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Nokia N95 With US 3G Support Cell Phone Review - Tour & Design

Richard Baguley Published on December 17, 2007 Comment on this

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Intro Making/Receiving Calls Software Other Features

Tour & Design Messaging Battery Life Value & Comparisons

Audio Quality Organizer Connectivity Conclusion

Imaging Multimedia Hardware Ratings & Specs

Front
From the front the Nokia N95 is dominated by the large 2.6 inch QVGA (240 x 320) screen. Above this is a slit for the phone speaker, an LED light and the VGA camera for video calls. Below the screen are the main controls, with a smallish directional pad surrounded by control keys.
Left
On the left of the N95 with US 3G support are a small speaker cover (one is present on either side of the case), a 3.5-mm headset or headphone socket, a plastic over over the infra-red receiver and the cover over the micro SD card slot.
Top
On the top of the N95 With 3G support, the only major feature is the single power button. You can also see the join where the screen slides up.

Bottom
On the bottom of the N95 with 3G support there are a number of features; from the left to the right we have the 2.5-mm power socket, the microphone port, the USB post and the lanyard loop.

Right
On the right side we see (from the left in this photo) the camera shutter button, the gallery key (which starts off the pohoto and video viewing program), the volume rocker and the speaker cover.

Back
The biggest feature on the back of the N95 with 3G support is the camera. This is one area where thhis new model differs from the old one; there is no camera cover. Instead, a glass window covers the lens, which is more recessed than the older model.

Open
The screen on the N95 with US 3G support slides two ways; upwards to reveal the keypad (the photo on the left) and downwards to show the media controls. The keypad is the same design as the older N95, but the media controls have been updated; theya re now on raised domes which make them easier to find by touch.

Battery Out

Removing the battery cover reveals another major update; the battery is a different, larger model than the older N95. This new N95 with US 3G support comes with a 1200mAh BL-6F battery; the older N95 had a 950mAh BL-6E battery. But this bigger battery does not always translate into longer battery life; the more power hungry 3G radio means that it's a trade off. But we'll get to that in a bit.

In the Box (7.0)
A decent selection of accessories come with the N95 with US 3G support; a set of manuals, software CD with Nokia's own PC Suite software, a charger, Stereo headset, wired remote, USB cable and a video cable that connects to a TV set. A 1GB micro SD card is also included.

Handling (5.0)
When closed, the Nokia N95 with US 3G support fits comfortably in the palm of your hand, but the positioning of the control keys near the bottom of the device makes them a little awkward; you have to stretch the thumb to reach them. But they are much better placed when you slide the screen up to reveal the keypad, and this is the way that it will be used most often. You will also find that the plethora of buttons and ports mean that you fingers are always touching them when holding the device, which can lead to mistaken presses. The device is lighter than we expected, and should fit comfortably on your head when speaking on the phone. Overall we found the Nokia N95 a little awkward, but most users will have no problem holding and using it.

Portability (5.0)
The N95 is no Razr: the phone is a little chunky at 0.83 inches thick, but it is reasonably light at just over 4 ounces. So, this isn't a phone that you are going to stick into a tight pocket, but it is small and light enough to fit into a jacket pocket or bag without weighing you down.

Aesthetics (4.0)
While the N95 with US 3G support has a clean, straightforward design, it isn't what we could call stylish. Functional, yes, but not stylish. Mind you, it looks professional, and this isn't a phone that someone is going to buy for looks

Durability (5.0)
Although the N95 with US 3G support feels solidly built, the plastic case does seem to be magnet for scratches. And the exposed screen could also get scratched, as could the window over the back lens. So the phone feels relatively durable, but a cover to protect the case, screen and lens would be a wise investment.

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