Evolution is a natural process, a development to a higher kind in reference to the present, gradual working out to something better and bolder. The Nokia N8 hardware is a perfect example of this process redefining the meaning of durability, built quality and style among mobilephones. There has been countless effort in the market to create a perfect device that would integrate these aspects but only Nokia N8 at the moment captured a part of such magnificence making it the best mobilephone ever created hardware-wise.
As mentioned in my first impression article, the phone emanates the character of caliber and grade. It's glorious to hold, classy, elegant, solid and conjures to the hand perfectly. It’s not slippery to touch as compared to that of metal coated devices or as rough as plastics, just about the ideal. The curve sides gave the phone an excellent grip impression as it helps quadrate the phones position to the palm.
The Nokia N8 is being covered with anodized aluminum frame which is equivalent to strength, diamond hard durability and scratch and rust resistance completing the formidable set up. Did you know that many satellites circling the earth were protected by anodized aluminum? It would be literally safe to say that the Nokia N8 could survive the outer space. How’s that for a space phone?
Style-wise, the phone is one of the best in the industry. Simplicity and straightforwardness defines its style. Front panel has only one button in the lower end giving a clean impression, both the upper and lower tips were concave, somewhat created to give the phone a unique and futuristic look than the rest. It also gave a thinner impression and elevates the screen against the background.
The phone is built in a desirable length of 113.5mm, a manageable width of 59.1mm and a pretty thin 12.9mm thickness, perfect dimension for a feature packed device. Weight is about 135grams and by comparison can be considered as one of the lighter smartphones in the market at the moment. The weight is well balance around the phone that the user would not feel its heaviness when being held. It's a bit wider compared to say, N97 Mini having a bigger screen integrated, yet can really be gripped close hand.
Screen size is about 3.5 inches with 360 x 640 pixels, just about the ideal for a touchscreen device. As I mentioned in my early phone comparison of high end devices, I gave the Nokia N8 the win because it’s simply the most comfortable screen I can possibly use. Using the phone in one hand is very important to me and the screen size of Nokia N8 is perfect since I can grip it fully with my thumb reaching the left side of the phone without sweat. There have been several phones at the moment which has 4inches up screen but they're really very uncomfortable to use in one hand. The front screen panel has margin drifts on the side which collects dust in a long run, minor design flaw that would not matter much.
Looking at the phone screen is just beautiful; it has a well contrasted screen that gives a vivid glorious color indoors, thanks to the AMOLED screen which surprisingly emits a bright screen in direct sunlight. This is another step forward for AMOLED technology which is being regarded in the past as weak outdoors. The gorilla glass display gives the phone unparalleled damage resistance and protection against scratches or fall.
The phone’s left side has three important slots, the SIM Card which could support up to 32GB of memory, the SIM Card slot which would mean that the phone is hot swappable, and the USB connector which supports charging and USB OTG. The cover by the way took me few minutes to open but becomes manageable when you get used to it.
Right side of the phone has the volume rocker, unlock key and the camera shutter button. The silver coat that defines the margin of the volume rocker and the shutter button looks pleasing to the eye. The camera button is the most stellar feature in this side, it’s very comfortable to press making it very usable for half press autofocus. This is the best shutter button I ever tried so far on a mobilephone.
Top most side of the phone was quite full with three important slots, the power key, HDMI port and the 3.5mm headset connector. The HDMI port is covered with a plastic cap which like the SIM card and Memory slot, needs to get used to. Bottom side of the phone only has the charger connector and the microphone.
Back side of the phone has an uneven surface with the upper part bulging a few millimeters to give way to the phones impressive camera sensors; 12MP Carl Ziess optics, Xenon flash, 1/1.83” sensor size, and ND Filter. To keep a thin dimension, Nokia purposely omit the camera cover that would protect the lens and it became its biggest flaw. Being marketed as cameraphone, the company should have done its best to protect its biggest asset. The Nokia NSeries logo at the back is silver plated and deeply embedded on the cover.
Summed Up
If there is one thing that Nokia should be proud of at the moment, it will be the hardware of this phone, it is top of the line, no if's, no buts. There has never been a phone in the market at the moment that can beat it down, not a thousand mile but it’s not flawless as mentioned earlier and it wouldn't ever be perfect as the rule of the thumb goes. Imperfection fuels the continuation of hardware technology evolution, the quest for the ultimate will always be seek out but on the edge at the moment, the Nokia N8 as a marker to scratch on.
Stay Tuned for my Nokia N8 Software review!
Nov 7, 2010
Evolution: The Nokia N8 Hardware Review
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