The Nokia N96's announcement prompted many in to a dilemma: should I get my phone now? Or should I wait? It's hardly an easy choice, considering that many of us want the newest and the best the mobile phone world has to offer - and right now it seems that the N96 is "the special one" that we've all been waiting for. Or is it? And how does it compare with the N82, which is "the special one so far"?

So here's a first look on the N96 vs. the N82 based on the announcements Nokia has made on the phone and the overall experience on the N82.

Form factor:


So from the above diagram, we can see that the N96 is slightly shorter, slightly fatter, slightly thicker. Similar to the N81 when you put it next to the N82.


If you're still in doubt the best way is probably to see the N81 and the N82 in person. That way you can get a feel of what the N96 size is like.

It's also a two-way slider, similar to the N95 - so it's really up to personal preference on whether you like a candybar phone or a slider. With sliding phones, there's always the potential problem that the springs are too loose or wear and tear over time, so any potential buyers should take notice.

Camera: The N82 is the current king of all camera phones - it's got a powerful xenon flash, and a 5 Megapixel autofocus Carl Zeiss Lens. The N96 will have a similar lens, but without the xenon flash. Yep, the N82 still tops the N96 here.

Storage: The N96 boasts 16GB of flash memory built right in to the phone; on the other hand the N82 only has a paltry 100MB, making it a battle between the size of a bowling ball and a pea. And the N96 allows for external microSDHC storage - so if you insert the largest memory stick currently available, 8GB, that brings the total capacity of the phone to 24GB. If you're a music lover then the N96 is the one for you.

Navigation: Being another of Nokia's flagship products, it definitely doesn't miss out on an internal GPS. Bundled along with the phone is Nokia Maps 2.0, currently in beta for the N82. I'd call this a tie.

Screen Size: 2.8" TFT screen for the N96 against the 2.4" TFT screen on the N82. The N95 8GB also sports a 2.8" screen - compare the size of that with the puny one on the N82...


The N96 is the sure winner in this case.

Mobile TV: An integrated DVB-H receiver for mobile television. Although it's already a de facto standard for Japanese phones, this is definitely a welcome addition to Nokia's portfolio. On the other hand, the N82 has to make do with a data plan and a Slingbox to get your TV streamed to your phone.

Connection: Yep, the Nokia N96 finally has USB 2.0 High Speed USB, with speeds of up to 480Mbps. The Nokia N82 only makes do with USB 1.1 speeds, thanks to older hardware.

Bands: The N96 supports Quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900), EDGE, and Dual Band UMTS (900/2100). So the Americas is out of this one - no 3G for potential users in the USA. The same goes for the N82, although it only runs on 3G/HSDPA 2100. The N96 is definitely future proofed - many European countries are considering using the 900Mhz spectrum for WCDMA/HSDPA, so it's only a matter of time before the N96 takes advantage of that.

Music Quality: The N96 contains a DSP chip for improved audio playback quality, so audiophiles should sit up and take notice. There is no DSP chip on the N82 or the N95.

Battery: Horrible. The N96 only sports a 950mAh battery, as opposed to the N82's 1050mAh battery. And couple that with a larger screen and even more features; you're be looking at something with an even shorter standby time than the N82.

So there we go. I'd love to hear your opinions on this, so please feel free to comment.