Love your N95? Get the Nokia N86.

by James Whatley on 10th September 2009

  Comment Icon118

That’s right, I’m back… and I’m bringing my N86 review with me.
In short, as the title suggests, if you were a fan of the N95 - then the N86 is for you.

The Nokia N86 8MP

You may remember a few months back that fellow Really Mobile co-founder Ben Smith and I sat down to argue discuss the merits of Nokia’s much heralded saviour of 2009, the N97.

It’s a testament to the industry we watch, work and live in today that this now seems like such a long time ago. Here we are some eleven weeks since that post went live and already, I feel like I backed the wrong horse. You see, I was only impressed with the N97 for what is wasn’t. The firmware wasn’t buggy, the hardware wasn’t a let down and the camera wasn’t incapable.

But what did it really bring forward?
Aside from a new form factor, not much.

I said back in the Spring, way back before we launched Really Mobile, when discussing the N97 that I was in fact looking towards to the N86 more than anything else on the horizon…

“…to my mind the N86 is the true replacement for the N95 8GB.”
- James Whatley, April 19th 2009

…and I am very pleased to announce that I was not disappointed.

When it came to choosing a handset for the Lucozade Energy Challenge, the N86 was the only option. I’d read about it, seen videos about it, hell - I’d even taken some shots with an early prototype myself.
This handset has been everything my N95 8GB ever was and more.

Having used the N86 solidly now since the end of June I can safely say that this is my phone of choice and will be for many months to come. You all know I’m a Nokia fiend but of late, that love has waned. Especially in regards to the previously mentioned, N97.

However the N86, the beautiful Nokia N86 8MP - to give it its full name - that which we first glimpsed way back in February of this year at Mobile World Congress, is an excellent phone in the traditional sense.

And it’s this last part dear reader, that is the keystone to the whole of this piece.

You see - I doubt that we will ever see a phone like the N86 ever again. The sheer elegance and sophistication that goes into this perfect combination of this phone first, camera second device is as gorgeous as it was the first time you ever laid eyes on it.

There really is not much I can say about this phone’s feature set that hasn’t already been said. One would imagine that most of you know that the N86 sports a rather fetching 8MP camera (which, on my recent travels around Africa, has yielded some spectacular results). It would be frivolous to assume that the amazing video output from this stunning piece of kit has completely passed by that of even the most casual of mobile fanatics. And I would certainly be completely mis-judging my audience if just for one second I assumed that none of you had noticed the glorious industrial design mixture of glass and metal, making the Nokia N86 one of the smoothest and cleanest handsets one could ever have the great fortune to hold.

A dying breed?

Give it a silver finish and you could be forgiven for thinking that it was an E-Series.

Yes, it really does feel that good.

It is fantastic. It is wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.

What it makes me feel though, is sad - and not for the reasons you might think.

I just can’t help thinking that thanks to all sorts of things; the iPhone, the advent of Android, the upcoming Maemo war on Symbian. Phones like this will soon be consigned to the history books. I just have this horrible, dreadful feeling that what I’m using here, is an ending.

The phones of tomorrow are iPhones, are Androids… The N900 looks nice, but the 5MP camera doesn’t come to close to that of the N86. The new Nokia X6, with its capacitive (read: iPhone-esque) screen and its deep level music-based DNA still doesn’t match up to the content creativity skills of my beloved N-Series.

Yes, iPhones are lovely - we know this. Even the HTC Magic came close to swaying me from the Finnish fold some time ago too. But the days of just being able to push real and actual buttons will soon be gone. Relish in them while they’re still here. Remember that feeling. Take happiness from it. And treasure it.

Reading on Symbian-Guru this past week that, as of Nokia World 2009 - ‘Nokia is Touch’ - I shed a tear.
As the Finnish giant moves to embrace Maemo as well as further expand its Symbian 5th Edition range, it stands to reason that the N86 could very well be the last great N-Series device.

Get yours while you can.

Tagged as: LucozadeEnergyChallenge, N86, Nokia, NokiaN86, review

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  • http://whatleydude.com James Whatley

    Well I'm flying to Antigua on Saturday morning and won't be back for a couple of weeks. So not sure how or when it'll be possible.. but yes, definitely soon.

    Let's keep talking :)

  • http://twitter.com/TheProdigalFool The Prodigal Fool

    James, I couldn't agree with you more. I penned a similar opinion back in July:http://theprodigalguide.com/2009/07/20/the-best…For me, the N86 is the best phone Nokia currently makes because, as you rightly say, it's a phone first and foremost and then a fantastic camera. It's not trying to be everything. It's focussed and lean. And all the better for it.

  • http://twitter.com/TheProdigalFool The Prodigal Fool

    James, I couldn't agree with you more. I penned a similar opinion back in July:

    http://theprodigalguide.com/2009/07/20/the-best…

    For me, the N86 is the best phone Nokia currently makes because, as you rightly say, it's a phone first and foremost and then a fantastic camera. It's not trying to be everything. It's focussed and lean. And all the better for it.

  • http://twitter.com/DominicTravers dominictravers

    James, I'm sharing your sadness. I can see some great phones for content creation coming along soon (check your pockets). But the lack of ability to rapidly deploy the camera means many moments could be missed. The N series truly understood the photographers need to start up the camera quickly and shoot. Theres an opportunity for Symbian and Android developers to come up with hacks to enable rapid on and shooting for pure touch devices. could you compare the time it takes to shoot from your pocket between the Satio and the N86. Would be interested to know where we are on this as it stands.

  • http://twitter.com/DominicTravers dominictravers

    James, I'm sharing your sadness. I can see some great phones for content creation coming along soon (check your pockets). But the lack of ability to rapidly deploy the camera means many moments could be missed. The N series truly understood the photographers need to start up the camera quickly and shoot. Theres an opportunity for Symbian and Android developers to come up with hacks to enable rapid on and shooting for pure touch devices. could you compare the time it takes to shoot from your pocket between the Satio and the N86. Would be interested to know where we are on this as it stands.

  • http://twitter.com/xMichaelSFx Michael Hell

    i understand how James feels, but i must say, after almost 4 Months on Touchscreen Devices, i don't miss Keypads too much. Nokia 5800 was terrible, with its endless Bugs and resistive Screen, but the G1 and most of all, my HTC Hero now, are serving me really well. combined with the predictive Text Option, i'm getting some really good Typing Speeds. I might get back to Nokia when there are more capacitive Screen Phones available, but for now my Hero serves me perfectly well! I'm pretty fed up with Nokia for now :-/Regarding the N86: I didn't have one in the Flesh yet, but when it was announced i had a good Feeling about it, as it solved some of those Issues the N85 had - it looks much more solid, the Keys look so much more usable compared to the ultra-stiff N85 Keypad, oh and the Camera is impressive too, although this isn't the No.1 Buying reason anymore.. Great Post James, keep it going! :)

  • http://twitter.com/xMichaelSFx Michael Hell

    i understand how James feels, but i must say, after almost 4 Months on Touchscreen Devices, i don't miss Keypads too much. Nokia 5800 was terrible, with its endless Bugs and resistive Screen, but the G1 and most of all, my HTC Hero now, are serving me really well. combined with the predictive Text Option, i'm getting some really good Typing Speeds. I might get back to Nokia when there are more capacitive Screen Phones available, but for now my Hero serves me perfectly well! I'm pretty fed up with Nokia for now :-/

    Regarding the N86: I didn't have one in the Flesh yet, but when it was announced i had a good Feeling about it, as it solved some of those Issues the N85 had - it looks much more solid, the Keys look so much more usable compared to the ultra-stiff N85 Keypad, oh and the Camera is impressive too, although this isn't the No.1 Buying reason anymore..

    Great Post James, keep it going! :)

  • http://www.blackphoebe.com/msjen Ms. Jen

    Hi Ben,I am hoping that the camera focused branch will not come to an end, but with the Xseries and Eseries going off to grow happily out into Music & Biz, that the Nseries or like will be able to develop fully as a camera based creation oriented devices. *crossing fingers*;o)

  • http://www.blackphoebe.com/msjen Ms. Jen

    Hi Ben,

    I am hoping that the camera focused branch will not come to an end, but with the Xseries and Eseries going off to grow happily out into Music & Biz, that the Nseries or like will be able to develop fully as a camera based creation oriented devices. *crossing fingers*

    ;o)

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  • http://www.kcjhdesign.co.uk Kip Hakes

    Whilst I like the N86, I wouldn’t buy one, it’s just too fragile, the glass screen just makes it a bit too delicate for my liking. The one I had on trial from Nokia fell off my table onto the floor and smashed, gutted. But it shouldn’t do that! Nokia phones tend to be fairly tough, my 5800 has taken a few tumbles, my N95 went flying across a concrete car park, all with very tiny cosmetic impact. I want a phone that can take a knock, be a true pocket warrior, not one that is fragile and weak!

  • http://www.kcjhdesign.co.uk Kip Hakes

    Whilst I like the N86, I wouldn't buy one, it's just too fragile, the glass screen just makes it a bit too delicate for my liking. The one I had on trial from Nokia fell off my table onto the floor and smashed, gutted. But it shouldn't do that! Nokia phones tend to be fairly tough, my 5800 has taken a few tumbles, my N95 went flying across a concrete car park, all with very tiny cosmetic impact. I want a phone that can take a knock, be a true pocket warrior, not one that is fragile and weak!

  • http://www.kcjhdesign.co.uk Kip Hakes

    Whilst I like the N86, I wouldn't buy one, it's just too fragile, the glass screen just makes it a bit too delicate for my liking. The one I had on trial from Nokia fell off my table onto the floor and smashed, gutted. But it shouldn't do that! Nokia phones tend to be fairly tough, my 5800 has taken a few tumbles, my N95 went flying across a concrete car park, all with very tiny cosmetic impact. I want a phone that can take a knock, be a true pocket warrior, not one that is fragile and weak!

  • Pingback: The Nokia N86 8MP Is The Real Nseries Flagship | Symbian-Guru.com

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  • Patrick Rice

    Except currently, the N86 v 11.043 latest firmware, is the most Bug-ridden abomination of evil, Nokia have ever saw fit to throw our way.

    You can argue all you like (it’s your site after all *lol*), but I have posted about the major issues in detail on sites such as AAS etc, giving detailed info on the key problems.

    And I don’t just mean the little issues like current firmware not remembering “Special Words you spell out” (one day Nokia will finally get wise to checking that in each firmware first, given how many other phones over the years have had this bug that needed fixing), or the fact that CAPTURED photos are not even listed in the “Captured Photos” section in the Gallery, if saved to Mass Storage memory.

    I’m talking more significant ones such as normal landscape photos randomly being saved as a PORTRAIT photo instead (the complete opposite of what the rotation sensor/accelerometer is even meant to be for).

    Or how about the screen randomly auto-rotating when not in use, and then not being able to correctly re-orientate it when the phone is unlocked, if using a numeric key-guard, but worse yet, the Power Button then not even working, so that you can’t even switch your phone off without doing a BATTERY PULL (which with the FM Transmitter being built into the COVER, not the phone, is not something you want to be doing any more often than really needed).

    I don’t even need go on to talk about the incorrect charging/battery meter indications it sometimes shows (which can be potentially devastating), and the host of other issues it currently has.

    So, a lot to make it a white elephant just now, and NOT the Flagship you indicate…

    ..Were it not for the fact that I suspect ALL of these issues are SOFTWARE only, and can thus all be fixed in Firmware updates, IF Nokia are minded to do so.

    And if they do, given that the hardware and actual feature set of the N86 is so extensive, then believe it or not, despite my ‘rant’, I’m with you on this…

    …This really could be Nokia’s TRUE Flagship device, never mind the N96, N97 etc.

    The N86 can be king.

    IF Nokia sort out the horrible bug ridden, nightmare Firmware first.

    So come on Nokia, give us the Flagship we all want it to be – the N86!

  • Patrick Rice

    Except currently, the N86 v 11.043 latest firmware, is the most Bug-ridden abomination of evil, Nokia have ever saw fit to throw our way.You can argue all you like (it’s your site after all *lol*), but I have posted about the major issues in detail on sites such as AAS etc, giving detailed info on the key problems.And I don’t just mean the little issues like current firmware not remembering “Special Words you spell out” (one day Nokia will finally get wise to checking that in each firmware first, given how many other phones over the years have had this bug that needed fixing), or the fact that CAPTURED photos are not even listed in the “Captured Photos” section in the Gallery, if saved to Mass Storage memory.I’m talking more significant ones such as normal landscape photos randomly being saved as a PORTRAIT photo instead (the complete opposite of what the rotation sensor/accelerometer is even meant to be for).Or how about the screen randomly auto-rotating when not in use, and then not being able to correctly re-orientate it when the phone is unlocked, if using a numeric key-guard, but worse yet, the Power Button then not even working, so that you can’t even switch your phone off without doing a BATTERY PULL (which with the FM Transmitter being built into the COVER, not the phone, is not something you want to be doing any more often than really needed).I don’t even need go on to talk about the incorrect charging/battery meter indications it sometimes shows (which can be potentially devastating), and the host of other issues it currently has.So, a lot to make it a white elephant just now, and NOT the Flagship you indicate…..Were it not for the fact that I suspect ALL of these issues are SOFTWARE only, and can thus all be fixed in Firmware updates, IF Nokia are minded to do so.And if they do, given that the hardware and actual feature set of the N86 is so extensive, then believe it or not, despite my ‘rant’, I’m with you on this……This really could be Nokia’s TRUE Flagship device, never mind the N96, N97 etc.The N86 can be king.IF Nokia sort out the horrible bug ridden, nightmare Firmware first.So come on Nokia, give us the Flagship we all want it to be – the N86!

  • Patrick Rice

    Except currently, the N86 v 11.043 latest firmware, is the most Bug-ridden abomination of evil, Nokia have ever saw fit to throw our way.

    You can argue all you like (it’s your site after all *lol*), but I have posted about the major issues in detail on sites such as AAS etc, giving detailed info on the key problems.

    And I don’t just mean the little issues like current firmware not remembering “Special Words you spell out” (one day Nokia will finally get wise to checking that in each firmware first, given how many other phones over the years have had this bug that needed fixing), or the fact that CAPTURED photos are not even listed in the “Captured Photos” section in the Gallery, if saved to Mass Storage memory.

    I’m talking more significant ones such as normal landscape photos randomly being saved as a PORTRAIT photo instead (the complete opposite of what the rotation sensor/accelerometer is even meant to be for).

    Or how about the screen randomly auto-rotating when not in use, and then not being able to correctly re-orientate it when the phone is unlocked, if using a numeric key-guard, but worse yet, the Power Button then not even working, so that you can’t even switch your phone off without doing a BATTERY PULL (which with the FM Transmitter being built into the COVER, not the phone, is not something you want to be doing any more often than really needed).

    I don’t even need go on to talk about the incorrect charging/battery meter indications it sometimes shows (which can be potentially devastating), and the host of other issues it currently has.

    So, a lot to make it a white elephant just now, and NOT the Flagship you indicate…

    ..Were it not for the fact that I suspect ALL of these issues are SOFTWARE only, and can thus all be fixed in Firmware updates, IF Nokia are minded to do so.

    And if they do, given that the hardware and actual feature set of the N86 is so extensive, then believe it or not, despite my ‘rant’, I’m with you on this…

    …This really could be Nokia’s TRUE Flagship device, never mind the N96, N97 etc.

    The N86 can be king.

    IF Nokia sort out the horrible bug ridden, nightmare Firmware first.

    So come on Nokia, give us the Flagship we all want it to be – the N86!

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  • Rocci

    im literally biting my nails for http://www.puremobile.co.uk/Nokia/Nokia-N86-8MP… ive been crazy for this mobile, but I only want to get it unlocked and with no contract.

  • Rocci

    im literally biting my nails for http://www.puremobile.co.uk/Nokia/Nokia-N86-8MP… ive been crazy for this mobile, but I only want to get it unlocked and with no contract.

  • Anonymous

    I totally agree that the N86 was one of the best-built phones by Nokia (and by anyone for that matter)… and I have tried most of the Symbian phones having worked at Nokia.

    It is an utterly gorgeous phone, just a pity that the Symbian OS is so weak (and Maemo even more limited, from a developer perspective, in many ways, due to its lack of Java (ME) support)

  • Anonymous

    The N86 is (IMO) one of the best mobile phones ever built… it was sheer pleasure looking at it and holding it.

    Pity that the Symbian OS just cannot keep up with the iPhone, Android, Palm and RIM.

    And Maemo seems (in terms of Java support) a giant step backward

  • ts2912

    I totally agree that the N86 was one of the best-built phones by Nokia (and by anyone for that matter)… and I have tried most of the Symbian phones having worked at Nokia.It is an utterly gorgeous phone, just a pity that the Symbian OS is so weak (and Maemo even more limited, from a developer perspective, in many ways, due to its lack of Java (ME) support)

  • ts2912

    I totally agree that the N86 was one of the best-built phones by Nokia (and by anyone for that matter)… and I have tried most of the Symbian phones having worked at Nokia.

    It is an utterly gorgeous phone, just a pity that the Symbian OS is so weak (and Maemo even more limited, from a developer perspective, in many ways, due to its lack of Java (ME) support)

  • ts2912

    The N86 is (IMO) one of the best mobile phones ever built… it was sheer pleasure looking at it and holding it.Pity that the Symbian OS just cannot keep up with the iPhone, Android, Palm and RIM.And Maemo seems (in terms of Java support) a giant step backward

  • ts2912

    The N86 is (IMO) one of the best mobile phones ever built… it was sheer pleasure looking at it and holding it.

    Pity that the Symbian OS just cannot keep up with the iPhone, Android, Palm and RIM.

    And Maemo seems (in terms of Java support) a giant step backward

  • http://whatleydude.com James Whatley

    I’m not sure what your point is; you like the N86 but don’t like Symbian?
    What’s with the Maemo reference? Have you used/tried an N900?

  • http://whatleydude.com James Whatley

    Interesting. What did you do at Nokia?

    What makes Maemo so weak? Easy to shrug off with one liners, but more insight would be appreciated.

  • Anonymous

    The N86 is a beautiful phone in terms of hardware. Symbian operating system sucks (in comparison to others), therefore these Symbian applications are not user-friendly.

    Maemo does not support Java, you generally need to use Python for the UI and C++-based APIs for the lower layers. So if you plan to develop applications on Android or RIM or Palm OR even other applications on Symbian, you will need to rewrite them from the ground-up for Maemo… this pretty much guarantees that Maemo will be a niche player…

    Understand?

  • http://benjam.in Ben Smith

    Maemo doesn’t support java… *yet*.

  • http://whatleydude.com James Whatley

    “The N86 is a beautiful phone in terms of hardware. Symbian operating system sucks (in comparison to others), therefore these Symbian applications are not user-friendly.”

    Which Symbian applications? I’m still not clear, sorry.
    What does Maemo have to do with the N86?

    I’m not sure I do completely understand but, I think what *you’re* saying is: Maemo is guaranteed to only ever be a niche player simply because it doesn’t support Java, right?

    Really?

    What QT? Isn’t that supposed to make developer life easier in the future?

  • http://whatleydude.com James Whatley

    I'm not sure what your point is; you like the N86 but don't like Symbian? What's with the Maemo reference? Have you used/tried an N900?

  • http://whatleydude.com James Whatley

    I'm not sure what your point is; you like the N86 but don't like Symbian?
    What's with the Maemo reference? Have you used/tried an N900?

  • http://whatleydude.com James Whatley

    Interesting. What did you do at Nokia? What makes Maemo so weak? Easy to shrug off with one liners, but more insight would be appreciated.

  • http://whatleydude.com James Whatley

    Interesting. What did you do at Nokia?

    What makes Maemo so weak? Easy to shrug off with one liners, but more insight would be appreciated.

  • ts2912

    The N86 is a beautiful phone in terms of hardware. Symbian operating system sucks (in comparison to others), therefore these Symbian applications are not user-friendly.Maemo does not support Java, you generally need to use Python for the UI and C++-based APIs for the lower layers. So if you plan to develop applications on Android or RIM or Palm OR even other applications on Symbian, you will need to rewrite them from the ground-up for Maemo… this pretty much guarantees that Maemo will be a niche player…Understand?

  • ts2912

    The N86 is a beautiful phone in terms of hardware. Symbian operating system sucks (in comparison to others), therefore these Symbian applications are not user-friendly.

    Maemo does not support Java, you generally need to use Python for the UI and C++-based APIs for the lower layers. So if you plan to develop applications on Android or RIM or Palm OR even other applications on Symbian, you will need to rewrite them from the ground-up for Maemo… this pretty much guarantees that Maemo will be a niche player…

    Understand?

  • http://benjam.in Ben Smith

    Maemo doesn't support java… *yet*.

  • http://benjam.in Ben Smith

    Maemo doesn't support java… *yet*.

  • http://whatleydude.com James Whatley

    “The N86 is a beautiful phone in terms of hardware. Symbian operating system sucks (in comparison to others), therefore these Symbian applications are not user-friendly.”Which Symbian applications? I'm still not clear, sorry. What does Maemo have to do with the N86? I'm not sure I do completely understand but, I think what *you're* saying is: Maemo is guaranteed to only ever be a niche player simply because it doesn't support Java, right? Really? What QT? Isn't that supposed to make developer life easier in the future?

  • http://whatleydude.com James Whatley

    “The N86 is a beautiful phone in terms of hardware. Symbian operating system sucks (in comparison to others), therefore these Symbian applications are not user-friendly.”

    Which Symbian applications? I'm still not clear, sorry.
    What does Maemo have to do with the N86?

    I'm not sure I do completely understand but, I think what *you're* saying is: Maemo is guaranteed to only ever be a niche player simply because it doesn't support Java, right?

    Really?

    What QT? Isn't that supposed to make developer life easier in the future?

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  • http://www.r4ds.sk/ cheap Nintendo DS r4 karty

    N86 is very impressive even though it is not the xenon flash photogrphers use, but sill impressie and clear not as bright as xenon but it is getting close!

  • http://www.r4ds.sk/ cheap Nintendo DS r4 karty

    N86 is very impressive even though it is not the xenon flash photogrphers use, but sill impressie and clear not as bright as xenon but it is getting close!

  • http://www.r4ds.sk/ cheap Nintendo DS r4 karty

    N86 is very impressive even though it is not the xenon flash photogrphers use, but sill impressie and clear not as bright as xenon but it is getting close!

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