Today at the press breakfast, Nokia unveiled its ticket for the ongoing 8 megapixel race. It’s called the N86 8MP and it’s a slider-shaped Symbian S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 2 smartphone. As you’re about to see from the images bellow, the device looks quite sexy, but what images can’t tell you is how it feels in the hand. In a word – perfect! I can go that far saying that the N86 8MP is probably the best-built Nokia device to date, feeling as solid as like it was made out of metal not plastic.
Aside from boasting an 8 megapixel camera with wide-angle Carl Zeiss Tessar lens along with what they say is the 3rd generation of dual-LED flash – the N86 8MP also boasts a gorgeous 2.6-inch OLED QVGA screen with scratch resistant hardened glass, HSPA, GPS, WiFi, TV-out, compass, 8 GB of internal memory storage, microSD expansion slot. Like with any other NSeries device released in the near future, Ovi Suite comes pre-loaded with the device, allowing instant sharing of photos and videos.
As for the release date and pricing, Nokia will begin shipping the N86 8MP in Q2 2009 for an estimated retail price of 375 EUR, before taxes and subsidies.
Will and Simon took some real-life shots of the device, which are coming soon. In the meantime, check out official Nokia photos and the official release after the jump.
PRESS RELEASE – When Nokia set out to make the best mobile imaging device, it combined wide-angle Carl Zeiss optics and an 8 megapixel sensor, resulting in performance comparable to a stand alone digital camera. The Nokia N86 8MP is designed to excel in both bright and low light conditions, and it’s optimized for both video and still imaging. Its high-speed connectivity ensures easy and convenient sharing. The Nokia N86 8MP is expected to begin shipping in the second quarter of 2009 with an estimated retail price of EUR 375, before taxes and subsidies.
“People demand mobile cameras that take excellent pictures in all light conditions,” says Juha-Pekka Sipponen, Director, Nokia Nseries. “That’s why the aperture of the Nokia N86 8MP is comparable to that of a high-quality, stand-alone digital camera. Whether it’s running with the bulls in Pamplona or capturing the panoramic beauty of a sunrise over Sydney, the Nokia N86 8MP will take brilliantly clear, wide-angle images that are instantly geotagged to be uploaded onto sites like Ovi Share or Flickr.”
Easy enough for a novice to use, the Nokia N86 8MP packs enough punch to impress an experienced photographer. This includes a wide-angle Carl Zeiss Tessar lens for panoramic pictures, shorter latencies and variable aperture for super sharp photos in challenging bright and low light conditions. The fast mechanical shutter ensures pictures with less motion blur while the dual LED camera flash is powerful enough for excellent photography and video capture.
“When it comes to taking the best digital photos, it’s the quality of the lens and the sensor that count, not just the quantity of pixels. The Nokia N86 8MP is the first mobile device with variable aperture, adding to the Carl Zeiss Tessar lens for excellent results. It has never been easier to capture special moments in such a great quality,” says Helmut Heier of Carl Zeiss.
Every detail of the metal-framed Nokia N86 8MP is thoughtfully designed with photography in mind, including 8 GB of internal memory for up to 4,000 images. Like any high-end digital camera, the memory can be increased with an exchangeable 16 GB microSD card. The device also offers a bright OLED screen with scratch resistant hardened glass, easy photo management, full sync capability with a PC and TV-out support for slide shows.
Shipping with the latest version of Nokia Maps and full Ovi integration, the Nokia N86 8MP gives a personal dimension to photos and videos. People can share their location with personal content like geotagged photos. The Nokia N86 8MP comes with a built-in compass, along with an integrated 3-months license for full voice and pedestrian navigation so that happy snappers don’t lose their way when capturing life through the camera lens.
Multimedia features – music, games, video
The Nokia N86 8MP, with its integrated kick stand, is ideal for watching videos and playing games. Each Nokia N86 8MP can play up to 25 hours of music on one charge which can be enjoyed with the Nokia Bluetooth Stereo Headset BH-214 also announced today. People can build a personal music collection from the millions of tracks and playlists available from the Nokia Music Store, where available.