My Experience with Nokia's N82 Super Camera Phone

This is not an all-inclusive review of everything the N82 has to offer, it just points out the aspects of the N82 that most influenced my decision to keep the device or not. The N82 was my first N-series device and I used it for a little over a week before sending it back for a refund.

The Display

The N82 display was clear and vibrant without a noticeable difference in quality from my iPod touch. Photos and video podcasts were enjoyable to view. Unfortunately, the screen is too small for a smartphone. At half the size of the touch, the N82's screen feels downright tiny. Mobile web browsing was a chore and I imagine doing extensive document editing on this device would be equally frustrating.

The Camera

The most lauded feature of the N82 is it's camera. The five-megapixel camera with xenon flash was a joy to use. While I had the phone, it replaced my dedicated digital camera for everyday use. Third party applications like Qik and Shozu make the camera even more convenient with live video streaming and automatic uploading to the web.

User Interface

The N82 was my first s60 device. This platform is great because it is open and there are a multitude of third-party applications available. The not-so-great part is that its hard to navigate and it can run a little slow. If you don't know the shortcuts, it's annoying to go through menus and submenus to get to the application you need. Out of the box, the N82 is pretty boring, but once you install a few good apps and themes, using the phone gets a lot more enjoyable. I loved that it is easy to completely bypass the computer and download apps directly to the phone.

The Keypad

The keypad was usable but not pleasant. I didn't like the tiny keys at all.

Appearance and Build

The N82 is not an attractive phone and it just feels cheap, like a toy. I did not feel like I was holding a piece of hardware worth $400 or more and d-pad made a squeaking, plasticky noise. I was not impressed with the design nor the build quality of this device.

Overall

Due to an issue with AT&T I was not able to upgrade my data plan and this limited a lot of what I could do with this phone. I didn't get to play around with GPS and I really wanted to try turning my phone into a portable hotspot with JoikuSpot. Also, this was my first experience with the N-series and based on other reviews I have read, I had barely scratched the surface of what the device is really capable of. Nonetheless, here is my list of high and low points for the N82.

HIghs:

• The phone functions work well and the speakers are very loud.
• Wi-fi is easy to setup and access.
  
• You can download podcasts directly to the phone. With the included tv-out cable you can easily watch your video podcasts on your tv.
• Third party applications add function and fun to the device.
• The camera with xenon flash and easy uploading options is great. With two babies to capture, I used this function the most in the few weeks I had the N82.

Lows:

• The cheap look and feel of the device.
• The lack of US 3G.
• The small screen.
• It's getting old. New N-series phones are coming out and I know I would regret buying the N82 when the N85 is released.
  

Overall ,the N82 is a great phone; just not the ideal phone for me. It was fun while it lasted, but for my money ($399 on Amazon) it just didn't offer enough of what I want in a device. If the N82 were better looking, with a bigger screen and US 3G (did I just describe the N95?) I wouldn't hesitate to keep it.