So, what is it about the N85 that makes it better than my N95-3, specifically? Well, there are a few specific features that, on paper, really offer an enhanced experience, and are what sets the N85 apart from other phones, such as the N96 and N79. These features are what made me want the N85 to begin with, so let’s list them out, and see how well they *actually* work, in real-life usage.
First up, that beautiful OLED display. It really is phenomenal, and everything that you’ve dreamed it would be. It’s incredibly bright, sips the power, and produces such true colors, it’s unreal. Going back to pretty much any other phone, including my N95-3 and the 5800 XpressMusic, things just look washed out, and nowhere near as crisp. On paper, the OLED display sounds awesome. In real life, it really is.
Next up, the Nokia N85 features the ability to charge via its microUSB port, which no other S60-powered Nokia can do. This means, while you’re syncing your phone over USB, or tethering for some on-the-go data, your phone’s battery is getting a bit of juice, as well. This is greatness when you’re syncing media, as you don’t have to worry about the battery draining while the phone is connected. You would think this would also come in handy by offering the ability to charge through various other microUSB accessories, such as the USB car chargers, or a powered USB port at an airport.
Unfortunately, this is only halfway the case. It turns out, you cannot use the included Nokia microUSB cord provided in the box with a non-laptop USB port, such as those provided at some airport kiosks, or the universal USB car chargers, such as what comes with the Proporta I reviewed previously. Something in the cable prompts the N85 to try to connect using one of four profiles, and the charging never actually occurs. I was able to use the retractable USB cord that comes with the Proporta to charge the N85 over non-laptop USB ports, so I know this is something to do with the Nokia-provided USB cord.
All in all, the microUSB charging is a very nice feature, but the little quirk with the included Nokia USB cord made it somewhat annoying for me. Hopefully, in the future, a firmware update can fix this, but also more devices will use microUSB charging, thus giving me more options for charging.
Another feature I was really looking forward to on the Nokia N85 is S60 3rd Edition, Feature Pack 2. There are countless small things in this update that make the N85 better than the N95-3, though obviously the N85 isn’t the only S60 on the market with Feature Pack 2. I really like the Destinations feature (though it’s oddly named), which allows me to tell my phone to use WiFi first, and then fall back to cellular data. The settings menus have also been cleaned up slightly, and the browser is updated. Overall, Feature Pack 2 is definitely counted as a plus, compared to the N95-3, which uses Feature Pack 1, and is also badly in need of a firmware update.
Speaking of firmware updates, the process is 200% better on the N85, as compared to the N95. With the N95, you have to manually check for a new update, and when one is available, it erases the entire phone’s memory, so you need to backup all your applications and other personal information. You also need to have a Windows-based computer, to update the firmware on the N95.
Contrast that with the N85, which not only receives firmware updates OTA (over the air) via WiFi or cellular data, but also features UDP (User Data Preservation), which means that applying a new firmware update doesn’t affect any of your personal applications or settings – everything is right where you left it before the update. Brilliant. The latest firmware update for the N85 also added a new Software Checker feature, which allows you to set your N85 to automatically check for new firmwares on a predefined schedule, and over a predetermined connection (WiFi or cellular data). So, on the N85, firmware updates are pushed to you (or at least notification of their availability), you can download and apply them without a Windows-based computer, and you don’t have to waste time re-setting up your phone after you apply it. Totally awesome.
As you can see, each of these extra features on the N85, while small, makes a huge difference in your day-to-day usage, and provides a much more enjoyable experience than the N95-3. If you’ve had your N95-3 for over a year, like me, then you’ll find the N85 a very satisfying upgrade. I know I have.
