Reviews icon Nokia N93i Review

Nokia N93i Review

Camcorder phone

Camcorder phone

Published on: 09 May, 2007 by PhoneArena Team

Performance:

Although generally the smartphones are much slower than regular phones, which do not avail of a smart OS, N93i can well be called fast. Thanks to the sophisticated TI OMAP 2420 processor and the Arm 11-based CPU, N93i is one of the swiftest Symbian Nokia smart phones, together with N95. Still, some delay is felt when opening specific menus, but this is typical for the system.

‘Strong signal’ is a synonym for Nokia and therefore it is disappointing that this is not true for N93i. In our tests, which we carry out underground, we found out that, although big in size, Nokia’s top model performs below the average when we compare it with other tested models of all classes.
Typically for Nokia, the sound produced by the phone is good, as a whole, although a bit strange. The outgoing sound is clear, pure and strong at the same time. You can hear the other party very well, but the voices are slightly shrilly due to not perfect low frequency reproduction. If you turn up the volume to the maximum some sounds are reproduced with great peaks, which feels like hissing.

We were surprised at the performance of the speakerphone, which is definitely more advanced, compared to all other models that we have tested. The microphone manages to transmit our voice from about 9 feet (3 meters) distance so that we can be heard at the other end. Naturally, the quality is not perfect and the voices are not so clear, but they are understandable. The loud-speaker, which is not adequate for listening to music, is good enough for reproducing incoming voices during conversation, although there is more to be desired as to its purity.


Conclusion:

We started this review, pointing out that N93i comes with a smaller size and a much better vision, compared to its predecessor, but, unfortunately, ‘that’s all, folks’! The functionality has not been changed at. Some say ‘better late than never’, but we are not sure that this is true for N93i. If it had been launched years ago, before its bigger brother, it would have definitely been a success with its 3 megapixels and optical zoom, but since the smaller N95 with the same quality video, 5-megapixels, GPS and the new improved operating system is on the market, we do not see the point of buying a N93i, which is actually a N73, equipped with WiFi, optical zoom and VGA video. Its niche has already been occupied by the N95 smartphone, with the only comparable disadvantage is the lack of an optical zoom. N93i’s shortcoming position it in the past, rather than in the future, where N95 is. What would have justified the launch of this phone would have been an exceptionally good camera of over 5 megapixels. But since the phone does not feature such camera, its group of potential buyers would be rather small.

Pros

  • 3x Optical Zoom
  • Swiveling display allows for camcorder-like experience while shooting a photo or video, with one hand only
  • Good speakerphone
  • Very good looking external display

Cons

  • Mediocre camera quality compared to other hi-end cameraphones
  • Less functionality but in bigger dimensions, compared to the N95
  • Your fingers often stay in front of the flash and it has no effect

PAppeal

Christian Dior:
4 of 10
Low

The glossy front shell deffinitely makes it look fashionable

Average Joe:
2 of 10
Very low

It's big and heavy, and the price is too high

Corporate US:
5 of 10
Average

The N93i packs avesome internet browser, good email client and perfect phonebook

High-Tech junkie
9 of 10
Very high

It is targeted to high-tech junkies due to the Symbian OS, camcorder-like design and high functionality

expand ratings

PA phone rating

  • Design 9
    • Build Quality 9
    • Material 9
    • Look 9
  • Display 8
    • Additional Display 8
    • Quality 10
    • Resolution 8
    • Size 8
  • Camera 6
    • Resolution 8
    • Quality 5
    • Features, Comfort 8
  • Sound Quality 7
    • Incoming 6
    • Outgoing 8
    • Ringing 5
  • Connectivity 9
    • Local 10
    • Internet 10
    • Data 7
  • Multimedia 6
    • Interface Comfort, Options 6
    • Quality 6
    • Supported formats 6
    • Connectors (3.5/A2DP) 6
  • Organizer 8
    • PIM 7
    • Phonebook 10
    • Messaging 9
Good
7.6
out of 10
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0
1.
N93i vs N95
N95 is no longer a niche product, it has become a common phone where everyone, including students are holding. I love my N93 cos it is just so rare in the public. Never regretted getting it despite its size.
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0
2.
n93i rules
well, i have been into a lot of nokia handsets before from 8800, n80, n95 and e90 but when i finally got n93i into my possession i decided to keep it instead. With its classy look and muti-tasked functionalities, n93i definitely rules. like other cps; all have their down sides but sometimes the feeling of having such a unique mobile phone in a lot of ways is what matters most. Technology when it comes to mobile phones is endless but when you finally get something what you truly enjoy, its definitely worth keeping for a lifetime and n93i does the magic.
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0
3.
n95 vs n93i
N93i/N93 is a N-Gage 2 enabled (it's for sure) and which is great for gaming because of it's ergonomics (I mean the button orientation). We are already know that N93/N93i is capable to run the major games like Creatures of the deep and especially One Who's Next, but we also know that One Who's Next require to use the both hands and it runs in landscape mode. So the N93i is the great multimedia comp for the N-gage 2 platform.


On the other hand we have the N95 which is a great multimedia computer as well. In terms of technology the N95 is way better and much more functional and smarter that N93/N93i, but the major problem with this device is its ergonomics. I mean the button orientation which makes it's difficult to play on. But it does have GPS and HSDPA and lots of other things.Personally if I think for myself I would buy the N95 hoping it will support the N-Gage 2 experience in full, by that I mean if it will run the One Who's Next game and other great upcoming games for N-gage 2 service in the Landscape mode. But I can't yet imagine how to play this games on N95, no actually I can but it will be hard with the number pad closed when I activate the landscape mode. Maybe I'll have to use a keyboard to play these games after connecting the phone to the TV. Then it'll be like a gaming console..Cool!!
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0
4.
The N93i is no worse a choice than any other phone currently on the market, as it has a full feature set, and the optical zoom on the camera is no minor thing. I have taken both the N93i and my N95 8GB with me when I've been sightseeing, and the N93i is hands down the clear winner. The distant details are always hard to capture with mobile phone camera's and the Nokia N95 has a dreadful zoom, and even the mighty N96 falls short of delivering an artefact/pixel free zoom. So it doesn't have GPS, but this only matters to those who would use a phone for navigation, and if you are a driver, it is better to have a dedicated GPS installed in your car. Phones just are not as versatile for serious navigation, but then horses for courses. Personally I find that reviews have been very unkind to this phone, and in time, maybe some will look back and rate this as a real classic. I mean, for video playback this phone is great. It could be placed on a desk in landscpae mode. Very few other phones can be placed down on a desk for viewing purposes, as they don't have stands. Even the iPhone needs a dock. For Video calling, you can put this phone on your desk, free your hands and not fiddle around to stay in view. The phone also has a flashlight, so it is great to find things in the dark (more useful than you might think). In the same way, its outer display fives you instant information on time, date, missed calls, messages recived without opening it. The standby button on top f the device could be clicked to elect silent mode (and back), so there is no need to opening it. The camera is very user friendly and to camcorder users, the button layout will be both familiar and optimised for film/photography. In a typical way, this phone will be used in multiple ways, and each function is activated differently, so as well as being semi professional, this phone is fun. Due to poor sales, Nokia have discontinued this edition of the phone, and it is very difficult to find. Prices on eBay are skyrocketing, but those who choose this phone, as long as people continue to use phones over existing networks for communication, this phone could last forever, but do take care of it since it is a little delicate, and Nokia do not manufacture parts for it anymore.
A real classic, and something far less ubiquitous than the dog ugly N95.

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