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Nokia N86 8MP vs Nokia N97

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

NokiaN86 8MPNokiaN97
Overview
ReleasedJune 2009June 2009
Display
Screen size2.6″3.5″
Resolution320 × 240640 × 360
Sharpness154 pixels per inch210 pixels per inch
PanelOLEDLCD
Display type2.6-inch AMOLED QVGA, up to 16 million colours; no published maker refresh-rate or brightness figure.3.5-inch TFT LCD, 640 × 360, up to 16 million colours; resistive touch input with optional stylus. No maker refresh-rate or peak-brightness figure published.
Screen protectionScratch-resistant hardened glass and metal front frame, from the maker launch release; no inferred Gorilla Glass version.–
Performance
ChipARM11 434 MHz (GSMArena)ARM11 434 MHz (GSMArena)
Memory128 MB128 MB
Storage8 GB32 GB
Memory8 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.32 GB built-in mass storage from maker sheet. 128 MB installed RAM and 434 MHz ARM11 CPU from GSMArena’s full production review. All About Symbian’s later v 21 test reports only 10–15 MB free on the separate C: system partition after use; this is not total RAM or the 32 GB mass-storage capacity.
Storage typemicroSD expansion up to 16 GB, from maker sheet and launch release. Removable card capacity is separate from built-in 8 GB storage.microSD expansion up to 16 GB from original maker sheet. Original up-to 48 GB marketing total includes the removable card, not 48 GB built-in storage.
Cameras
Main camera8 MP5 MP
Ultra wide cameraNoneNone
Telephoto cameraNoneNone
Optical zoomNoneNone
Main camera8 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 Carl Zeiss Tessar, F2.8,5.4 mm physical focal length, dual LED flash/video light and sliding lens cover. Launch sheet 2584 ×1938 still matrix conflicts with 2592 ×1944 in exact issue 5 owner guide and production review; guide matrix identified as later exact-model evidence.
Front cameraFront VGA camera, 640 × 480 pixels, from maker sheet; no inferred headline megapixel precision.Secondary front camera for video calling, confirmed in owner guide; no headline megapixel figure inferred. AAS reports 176 ×122 in its v 21 review, without treating that as a maker sensor specification.
Video recordingMain camera VGA 640 × 480 at up to 30 fps, from maker sheet. No HD recording or optical zoom claimed.Maker sheet specifies VGA 640 ×480 MPEG-4 at up to 30 fps. AAS later test records 640 ×360 at 29 fps; recording modes/settings differ. No HD or optical zoom claimed.
Camera featuresSliding 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.Two-stage shutter key, sliding lens cover, geotagging, scene settings, white balance, ISO and exposure compensation. No transferred N86 variable aperture or mechanical-shutter claim.
Battery and charging
Battery1,200 mAh1,500 mAh
Video playback (maker's claim)–Up to 4.5 hours
Wireless chargingNoneNone
Battery life detailRemovable 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 BP-4L 1500 mAh. Original maker sheet maxima:320 minutes 3G or 400 minutesGSM talk,400 hours 3G or 430 hoursGSM standby,4.5 hours offline video or 37 hours offline music. GSMArena cites later 6/9.5-hour talk and 408/432-hour standby figures; differing launch claims are qualified rather than combined.
Wired chargingMicro-USB charging and simultaneous USB data transfer confirmed by exact RM-484 guide; no charging wattage published.Micro-USB charging with simultaneous data transfer confirmed by exact owner guide; no maker charging wattage published.
Design
TypeStandardStandard
Weight149 g150 g
Thickness16.5 mm15.9 mm
Height × width103.4 × 51.4 mm117.2 × 55.3 mm
Weight detail–Maker body dimensions 117.2 ×55.3 ×15.9 mm; camera area reaches 18.25 mm. Headline retains the main body thickness.
ButtonsDual 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.Slide-and-tilt three-row QWERTY keyboard with directional pad on the left and space key on the right. Numeric/symbol input uses modifiers. Physical menu, volume and capture controls, touch call/end keys and screen-lock slider.
SpeakersBuilt-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 speakers; FM radio with RDS and FM transmitter confirmed by production review and owner guide. Transmitter availability is regional; the guide qualifies permitted countries.
Software
Operating systemSymbianSymbian
Software featuresS60 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.Symbian OS9.4/S60 5th Edition with configurable homescreen widgets, document viewers and original Ovi services. GSMArena tests launch firmware; AAS’s March 2010 month-long v 21 test still finds RAM/system-partition constraints and instability. Original N-Gage/service availability and later updates are not assumed universal or usable today.
Release detailMaker 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.Announced 2 December 2008 with first-half 2009 shipping planned. Maker 2 June 2009 article states sales in 75 countries duringJune without exact worldwide day; actual 19 June article confirms UK shop debut. June retained without substituting the UK day for worldwide first sale. No maker-supported direct predecessor link established.
Connectivity
Mobile networkEuropean 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.Original maker sheet: GSM850/900/1800/1900 and WCDMA900/1900/2100 with HSDPA. Exact guide identifies European RM-505; regional American variants remain separate and are not combined into the European band list.
Wi-FiEuropean 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 networking, from maker datasheet; no inferred Wi-Fi generation beyond the stated standards.
BluetoothBluetooth 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 +EDR with A2DP/AVRCP stereo audio, hands-free/headset, dial-up networking, file transfer, imaging, phonebook access and remote SIM profiles confirmed in exact guide.
USBMicro-USB Hi-Speed USB 2.0 data/charging and 3.5 mm Nokia AV socket for compatible headphones and PAL/NTSC TV-out.Micro-USB Hi-Speed USB 2.0 data/charging and 3.5 mm Nokia AV socket for compatible headphones and PAL/NTSC TV-out.
PositioningGPS, 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.GPS, assisted GPS and electronic compass. Launch sheet says navigation may need separate purchase; GSMArena’s original Maps 2.0 Touch package had a three-month trial, while AAS later v 21 review tests updated Ovi Maps. These are historical software/licence states, not promised current services.

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