Nokia N81 8GB music phone

As you’ve probably noticed, it’s been a bit quiet around here lately… But fear not. Despite being rather busy, I’ve managed to review some products and line up a few more!

The first one of these is the Nokia N81 8GB, kindly provided by Nseries WOM World. It’s a music phone with 8 GB of built-in flash storage, WiFi, and a 2 megapixel camera – the successor to the microdrive-equipped Nokia N91.

Take a look at my pictures and videos (1 and 2).

Like the Nokia N82 and Nokia N810, the N81 8 GB uses Nokia’s new N-series design language with similar features (such as micro-USB). In fact, it closely resembles the upcoming Nokia N96 complete with “hold” switch (to lock the keys) and Navi Wheel (similar to the iPod’s Click Wheel).

Hold the N81 8GB and it’s a bit heavy. Touch the screen bezel and it’s cold, like metal. Push the slider and it pops open via a spring-assisted mechanism – this phone feels expensive! Build quality is better than most current Nokia phones, yet the keypad squeaks when pressed…

The N81 8GB sounds better than other N-series devices I’ve used, with less background noise, less distortion, more detail and a flatter frequency response – it’s clear that Nokia paid special attention to the audio hardware in the N81 8GB.

Pros:
– Attractive N-series device
– WiFi
– Standard 3.5 mm audio connector
– Nice bright screen
– Spring-assisted slider
– “Hold” switch
– Navi Wheel

Cons:
– No US-compatible 3G
– No GPS
– No micro-SD card slot
– No TV output
– Slow USB file transfer
– So-so camera performance (similar to the Nokia N76 – more on this soon)
– A bit heavy

But here’s the real question. How does the Nokia N81 8GB compare to the Apple iPhone?

Both are music phones with 8 GB built-in flash storage, WiFi and a 2 megapixel camera. The N81 8 GB sounds good, and so does the iPhone. Here’s where each device shines.

N81 8 GB:
– Stereo Bluetooth support (A2DP)
– USB mass storage support (lets you drag and drop files)
– Europe-compatible 3G (2100 MHz)
– MMS, camera flash, video recording, unlocked

iPhone:
– Gapless playback
– User interface
– Coverflow (of course)
– Large screen

So there you have it :) Personally, I think the iPhone is the better music phone – the deal breaker for me is the lack of gapless playback on the N81 8GB. But if you want stereo Bluetooth support or you live in a Europe-compatible 3G area, the N81 8GB is worth considering.