Speaking of cameraphones, Nokia hasn't forgotten its roots, and takes us for a walk down memory lane, showcasing a decade of innovation. Whether it will light the fuse on nostalgia for you or not, we're really struck by the realization that in a decade, technology has progressed from 0.3-megapixels cameraphones to where we are today. If we have sparked your interested, we then invite you to the front seat – see the history of Nokia's cameraphones unravel before your very eyes in the gallery below.
Nokia walks us through a decade of cameraphone innovation
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The journey started 11 years ago, back in 2002. It was the second quarter that saw the launch of the Nokia 7650, which was notable for a number of firsts. The 7650 was the first Nokia smartphone running Symbian OS, and more importantly, the first phone to feature a built-in, 0.3-megapixel camera. It also sported a 2.1-inch color display running a 176x208 pixel resolution.
Nokia 7650 (2002)
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The N90 was different. The first Nokia smartphone to feature Carl Zeiss optics, the N90 was an engineering feat. A hybrid between a handheld camcorder and a smartphone, the device featured two screens with an integrated flash helping illuminate the world for its 2-megapixel snapper. Winner of the European Media Phone of the Year 2005-2006 award, the N90 had a 2.1-inch display running a 352x416 resolution.
Nokia N90 (2005)
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Can you believe that back in 2006 most of us deemed the Nokia N93 too bulky? Sure, at 180g it is a pretty heavy phone, but not by far – the Lumia 900, for example, weighs in at 160g. What's more, the N93 only had a 2.4-inch display, making it far more pocket friendly despite its fatty profile. Size considerations aside, the N93 was a physical reminder of the N90, but sported a larger, 3.2-megapixel camera, Carl Zeiss optics, a dedicated flash and 3x optical zoom. Speaking of similarities, the Nokia N93 also won the European Media Phone of the Year award.
Nokia N93 (2006)
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The Nokia N95 continued the surge of its predecessors and even upped the ante a considerable bit: it sported a massive 5-megapixel camera, offered GPS navigation and even allowed you to multitask. The N95's diagonal measured in at 2.6-inches, it subsequently got bumped to 2.8 with later versions. Sticking with tradition, the N95 also got some recognition – it won the 2007 TIPA award for Best Imaging Device.
Nokia N95 (2007)
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The Nokia N82 took the great 5-megapixel shooter from the N95 and added a Xenon flash resulting in some of the best low-light photos at the time. Sticking with the herd, the N95 had a 2.4-inch display running a 240x320 resolution. It also won the 2008 TIPA award for Best Imaging Device.
Nokia N82 (2007)
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Released in Q1 of 2009, the Nokia N86 was a game changer. Not only did it bump the camera to 8-megapixels, making it relevant even today, the cameraphone also set the the precedent of offering camera tweaks normally reserved for professional equipment. Among those were multiple aperture settings and mechanical shutter. It also ditched TFT display technology and instead opted for a 2.6-inch AMOLED screen. As expected, the Nokia N86 won the 2009 TIPA award for Best Imaging Device.
Nokia N86 (2009)
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The shooter on the Nokia N8 was so great it warranted its own 7-minute long promotional video starring Pamela Anderson and... Tywin Lannister, is that you, sir? An extra layer of epicness was added because the video was shot with... well, the Nokia N8, of course! Sporting Carl Zeiss optics, the 12-megapixel camera really was something. With the iPhone setting a new standard for smartphones, the N8, of course, followed suite with a 3.5-inch AMOLED screen.
Nokia N8 (2010)
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It was the 808 PureView that cemented Nokia's position as the leader in cameraphones. Packing a monstrous 41-megapixel camera, and a Xenon flash, Nokia really took the tech world by storm. With a 4-inch AMOLED display, the Nokia 808 PureView was missing only one thing: a modern mobile OS.
Nokia 808 PureView
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The missing piece? Solved, with the Nokia Lumia 920 and its shiny Windows Phone 8 OS. Borrowing heavily from the 808 Pureview, the Lumia 920 had a 8.7-megapixel camera which featured optical image stabilization and took some excellent low-light photos. There was (again) just one thing left missing...
Nokia Lumia 920
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All hail the king! With the introduction of the Lumia 1020, Nokia really put itself back on the map. A decade of cameraphone innovation has lead to what is, in popular opinion (which we share), the very best cameraphone ever made. Borrowing and improving on everything that made the 808 PureView great and combining that with the Lumia 920, Nokia really has something. Put bluntly – the Nokia Lumia 1020 is a beast that we don't see backing down from the first spot as the king of cameraphones any time soon.
Nokia Lumia 1020
Nokia walks us through a decade of cameraphone innovation
The journey started 11 years ago, back in 2002. It was the second quarter that saw the launch of the Nokia 7650, which was notable for a number of firsts. The 7650 was the first Nokia smartphone running Symbian OS, and more importantly, the first phone to feature a built-in, 0.3-megapixel camera. It also sported a 2.1-inch color display running a 176x208 pixel resolution.
Nokia walks us through a decade of cameraphone innovation
1. Nokia 7650 (2002)
The journey started 11 years ago, back in 2002. It was the second quarter that saw the launch of the Nokia 7650, which was notable for a number of firsts. The 7650 was the first Nokia smartphone running Symbian OS, and more importantly, the first phone to feature a built-in, 0.3-megapixel camera. It also sported a 2.1-inch color display running a 176x208 pixel resolution.
2. Nokia N90 (2005)
The N90 was different. The first Nokia smartphone to feature Carl Zeiss optics, the N90 was an engineering feat. A hybrid between a handheld camcorder and a smartphone, the device featured two screens with an integrated flash helping illuminate the world for its 2-megapixel snapper. Winner of the European Media Phone of the Year 2005-2006 award, the N90 had a 2.1-inch display running a 352x416 resolution.
3. Nokia N93 (2006)
Can you believe that back in 2006 most of us deemed the Nokia N93 too bulky? Sure, at 180g it is a pretty heavy phone, but not by far – the Lumia 900, for example, weighs in at 160g. What's more, the N93 only had a 2.4-inch display, making it far more pocket friendly despite its fatty profile. Size considerations aside, the N93 was a physical reminder of the N90, but sported a larger, 3.2-megapixel camera, Carl Zeiss optics, a dedicated flash and 3x optical zoom. Speaking of similarities, the Nokia N93 also won the European Media Phone of the Year award.
4. Nokia N95 (2007)
The Nokia N95 continued the surge of its predecessors and even upped the ante a considerable bit: it sported a massive 5-megapixel camera, offered GPS navigation and even allowed you to multitask. The N95's diagonal measured in at 2.6-inches, it subsequently got bumped to 2.8 with later versions. Sticking with tradition, the N95 also got some recognition – it won the 2007 TIPA award for Best Imaging Device.
5. Nokia N82 (2007)
The Nokia N82 took the great 5-megapixel shooter from the N95 and added a Xenon flash resulting in some of the best low-light photos at the time. Sticking with the herd, the N95 had a 2.4-inch display running a 240x320 resolution. It also won the 2008 TIPA award for Best Imaging Device.
6. Nokia N86 (2009)
Released in Q1 of 2009, the Nokia N86 was a game changer. Not only did it bump the camera to 8-megapixels, making it relevant even today, the cameraphone also set the the precedent of offering camera tweaks normally reserved for professional equipment. Among those were multiple aperture settings and mechanical shutter. It also ditched TFT display technology and instead opted for a 2.6-inch AMOLED screen. As expected, the Nokia N86 won the 2009 TIPA award for Best Imaging Device.
7. Nokia N8 (2010)
The shooter on the Nokia N8 was so great it warranted its own 7-minute long promotional video starring Pamela Anderson and... Tywin Lannister, is that you, sir? An extra layer of epicness was added because the video was shot with... well, the Nokia N8, of course! Sporting Carl Zeiss optics, the 12-megapixel camera really was something. With the iPhone setting a new standard for smartphones, the N8, of course, followed suite with a 3.5-inch AMOLED screen.
8. Nokia 808 PureView
It was the 808 PureView that cemented Nokia's position as the leader in cameraphones. Packing a monstrous 41-megapixel camera, and a Xenon flash, Nokia really took the tech world by storm. With a 4-inch AMOLED display, the Nokia 808 PureView was missing only one thing: a modern mobile OS.
9. Nokia Lumia 920
The missing piece? Solved, with the Nokia Lumia 920 and its shiny Windows Phone 8 OS. Borrowing heavily from the 808 Pureview, the Lumia 920 had a 8.7-megapixel camera which featured optical image stabilization and took some excellent low-light photos. There was (again) just one thing left missing...
10. Nokia Lumia 1020
All hail the king! With the introduction of the Lumia 1020, Nokia really put itself back on the map. A decade of cameraphone innovation has lead to what is, in popular opinion (which we share), the very best cameraphone ever made. Borrowing and improving on everything that made the 808 PureView great and combining that with the Lumia 920, Nokia really has something. Put bluntly – the Nokia Lumia 1020 is a beast that we don't see backing down from the first spot as the king of cameraphones any time soon.
source: Nokia Conversations
