Nokia 8800 / 8801 review

Performance

Measuring the phone's reception is of course subjective, but we have found some spots where the signal is very weak, so phones with weak reception usually garble the speech or completely drop the signal. In our tests, Nokia 8800 performed very well (like all Nokia phones) and was able to keep connected despite the weak signal.

The sound reproduced by both the ear-speaker and the loudspeaker was very true-to-life and clear. The volume of the ear-speaker was loud when put to the max, but the loudspeaker was a little low but still heard well from several feet when in a quiet environment.

Battery life was great also. In our test, the continuous talk time exceeded 4 hours and 30 minues, while the phone is only rated for 3 hours. With average talk time of 30-45 minutes a day, the phone should last for a few days without recharging.

Conclusion

The whole uniqueness of the phone is pretty much its design – true stainless steel shell, scratch-resistant glass, ball bearing slide mechanism. Aside from the super-premium (and price) Vertu series, currently there is no other device on the market to offer such display of status as the 8800. The phone is definitely a head-turner, but so it the RAZR. The difference between both is the RAZR is designed to be a high-end mass model, while the 8800 emphasized uniqueness and prestige. Unfortunately, besides the design, the 8800 does not offer anything more then a regular mid-range phone.

As always, if you are interested in becoming part of our review team, drop an email to: kidoborg@phonearena.com