Nokia N86 8MP vs Nokia N96
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| NokiaN86 8MP | NokiaN96 | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | June 2009 | September 2008 |
| Display | ||
| Screen size | 2.6″ | 2.8″ |
| Resolution | 320 × 240 | 320 × 240 |
| Sharpness | 154 pixels per inch (better) | 143 pixels per inch |
| Panel | OLED | LCD |
| Display type | 2.6-inch AMOLED QVGA, up to 16 million colours; no published maker refresh-rate or brightness figure. | 2.8-inch QVGA screen; GSMArena identifies TFT LCD with 16 million colours. No maker refresh-rate figure established. |
| Screen protection | Scratch-resistant hardened glass and metal front frame, from the maker launch release; no inferred Gorilla Glass version. | – |
| Performance | ||
| Chip | ARM11 434 MHz (GSMArena) | Dual ARM9 264 MHz (GSMArena) |
| Memory | 128 MB | 128 MB |
| Storage | 8 GB | 16 GB (better) |
| Memory | 8 GB internal flash from maker datasheet. Installed 128 MB RAM is from GSMArena’s full production review; the maker’s up to 74 MB internal dynamic memory is not total installed RAM. Free RAM varies with software and firmware. | 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 | microSD expansion up to 16 GB, from maker sheet and launch release. Removable card capacity is separate from built-in 8 GB storage. | 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 | 8 MP (better) | 5 MP |
| Ultra wide camera | None | None |
| Telephoto camera | None | None |
| Optical zoom | None | None |
| Main camera | 8 MP autofocus Carl Zeiss Tessar: 4.61 mm physical focal length (28 mm equivalent), automatic F2.4/F3.2/F4.8 aperture, mechanical shutter up to 1/1000 second and third-generation dual LED flash/video light. Original launch sheet gives 3280 × 2464 stills; exact RM-484 owner guide and production reviews give 3264 × 2448. Owner-guide matrix retained as the later exact-model evidence. | 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 VGA camera, 640 × 480 pixels, from maker sheet; no inferred headline megapixel precision. | Secondary front camera for video calls; GSMArena identifies VGA, without an inferred megapixel figure. |
| Video recording | Main camera VGA 640 × 480 at up to 30 fps, from maker sheet. No HD recording or optical zoom claimed. | 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 | Sliding lens cover, two-stage capture key, geotagging, scene modes, white balance, exposure compensation and burst/interval capture. Aperture selection is automatic rather than a manual aperture control. GSMArena and All About Symbian differ strongly on still-image processing quality. | 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 | 1,200 mAh (better) | 950 mAh |
| Wireless charging | None | None |
| Battery life detail | Removable BL-5K, 1200 mAh. Maker maxima: 3.9 hours WCDMA or 6.3 hours GSM talk, 2.5 hours video calling, seven hours QVGA/30fps video playback or 25 hours offline music. The original sheet labels standby as 11.5 h WCDMA and 13 h GSM; GSMArena instead lists 264/312 hours. Unresolved apparent unit/error conflict is retained rather than silently converting the maker values into days. | 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 | Micro-USB charging and simultaneous USB data transfer confirmed by exact RM-484 guide; no charging wattage published. | Separate charger connector and micro-USB data socket. GSMArena confirms no USB charging; RM-247 guide specifies compatible AC-5 mains charger. |
| Design | ||
| Type | Standard | Standard |
| Weight | 149 g | 125 g (better) |
| Thickness | 16.5 mm (better) | 18 mm |
| Height × width | 103.4 × 51.4 mm | 103 × 55 mm |
| 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. |
| Buttons | Dual slider exposes numeric keypad or media/game keys; physical directional control, volume/zoom, capture and keylock. Active kickstand opens Photos by default and is configurable in the exact guide. Maker sheet advertises automatic media launching with the short slide; GSMArena’s production unit did not perform that action. | 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 | Built-in stereo speakers with 3D sound effect, FM radio with RDS and FM transmitter. Exact guide qualifies transmitter availability by country; stereo speaker sound is criticised in the original reviews. | 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 | Symbian | Symbian |
| Software features | S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 2 on Symbian OS 9.3; music/podcasting, Photos, video player, N-Gage, document viewers and original Ovi services. All About Symbian reports slowdowns and restarts on v10 launch firmware; no unverified later fix claimed. | 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 | Maker announcement on 17 February 2009 planned Q2 shipping. Nokia Conversations’ 11 June article says shop sales started the previous day around the globe; its 19 June article separately confirms UK shop debut that day. June retained without assuming an identical first-sale day in every market. No maker-supported direct predecessor link established. | 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 | European RM-484 guide: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 and UMTS 900/1900/2100. Maker launch sheet separately lists a regional 850/1900/2100 UMTS version with WLAN and a 900/1900/2100 version without WLAN; these are distinct regional variants, not combined bands/features. | 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 | European guide confirms IEEE 802.11b/g at 2.4 GHz and UPnP home-network sharing. Maker sheet also lists a separate regional no-WLAN version. | IEEE 802.11b/g with UPnP home-network sharing; exact RM-247 guide documents infrastructure/ad hoc modes and media sharing. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR from exact guide; A2DP/AVRCP stereo audio, hands-free/headset, dial-up networking, imaging, file transfer, remote SIM 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 | Micro-USB Hi-Speed USB 2.0 data/charging and 3.5 mm Nokia AV socket for compatible headphones and PAL/NTSC TV-out. | 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 | GPS, assisted GPS and digital compass; Nokia Maps 3.0 at launch. Navigation trial lengths varied: GSMArena describes three months, All About Symbian’s European package six months driving plus pedestrian navigation. Original licences and retired online services are historical features. | Integrated GPS and assisted GPS with historical Nokia Maps navigation. Launch navigation subscriptions and retired online services are not promised as current services. |
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