Apple iPhone vs Nokia N95 8GB
Yes I know the Apple iPhone has hit the streets over half a year ago (though not yet officially in Singapore). But it’s not too late to share my thoughts on how it stacks up against Nokia’s N95 8GB. It’s actually not too difficult to choose between the two. Do you want beauty, or do you want function?
Yes, it’s that simple. The N95 8GB is about function. It has the works: quad band, HSDPA, 802.11g WLAN, GPS, 5 megapixel camera, 30fps video recording, etc. There is no way the iPhone is going to outdo the N95 8GB in terms of hardware feature set. If you want function, if you want cutting-edge technology, the iPhone’s lack of 3G and mere 2 megapixel camera is just not going to make it. Even the rumoured second generation iPhone with 3G is very unlikely to catch up with the N95 8GB’s feature set.
On the other hand, if you want beauty, the Apple iPhone is definitely for you. From the beautiful screen, the unique touch-driven user interface, and the slickness of the overall experience, the Apple iPhone certainly has the WOW factor. You will certainly get lots of attention holding an iPhone in your hand.
Of course, some people may argue that the iPhone is quite functional too. Not for me though. You can’t comfortably type into the iPhone with one hand, and the use of on-screen keyboard means there is no tactile feedback either. Can you believe it, but you can’t send MMS with the iPhone? At least not with the built-in applications! iPhone applications are limited, and 3rd party development is limited to web-based applets or widgets. Apple is said to be opening up the phone’s SDK to developers in February 2008 to write native applications. Well, think about the head start that Symbian developers have had.
All About Symbian has a detailed blow by blow comparison between the iPhone and the N95 8GB. This is a good read if you’re still trying to compare the two phones. Here is another longish comparison from Atmasphere. (Interestingly, there aren’t many iPhone-vs-N95 reviews out there that spoke favourably of the iPhone other than it being really beautiful.)
Who will sell the iPhone in Singapore? Elsewhere in the US and Europe, Apple has been tying up with telcos for exclusive deals to sell the handset in respective countries, in return for a cut on revenues. I don’t know if this will happen in Singapore. A snippet from MacDailyNews reports that MobileOne seems to be in talks with Apple. That doesn’t say very much, does it? Earlier post from MacRyu speculated SingTel and StarHub. I’d say, don’t hold your breadth. Tough luck if you’re on contract, with the wrong telco, that is.
Is beauty or function more important to you?
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Thanks for such a nice comparison
Interesting comparisons. Well said. Nokia N95 8GB really wins me over!
But I have to say something about iPhone. I think when iPhone was created, it aims to change the way 3G technology is done. Therefore it doesn’t include 3G because it uses another technology to replace it. So I think you can’t really claim it doesn’t have 3G features. It is in a different form.
I think this could be one of the reasons why Apple haven’t launch it in Singapore. As we still do not have the facilities to cope with these sort of technology.
The iPhone currently has EDGE. It is “2.5G”. Nope, not quite the equivalent of 3G.
EDGE is actually GPRS in local term.
Anyway, IDA would probably don’t allow locked phones in Singapore.
Is iphone 3g available in simlim electronics market, singapore
Pl.reply
Quite unlikely since it will only be available in the US on 11 July.
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