Nokia N79 vs Nokia N96

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N79 compared with N96

	NokiaN79	NokiaN96
Overview
Released
Released	2008	September 2008
Display
Screen size
Screen size	2.4″	2.8″
Resolution
Resolution	320 × 240	320 × 240
Sharpness
Sharpness	167 pixels per inch (better)	143 pixels per inch
Panel
Panel	LCD	LCD
Display type
Display type	2.4-inch QVGA 240 × 320 LCD with up to 16 million colours; TFT type confirmed by GSMArena. Native refresh and brightness in nits not published.	2.8-inch QVGA screen; GSMArena identifies TFT LCD with 16 million colours. No maker refresh-rate figure established.
Display features
Display features	Orientation sensor supports automatic portrait/landscape interface rotation.	–
Performance
Chip
Chip	–	Dual ARM9 264 MHz (GSMArena)
Memory
Memory	–	128 MB
Storage
Storage	50 MB	16 GB (better)
Memory
Memory	S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 2. GSMArena reports Symbian OS 9.3 and a single 369 MHz ARM11 CPU without a dedicated graphics accelerator. Physical RAM capacity is not inferred from the 72 MB free-RAM figure in All About Symbian's test.	16 GB mass storage is separate from phone/system memory. GSMArena publishes 128 MB RAM, used in configs; All About Symbian reports about 46 MB free after boot, not installed capacity. Its tested phone/system C drive has 85 MB free; neither free-space figure replaces advertised mass storage.
Storage type
Storage type	Maker launch datasheet states up to 50 MB internal user memory and a bundled 4 GB microSD card. Contemporary tests differ, with All About Symbian finding 76 MB free internal storage and GSMArena just under 83 MB user-available memory. Keep differing firmware/test figures qualified, rather than adding them to nominal capacity.	Built-in mass storage and microSD slot. Maker launch describes an optional 8 GB microSDHC MU-43 card giving 24 GB total; no hypothetical card maximum treated as a maker specification.
Cameras
Main camera
Main camera	5 MP	5 MP
Ultra wide camera
Ultra wide camera	None	None
Telephoto camera
Telephoto camera	None	None
Optical zoom
Optical zoom	None	None
Main camera
Main camera	Autofocus 5 MP Carl Zeiss Tessar, F2.8 aperture and physical focal length 5.2 mm; dual LED flash and physical sliding lens cover. Launch datasheet gives 2584 × 1938 pixels, while the exact guide and GSMArena give 2592 × 1944. Retain this source discrepancy.	5 MP autofocus camera with Carl Zeiss optics and dual LED flash/video light. GSMArena reports 2592 × 1944 stills and 5.2 mm marked focal length. No physical lens cover.
Front camera
Front camera	Lower-resolution secondary camera supports photographs, video recording and video calls; exact guide does not give megapixels.	Secondary front camera for video calls; GSMArena identifies VGA, without an inferred megapixel figure.
Video recording
Video recording	MPEG-4 VGA 640 × 480 at up to 30 fps. Guide distinguishes MP4 TV-quality modes from 3GP sharing mode. Dual LED can serve as a video light; review focus findings vary and are not changed into specification claims.	VGA video at up to 30 fps in GSMArena’s production review; maker announcement confirms 30 fps without treating “DVD-like” marketing as a resolution.
Camera features
Camera features	Geotagging, scene modes, white balance, exposure compensation, self-timer, burst sequence and composition grid; configurable camera toolbar. Physical cover starts and closes the camera application.	Location tagging, scene modes, white balance, exposure compensation, ISO selection, sharpness, contrast and colour effects; exact guide distinguishes temporary setup from persistent main settings.
Battery and charging
Battery
Battery	1,200 mAh (better)	950 mAh
Video playback (maker's claim)
Video playback (maker's claim)	Up to 5 hours	–
Wireless charging
Wireless charging	None	None
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	Removable BL-6F, 1200 mAh. Launch datasheet claims up to 210 minutes 3G or 330 minutes GSM talk, 400 hours 3G or 370 hours GSM standby, 5 hours offline video playback and 24 hours offline music. Actual use depends on network, features and battery condition.	Removable BL-5F confirmed by RM-247 guide; 950 mAh is reported independently by GSMArena and All About Symbian. No unpublished launch talk/standby figures copied from N95. Contemporary test endurance remains attributed in reviews.
Wired charging
Wired charging	Dedicated 2 mm Nokia charging connector. Micro-USB does not charge the handset, confirmed in both full reviews.	Separate charger connector and micro-USB data socket. GSMArena confirms no USB charging; RM-247 guide specifies compatible AC-5 mains charger.
Design
Type
Type	Standard	Standard
Weight
Weight	97 g (better)	125 g
Thickness
Thickness	15 mm (better)	18 mm
Height × width
Height × width	110 × 49 mm	103 × 55 mm
Weight detail
Weight detail	–	GSMArena quotes 125 g and 103 × 55 × 18 mm; those structured required figures use its exact-model production review because original maker datasheet mirror is blocked. All About Symbian describes 17 mm thickness; source difference retained.
Colours
Colours	Maker launch lists Light Sea Blue, Espresso Brown, Olive Green, White and Coral Red Xpress-on smart rear covers; three covers included in each package, with market-dependent selection. Covers automatically change matching screen themes unless that option is disabled.	–
Buttons
Buttons	Navi wheel around the scroll control, dedicated keylock slider, volume rocker, multimedia/menu controls and two-stage camera capture key.	Dual slider reveals numeric keypad or media/game controls. Front media keys, scroll control, menu/multimedia shortcuts, camera/volume controls and top keylock switch. All About Symbian confirms prototype Navi wheel was disabled in production; generic FP2 review paragraphs suggesting it remains active are excluded.
Speakers
Speakers	Built-in stereo loudspeakers; headset listening and speakerphone/ringtone measurements are distinct.	Built-in stereo loudspeakers and rear folding stand for hands-free video viewing. DVB-H receiver requires compatible local services; original guide specifies SIM and subscription/coverage conditions.
Software
Operating system
Operating system	Symbian	Symbian
Software features
Software features	Integrated FM receiver and FM transmitter; original music, gallery, web, messaging, document viewing and N-Gage software. Firmware, region and operator affect applications; retired connected services are not advertised as current.	S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 2 on Symbian OS 9.3, as identified in full reviews. Original music/video/Photos software, FM radio with RDS, Internet Radio, N-Gage, document viewers and web browser. Historical regional BBC iPlayer widget and online-service support are described as launch-era features.
Release detail
Release detail	Maker announcement on 26 August 2008 plans October shipping, while the datasheet plans Q4. Neither proves the first retail day or month, so release retains 2008 precision, supported by contemporary production reviews. Maker calls it a step forward from N72/N73; review comparisons with N78/N82 do not establish a direct replacement link.	Original maker announcement dated 11 February 2008 planned Q3 shipping. Issuer’s 3 September notice announces availability and says first shipments have started; September retained without treating notice date as exact worldwide first retail. Regional retail timing differs. Maker says N96 builds on N95’s success, without an explicit direct replacement link.
Connectivity
Mobile network
Mobile network	N79-1/RM-348 supports WCDMA 900/2100 with HSDPA and GSM 850/900/1800/1900 with EGPRS. Other regional RM models have different bands; none borrowed into this record.	GSMArena exact model table lists GSM 850/900/1800/1900 and WCDMA 900/2100 with HSDPA. Separate N96-3 regional 850/1900 WCDMA bands are not combined into the European record.
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	IEEE 802.11b/g with UPnP home-network support.	IEEE 802.11b/g with UPnP home-network sharing; exact RM-247 guide documents infrastructure/ad hoc modes and media sharing.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 2.0 with enhanced data rates; exact guide lists stereo A2DP and AVRCP, imaging, printing, dial-up networking, file transfer, hands-free, headset, HID, object push, SIM access, synchronisation, serial-port and phonebook-access profiles.	Bluetooth 2.0; exact RM-247 guide lists A2DP, AVRCP, imaging, printing, dial-up networking, file transfer, hands-free, headset, HID, object push, SIM access, synchronisation, serial-port and phonebook-access profiles.
USB
USB	Micro-USB Hi-Speed USB 2.0 data socket and separate charging connector. Standard 3.5 mm stereo headset connector also supports PAL/NTSC TV output.	Hi-Speed USB 2.0 data via micro-USB. Nokia AV 3.5 mm connector serves compatible wired headphones and CA-75U TV-out cable; separate mains charging connector.
Positioning
Positioning	Integrated GPS and assisted GPS. Original Nokia Maps and bundled navigation trial are historical software features; retired service availability is not promised.	Integrated GPS and assisted GPS with historical Nokia Maps navigation. Launch navigation subscriptions and retired online services are not promised as current services.