Overview:
Ever since iPhone hit the scenes, all other handsets have tried to match the overall je ne sais quois that has attracted millions of people world-wide to Apple's foray into the mobile world. One contender that has time and time again been hailed as the answer to the iPhone 3G S: the Nokia N97. But does it really have what it takes to master the master? Let's take a look.
Showdown:
In order for a fair fight, we've broken the phones down (figuratively speaking) to compare the specific characteristics of each handset. On the surface, the specs and positive mobile phone reviews read eerily similar for the iPhone 3GS and the N97, so which phone is really better?
Touch gloves for round 1.
Style:
First things first, which has the "ooh" factor? Both phones have a similar overall look, with rounded edges encapsulating wide screens that make excellent viewing platforms for movies.
The N97 is slightly longer and narrower than the iPhone 3G S, but the iPhone is thinner. This is hardly surprising though, as Nokia has packed a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard in its phone, so over all the Finns have done well to keep the N97 as compact as they have.
If you're concerned about holes in your pockets, the iPhone 3GS weighs in at 135g, while the Nokia N97 is a slightly more bulky 150g. The difference isn't a deal breaker for me though, and even though I love a svelte handset, the Nokia wins on style, based on adding a slide-out keyboard into its neat little package.
Winner: Nokia N97
Screen:
Phones aren't just used for calling your other half to tell them you missed the last train home, they're all about providing you with entertainment while you camp out in the train station overnight. To watch movies, play games and flip through pictures, we need good screens.
Both phones have a 3.5 inch screen which is movie-friendly, but going through the specs, the N97 takes the cake in this category overall. The N97 displays 360 x 640 pixels and accesses 16,777,216 colours. It will even give you Attenborough in 16:9 widescreen.
The iPhone 3G S has a screen res of 480 x 320, with only 262,000 colours.
But screens these days aren't just there to be looked at- they demand interaction too, and the touchscreen technologies in each of these phones are as different as chalk and anything that's not chalk.
The iPhone's capacitive touchscreen has consistently led the way in the market, making full use of features like pinch-to-zoom.
The N97 on the other hand, only has a resistive touchscreen, with Nokia waiting until the X6 before bringing its capacitive touchscreen technology to the high street.
So the Nokia has noticeably brighter colours, but the iPhone has the far superior touchscreen capabilities. It's a close call and I'm awaiting the disagreeing comments already, but I'm going to give it to the N97, because its touchscreen is still perfectly functional and the quality of images Nokia provides is just miles ahead of what you get on the iPhone.
Winner: Nokia N97
Applications:
Apple has pwned the idea of the app store just as it set the benchmark for what people want in a mobile phone. With current stats for March 2010 boasting 150,000 third-party applications and over 3 billion downloads, Apple looks to have this category in the bag, unless Nokia works a miracle.
Which it doesn't. To be fair, the Ovi store has only been in existence since May last year, and won't officially say how many apps it houses, but Nokia did get the nerve up to release some Ovi statistics last month, saying that there were 1.5 million downloads each day, which sounds great. Until you realise that the iPhone App Store averages 30.5 million app downloads each day. That's 350 downloads each second.
While the Apple App Store includes apps dedicated to big names such as Facebook, Skype, BBC World News and Last.fm, Nokia can offer you apps for Nokia Internet Radio, Friendster and the Daily Star.
Winner: Apple iPhone 3GS
OS:
The N97 runs the mouthful that is the Symbian v9.4, series 60, 5th edition, whereas the iPhone 3G S uses the iPhone OS 3.0.
Apple has designed its operating system based around the internet, and the iPhone is a better device for it. From set-up, email configuration is as simple as filling in a few details, and web browsing through the Safari browser is a sinch.
The N97 sadly is a better phone offline than it is hooked up to the web. It lacks a decent browser, and is a bit more fiddly to get your email accounts up and running. The N97 does have Java support which the iPhone lacks, but this is too little too late.
Winner: Apple iPhone
Camera:
This is going to come as no surprise to anybody, but the Nokia N97 has the far superior snapper on it, while the Achilles heel of the iPhone remains its meager 3 megapixel camera, with no flash.
The iPhone 3G S does have a video camera and MMS messaging which previous models lacked.
The N97 however, boasts a 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss Tessar f/2. optics and a dual LED flash. There is also a front-mounted VGA camera for video calling. Actually in the world of smartphone cameras, the N97 has it over most handsets in resolution, flash and glassware.
Winner: Nokia N97
Other Features:
To compare mobile phones, we need to look at all the added bits and bobs that come with the handsets. Both phones have a built-in digital compass, TV output as well as the standard 3.5mm headphone jack, so no need for nasty proprietary earbuds.
Each phone also supports Bluetooth 2.0 and USB 2.0 connectivity, as well as GPS.
It's neck and neck, but the N97 does have the added extra of an FM radio and FM transmitter, which the iPhone sadly lacks.
The iPhone 3G S also doesn't support extra storage- 16GB or 32GB is its max, while you get the added bonus of a microSD card slot to keep all your music at hand.
Winner: Nokia N97
Je Ne Sais Quois:
The iPhone has an allure about it. It's the phone that kids on the street blare their music out of, and very important business people in well-made suits have glued to their ear. It's the phone that transcends societal divides, because it really does have something for everyone.
The N97 is a solid handset, but it's just as exciting overall as the iPhone.
Winner: Apple iPhone
Final Verdict:
While the N97 has won more categories in this show down (by 1), I'm still a huge fan of the iPhone 3G S. For me, while a camera is important, it's not a deal breaker as I have my trusty high-spec digital camera always at the helm. The thousands of apps in the iPhone App Store keeps me coming back for more, and as I use my phone to browse the internet more than listen to Chris Evans on breakfast radio, the functionality included in the iPhone 3G S is more pertinent in my daily life that the added apps in the N97 which I just wouldn't use.
Not that I'd use the digital compass on either handset.
It's controversial- but I didn't say all categories were weighted equally! The iPhone 3G S is the more people-friendly phone at the end of the day and wins on a technicality.
Over To You:
Which phone do you think delivered the knock-out blow in this fight? Leave us a comment and let us know.
5 thoughts on “Review: iPhone 3G S Vs Nokia N97. The Smartphone Showdown”
i have both phones and it comes down to personal preferance but i can tell you that the n97 bearing in mind they are phones is well ahead in terms of call quality,i always seem to have signal problems with the iphone and know of three owners who complain the same problem exists on their iphones too,i have also noticed that most iphone owners are the ones that put the n97 down without even trying it out first,anyway both are high quality handsets but for me iphone is so irritating with its bluetooth limitations and its inability to download large files via wap and so needing a wifi connection when out and about,no such problem for the handset to handset friendly n97,in summery the n97 is a better allround phone but that is not to say the iphone is not a quality phone too,i love both but i love n97 more……
nokia is the phone
I have an N97mini (better than N97) and love it. Yes the Ovi store is very poor at the minute but speculation is rife that it is being developed and improved and the bigger names from apples app store are starting to see the potential and are crossing over and offering their apps on Ovi as well as apple. I must admit I have only ever played with my mates Iphone on a couple of occasions so have never had to use it on a daily basis but given the choice of phones I would stick with the Nokia. The only time I get Iphone envy is when apps are brought into the conversation, that said Ovi maps (which is free) is awsome and very accurate whether on foot or in the car. It makes the N97 well worth considering especially if you don’t have a stand alone sat-nav system.
Oh and I enjoyed the review by the way but the one thing I thought wasn’t entirely accurate; in my opinion, on looks alone the N97 wins hands down!! the Iphone is ugly, always has been. I think the Nokia looks smooth and it feels great in your hands, thanks to the aluminium battery cover on the back.
Am so impress over the review,am an N97 user.I love its performance with regards to it technicalities and the present of its quety keyboard.But,am longing to purchasing the iphone 3GS because of its present of suffisticated games because i enjoy games so much than any other application on mobile.So,I’ll either sell my N97 or exchange it with anyone with iphone 3GS (16 or 32)Gb.I jst bought it anyway.