Video: Nokia N97 vs HTC Touch Pro2

The Nokia N97 and the HTC Touch Pro2 are two similar looking devices with very similar array of features. I was very impressed with the spec sheet of the Touch Pro2, and back in April felt that it’s what the N97 should have been, at least in terms of being having a better QWERTY keyboard, higher resolution screen, and winning at the numbers game in terms of CPU and RAM.

Tekno Review have put together an excellent video comparing 12 aspects of both devices.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0TmYbLKlBc]

• Design – Apples and oranges – personal preference issue. It’s a draw at 8 a piece. For me though, he black N97 wins by miles. If it was a continuous glossy piano black, smooth edge/rim gun metal it would have been almost aesthetically perfect.
• Build Quality – Robust mechanism on the N97 edges out the Pro2, 9 to 8
• Slide out keyboard – The HTC device is setting a standard for how QWERTY keyboards should be on tiny mobile devices. The N97’s keyboard is great once you get used to it, but the HTC Pro2’s keyboard is fantastic. N97 looses out, 7 to 9
• Screen – higher resolution and better contrast on the Pro2 means the N97 looses again, 7 to 8
• Touch Screen sensitivity – N97 isn’t Nokia’s second touch screen device btw. Although both devices use resistive touch screens, the Pro2 requires a little less pressure – so the N97 looses out again – 6 to 8
• User Interface – I was cringing here for S60. There were some surprising good points, such as the widget homescreen and Ovi, but the overall experience for tekno review means it looses to the Pro2 7 to 9. 9 though for Pro2? Maybe S60 is so bad it makes everything else look so good?
• Browser -  it’s another draw here – if the N97 had slightly beefier hardware, though the browser is slightly dated, it would have beaten the Pro2.
• Camera- Here’s where the N97 gains back some ground – “Refined” 5MP camera with Carl Zeiss lens beats the Pro2’S simple 3MP camera, 9 to 6
• Video Playback -  I cannot believe we still do not have DivX player/playback for S60 5th Edition.  DivX for 3rd edition works, (and dvd clips look stunning on the N97) but unfortunately is choppy.The Pro2 also needs a third party app, Core Player so the N97 looses, 6 to 9. A bit harsh imo since out of the box neither would play such files. But I understand the frustration. Thank God for BBC iPlayer to fill my N97 up with movies/tv shows.
• Music Playback – The N97 has inferior speakers to the Touch Pro2. It’s a shame really, as big as it is. Even the ancient N95 has better/louder sound. The best stereo speakers on a Nokia device to date still rests on the N800. Fortunately though, this test also takes into account the 3.5mm audio/visual jack, which the Touch Pro2 lacks, and so the N97 wins here 8 to 7.
• Battery life – identical capacity batteries – not necessarily identical battery life but a draw here. 7 all. I’m still charging my N97 daily – but I am using it an awful lot.
• Price and Value -  The slightly more expensive N97 does have a whopping 32GB memory (expandable with microSD) and a better camera – so it’s a draw here at 7 all.

Final Score – Nokia N97 with 86 points, the HTC Touch Pro2 with 94.

It’s not bad for the N97 -  8 point difference.

Could have and should have…

It frustrates me to know Nokia could have and should have done so much more with the N97. These flagships are more than just something to make money with – they bring confidence to the brand. The latter has repercussions on other products, which by the sheer amount of compromises (perceivably to cut costs), brings down the N97 from what could have been a force to be reckoned with to just another higher end smartphone.

Compromising on features to save money is good if we see those price cuts trickle down to the consumer. E.G. the Nokia 5800 – great features, though lots of room for improvement was bang on for the price and was extremely awesome  value for money.

However, when you’re setting an opening price of £500, you set an extremely high bar of expectations. Something as simple as providing sufficient RAM so handle heavy multi tasking? That was not worth the price cut. It’s like having a 2 carat diamond ring set in plated silver. In for a penny in for a pound.

In the meantime, consumers are voting with their wallet and opting for devices which are delivering what Nokia could have and should have.

Having vented out those frustrations, I have to say that I do love the N97 . The N97 is a marvellous phone outright.

Being a fan of Nokia and S60 devices for a long time, watching the growth from the 7650, it’s kinda like pushy parent syndrome. Even when they achieve something that’s really good by most standards, when you know they are capable of getting 100% but got 90% , you need to voice  your disappointment and push for continuous improvement.

Tags: 5th Edition, HTC, HTC Touch Pro2, N97, Nokia, Nokia N97, Nseries, S60, Symbian, Test, Touch Pro2, Versus, Video

Category: 5th Edition, Nokia, Nseries, Rant, S60, Symbian, Versus, Video