absence of the pen is starting to get to my nerves, especially that I send a lot of sms with symbols.
6 - Front Key Accomodation: On the N81 8GB the softkeys are easy to use, but the major keys that are hard to press are the green call and the red hang up keys. The opposite is on the N95 8GB where those keys are very easy to press, whereas hitting the left and right softkeys is Mission Impossible.
7 - Device Focus: With dedicated multimedia keys, the N95 seems focused on music, but the N81 delivers a much better music experience: the 3.5mm plug is on the top which makes it easy to slip the device into a pocket, the music volume and quality are much better, it has a Now Playing screensaver, and the music keys are accessible even when the keypad is open. On the other side, with dedicated gaming keys, the N81 seems focused on gaming but the N95 is a better gaming device: Tv-out makes it possible to transform it into a game console, the 3d hardware improve the gaming speed and processing, the accelerometer will make it possible to use it like a Wiimote.
8 - Slide Handling: The N81 is the star of slide handling. It allows you to choose what actions are performed when the slide is open/closed during a call or during normal usage. The N95 doesn’t offer any option to choose from, but on the other hand, it is possible to lock/unlock the N95’s keys when the slide is closed using the softkeys, whereas the N81 doesn’t support this, only the top lock button can be used.
9 - Keypad Comfort: I previously griped over the N95’s keypad. Problem is that it is easy to use for a quick sms, but it gets quickly uncomfortable on the long-run. On the opposite, the N81 is less easier for short messages because the keys are hard to press, on the same level and there is no space between them. But the N81 doesn’t wear your hands out as fast as the N95, with the absence of the raised sides and the weight being much better divided all over the device, it keeps on performing even after a 10-15 minute text type.
10 - Slider Stability: file this one under the [weird] category. The N95 8GB has a wiggly slider when it’s closed, meaning it can move up and down a couple of millimeters very very easily. But when it’s open, the slider is rock solid. The N81, on the contrary, is rock solid when it’s close, no way this one could move. Now open the slider, yup, you guessed it, it wiggles, not up and down but back and forth (against the rest of the device).
I won’t even talk about the differences in battery life, RAM, processor speed, internal memory and built-in applications. So I wonder, do you now believe these devices are perfect opposites, and are you still convinced now that they were both built by the same company? Well, I have some doubts. And most of all, I wonder, when just WHEN will we have the best of both worlds?
Edit: as it seems from the comments, my point isn’t as clear as I thought it was. What I am saying is that every one of these devices has weak and strong points, and being that these are totally opposites, they make the devices perfectly complementary. So if you got an n81, and can afford it, get an n95 TOO (and not instead). Hope that clears the deal.
Great article that nicely balances the strengths and weaknesses of both devices.
When I first got my N95 the guy @ Orange here in the UK tried his damndest to get me to get another phone as they said the N95 was not a good phone.
How wrong he was - it gets better and better and I can’t see myself wanting another phone in the near future.
The only slight grips is the low internal memory but this is only a very small issue.
Thanks,
Mark
ah yes, how we all wish we could get the best of both worlds. But unfortunately that would eliminate nokia’s need to make any other phones. Having owned both the n95 and the n81, i do see the similarities and differences too easily but in the end, i gotta agree with you. Go with the n95 over the n81.
hyperkind, I am not saying that we should go for the N95 instead of the N81, but WITH the n81 (for the ones around here that can afford, lol, i can’t afford either, which sucks). The devices offer totally different experiences and that’s what makes both of them unique… I guess my point wasn’t clear enough, I’ll edit the post.
Great post, I think more so for someone like me who is interested in both phones but only wants to buy one.
dotsisx, well mayb even my reply was a lil misleading lol. i was simply saying from a standpoint from someone who owned both phones. a n95-1 1st, then a n81 then off to other phones. my overall experience comparing the n81 to the n95, that personally i would choose the n95 over the n81. price wise yes the n81 is much easier on the pocket then the 95, but for someone like me, who is “not too smart enough to manage his money with his phones” and pretty much go for a week with no cash. but it was the overall experience that i had, i personally found that i missed my n95 more and more each day. im not telling ppl out there to go and choose the n95 over the n81 (sorry if it came across that way, but its only 10 am here in hawaii n im still tryin to wake up) both devices has both its ups and downs, ill openly admit that. but from personal preference, i say go with the n95 lol and once again, if i seem to come across as random or anythin, im still tryin to wake up! >.<
The N81 still has the pencil/edit key…kinda. The # key doubles as the edit key on the new phones.
I’m waiting a generation to get the best of both worlds; the N96!
I’m sorry, but I must kindly point out that the N81 does have 3G. What is does not have is HSDPA.
Which, in my opinion, is a…strange omission. Given that HSDPA is not at all costly to implement. This and the, let’s say, average, camera are imho intentional omissions from Nokia. Which is sad, because I think the N81 would have sold like crazy with a decent CZ 3Mp AF camera and with HSDPA onboard. Nokia has done very strange things to this model, and I hope that doesn’t happen again in the near future. They tend to think that having devices with similar functionality won’t sell. So then they strip some functionality off some model (say, the N81) for it not to be to close to the N95. Ok, this might have been an interesting strategy…but then they release the N82 and contradict it. Confusing, to say the least.
Because the N81 looks so different from the N95, I think looks alone would have made a different category of consumers interested in the device (take your example with the girls). But then when you find out that for such a price you only get a 2Mp camera…disappointment.
This all comes from an N95 (LOYAL AND IN LOVE) user.
Err.. you have trouble explaining how the same company delivers two differently targeted devices? Hmm.. REALLY??
Interesting take on both phones. I’ve been looking at both of these over the last few days and this is gong to make my decision that much easier.
hyperkind,
I do undestand ur point. I do miss the n95, but not as much as I thought, because i am enjoying the n81 with bose so much!
Johnny,
I know the # key replaces the pen key, but have u seen how the symbol inserting, the number/letter shift, the copy/paste is now handled? It’s crazy! Plus the # key doesn’t function in 3rd-party apps like xplore.
Viipottaja, Edit: I mean Vlad
Thanks for the clarification, i’m havin trouble keepin it clear when it comes to this 3g and 3.5g thing, it’s not available here, so it’s pretty much vaporware to me :p
I think you are referring to Vlad, not me.
lol, i was viewing it on the mobile, got messed up with the comments :s yup, that was at vlad
Do you know that when you press and hold * key, all the symbols pop up. It took me few months to realize that. Also the symbian freak didn’t know this because he mentioned in his n82 review that it takes 3 keypresses to add a symbol. haha. You just have to press and hold * key 0.25 seconds.
You talked about lack of ‘pencil’ editing key. But on N81 you can use the ‘#’ key in the same way: highlight, copy and paste.
I just bought the N95. I used to own the N81 and I agree about the difference in camera quality. there is no comparison. The camera on the N95 is suppreme.
Feb 9th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
[...] a week ago, I wrote about the patterns of opposition and complementarity between the N95 8gb and the N81 8gb, which stirred the spoon in an idea I have had for a long time in the back of my [...]