Nokia N96 preview

Nokia N96 Review

Reviewed by: Andrew Lim

Reviewed on: 10 April 2008

Set to launch around August this year, the Nokia N96 is one of this year's most eagerly awaited mobile phones. Packed with the kind of features that would make MacGyver giddy, this handset will appeal to anyone with an addiction to bleeding-edge technology -- or those who just like showing off to their mates.

Upsides
With 16GB of on-board memory and the option to expand via microSD, the Nokia N96 won't let you down when it comes to storage space. Whether it's music, high-res photos, apps or games, the N96 will allow you to carry a massive chunk of your digital media with you at all times.

But the N96 isn't just a giant USB stick, it's also a multimedia beast. There's a large screen with a kick stand on the back so you can rest it on a table and watch videos. It supports DVB-H, which at some point in the future means you'll be able to watch TV on it too. It's compatible with the N-Gage platform too, which means you can download high-quality games and play them with the N96's media buttons like a handheld console.

On the top of the N96 there's a 3.5mm headphone jack, so you can plug your cans straight in without an adaptor

There's an MP3 player and a sensibly placed 3.5mm headphone jack, so you don't need to mess around with adaptors or use the rubbish headphones that come in the box. If your music library starts to bore you, you can always listen to the FM radio or download a podcast.

Downloading data and browsing the Web is made possible through HSDPA (3.5G) and Wi-Fi, which means high-speed Web access almost everywhere you go. If you get lost while you're absent-mindedly browsing away, you can use the built-in GPS in combination with mapping software to find out where you are and get directions.

On the back of the N96 there's a 5-megapixel camera with auto-focus and dual-LED flash

But what's the point of travelling if you don't take pictures along the way? The N96's camera boasts a 5-megapixel resolution and auto-focus, and the dual-LED flash provides high-quality images whether it's light or dark. You can also use the camera to shoot videos and then upload them to YouTube.