Nokia N97 Mini

Editor's Review of the N97 Mini

A member of Nokia's renowned N-Series, the Nokia N97 Mini offers a wide range of Smartphone features to assist business-oriented and on-the-go users. As its name suggests, this handset succeeds Nokia N97, but design and overall size spell the difference. The smaller version of this Nokia handset tips the scale at 138 grams, and is handy at 113 x 52.5 x 14.2 millimetres. It stands out in either cherry black or garnet colours.

A main attraction of this handset is a large touch-sensitive screen that measures 81.28 millimetres, coupled with an auto-rotate user interface. This QVGA touch screen ensures quality viewing experience by displaying images and graphics in 16.7 million colours over 640 x 360 pixels. Users may slide out this handset's QWERTY keyboard on the side and enjoy the touch screen in tilt mode. This mobile phone has pre-installed MP3 and polyphonic ringtones that users may select to suit their style.

Flaunting an easy-to-explore user interface, the Nokia N97 Mini runs on Symbian v. 9.4 operating system and S60 software. It is a quadband mobile phone that functions on GSM 850, 900, 1800 GSM 1900, and WCDMA 850, 900, 1900 and 2100, making it a good companion for travelling users. Its network reach may depend on its user's service provider.

This mobile phone allows users to navigate the World Wide Web with its built-in WAP XHTML and HTML browser that supports RSS Feeds. It has support for Wi-Fi, which means that users may go online in designated hotspots. In addition, sharing of data is hassle-free with this handset's micro USB or wireless Bluetooth support for file transfers with compatible gadgets like laptops, scanners, printers, personal computers and other mobile phones. Its EDGE support promises faster data transfer rates. Moreover, its 3G HSDPA capability makes it an efficient device at multi-tasking.

Users may send and receive SMS or text and MMS or multimedia messages through this handset. It also allows access to e-mail with attachments via POP3, SMTP and IMAP4 servers. Chatting is also supported by this communication gizmo with its instant messaging service. This handset also virtually assists users in their appointments and schedules with a phonebook, a calendar, a clock, an alarm clock, a to-do list, a calculator, a currency converter, and GPS navigation system with Nokia Maps support. It is also equipped with features such as speaker phone, voice dialling, call logs and conference call as options for stress-free calls.

The Nokia N97 Mini balances its full set of practical capabilities with its entertainment features, such as a 5-Megapixel camera on Carl Zeiss optics that assures defined pictures. It also comes with dual LED flash, 14x digital zoom and autofocus features for better photo precision. Aside from taking still pictures, this mobile phone also doubles as a recorder of footages in MPEG4 and VGA formats on up to 30 frames per second. It also works as a video player that supports MPEG4, H264 and QCIF formats. With its video settings and video enhancement features consisting of colour tone, video light and white balance, tweaking of videos to perfection is effortless. A dedicated camera key equates with ease of camera use. A second camera is also built in this handset for 3G video calling purposes.

A music player that supports MP3, AAC, WMA, eAAC and eAAC+ audio formats will entertain users of the Nokia N97 Mini. An FM radio facility also enables users to tune in to radio stations and enjoy quality music while catching up on the latest information relating to current events, weather, sports and other news. Playing embedded games in this handset, such as the DJ Club Tour Game, is also fun and easy with its touchscreen gaming controls. This mobile phone also supports downloaded games from the Internet.

Users may store up to 8 Gigabytes of data in this handset, and expand this storage capability to up to 16 Gigabytes through a MicroSD memory card. It offers 7 hours of talk time, or an equivalent of 320 hours of standby time.

Unhappy users have pointed out that the QWERTY keyboard of this mobile phone is not as finger-friendly as it claims to be. They also contend that the 5-Megapixel camera is underpowered, and does not provide quality photos. Despite the flak it is getting, the Nokia N97 Mini is being commended for its functionalities that are effectively lumped into the compact mobile phone.