Nokia N9 Called 'Near Perfect' Hardware

The Nokia N8 hasn’t even hit the masses yet and the N9 is already getting fondled and judged out in the wild. While its predecessor, the Nokia N8 almost certainly bound for AT&T, has had mixed reviews regarding its hardware, the N9 was called “near perfect” by one Russian journalist.

The journalist also said that the software wasn’t so great, but that is to be expected. The device hasn’t even been made official yet, so any software it’s running is a far cry from final.

If the hardware is as good as the journalist claims, it could be a serious contender in the mobile space if it packs MeeGo in its final form under Peter Skillman’s watch. And it is just what Nokia needs at this point in order to stay relevant with the rise of iOS and Android.

As far as the N8, although we’ve yet to give it a thorough review, the hour or two that I spent playing with it left me a bit underwhelmed. I was genuinely excited for the device, and while the hardware is solid (though a bit plasticky feeling and very light weight), Symbian^3 is just not where I hoped it would be. Astonishing camera aside, I’m going to take a pass on the N8 for now and set my sights for the N9.

[Update]
Because some of our readers are thoroughly confused, allow me to clarify the materials issue here. The N8 is what I am referring to when I said the smartphone has that “plasticky feeling,” not the N9. Yes, I am well aware that the Nokia N8 is made of aluminum, but it feels like plastic in my hand and it was surprisingly light weight.

[Via: Nokia HD Blog]

About The Author

Marc Flores

Marc has been a mobile fanatic for the better part of a decade and has had more devices pass through his hands than he would care to count. Originally from Los Angeles and briefly in San Francisco, Marc now lives in Brooklyn where, unlike Will Park, he longs for simpler times and simpler technology. All the while, he writes about gadgets and wireless technology as he tinkers, hacks and ultimately breaks most of his gadgets in the process. Marc has written about the mobile industry for Boy Genius Report, MobileCrunch, Laptop Magazine and has had his work appear in the Wall Street Journal, Gizmodo, CrunchGear and more.

JKKM

Plastic? It is made of aluminum… How does that feel plasticky? Please explain, I would like to know.
- http://www.intomobile.com Marc Flores
  
  It was the coating and/or texture that made it feel and look like plastic. Emphasis on *feel* and *look*.
netborn

“and while the hardware is solid (though a bit plasticky feeling and very light weight)”

So dumbass, if you said than an aluminium phone feels plasticky whay do you think about a real platicky crap like the Galaxy S?
- http://www.intomobile.com Marc Flores
  
  I’ve had the N8 in my hand — you haven’t. The entire phone is not made of aluminum, the top and bottom sections felt and sounded like plastic. The middle section, which is aluminum, was coated with something that made it *feel* like plastic.
  
  There’s a difference between plastic and a “plastic feeling.” Learn to distinguish the difference.
  
  Also, the Galaxy S, though it is clearly made of plastic, has software that is light years beyond the aging Symbian platform.
ralphie02

i loled at that comment……i read this guy’s posts before, and i swear i dont think he is very well suited for this job. seems like he’s just writing for the sake of earning money…
stoli89

Aside from this “journalist’s” lack of materials knowledge (plastic…aluminum?), he doesn’t mention the name of the “Russian journalist”. Why? Is it because his source, Eldar Murtazin, is supposedly under investigation by the Russian Police for stealing Nokia property. So, why would Marc expect Eldar to write an unbiased review of the N9 prototype experience? Could it be that Marc’s sugar daddy doesn’t care if a biased review hurts the N9 before its launch?
- http://www.intomobile.com Marc Flores
  
  The irony here is that you’re accusing me of my lack of materials knowledge when you lack the basic fundamentals of reading comprehension. I never said it was made of plastic, only that it felt like plastic. There is a huge difference.
  
  Oh, furthermore, I was referring to the N8, not that N9 like you’re accusing me of trashing. Read the post again.
jeetu

Hahahhaha…these ppl dnt deserve to be journalist…N8 is the best fone soo far…symbian 3 is in par with Iphone 4….wic ever ppl who have tried the demo of N8 have instantly pre-booked it…real users r the main ppl whoi can judge the fone in a long run…everyfone grows on u…
Liam

Wow, do these people read your article before complaining? Most people keep making the erroneous statement that you say it’s made of plastic, and then trash the N9. Seriously guys, read and comprehend, then comment. Of course, I fall into the trap of not really reading or comprehending everything before making a decision; but I’m trying to stop that.

I love Nokia, and can’t wait for them get back on top. They’ve been seriously off their game recently, and I have not upgraded from the e71x (AT&T phone that is not as good as the e71). If AT&T gets the N8, they better not do what they did to the e61 (e62), or the e71 (e71x). T-Mobile did better on the e73, pretty much leaving it alone.

I’m comfortable with the Symbian platform, so I don’t undersand the complaints all the time. it is obvious that Nokia needs a better UI in order to compete wit the iPhone and Android- but the platform itsesl is pretty solid.

I am, however, looking forward to MeeGo, and think I heard the N9 was going to be loaded with that software. Nokia said they would have a MeeGo device by the end of 2010; but is that a smartphone or netbook? Still not sure.

I would love to get my hands on the Nokia N8 and test it myself.
- http://www.intomobile.com Marc Flores
  
  Wow, someone who read and understood the article. Thank you.
charles

I think when it comes to mobile phones, American commentators should be more global
In their thinking. They keep on talking about how behind Nokia is compared with iphone and
Android handsets. Is this really true? They want more and more powerful operating
Systems for phones. This is good but majority of people around the world do not need
All these things you are clamouring for. The Market share of iphone and all android phones
Is probably less than that of just the Nokia N series subset alone with Nokia still having several
Other brands of phones that meet the majority of the world’s needs.
The iphone brand is just one brand. That is it. Just one. Which company impacts the world
More? Its like saying Toyota is lagging behind Ferrari. Let’s appreciate what Nokia is doing for the world.
Other mobile phone companies still have a long way to go.
greg

All of you people trash talking this article sound dumb. It is the authors opinion of the phone and regardless of what you may think, his opinion is that it feels like plastic (feels cheap is basically what he meant). So far all of you other well quafied authors trash talking him had middle school level grammer and no well thought out worth while posts. Thanl you Marc, I value your opinion. Don’t let these dumbasses get to you.
SA

Some of the people responding to this article clearly have issues with comprehension. And to get so emotional with all the name calling over an author’s review is simply astonishing ! Many articles are so far saying the same thing about this phone, and that although the hardware is first class (camera mainly), it has a long way to go where the OS is concerned. Surely it will satisfy many users especially those used to Nokias, and it will do one thing that Nokias have always done impressively… make phone calls and be quite reliable !
If this was released with Symbian 4, perhaps it would have been better received. Charles may be right in that the majority of people around the world don’t need all that Android and iOS offer, and Nokia remains the biggest seller worldwide because of their logistics, and the sheer number and variety of models they produce ! But analysts project that with the rate at which the smartphone market is growing, in a few years smartphone sales could account for a large portion of the market, and it is this market that Nokia is trying to remain relevant in ! No one doubts they will keep customer loyalty especially as many worldwide might not need a smartphone, but if the relevance and reputation of the company depends on the visibility of these high end devices, then they truly have a lot of work to do to catch up to a company that has eaten away their market share with only ONE phone !
http://twitter.com/RobertHall Robert Hall

i do understand the difference “feels like” and “is made of”…however my issue is that again another american journalists has gone completely opposite of what ever other person is saying…how much more plasticky feeling is it than that of the iphone? (which is made OF plastic..yet no complaints there huh?) american journalism in relation to mobile technology is becoming more of a joke….*sighs….ps i too have the N8….and how can you make a comprehensive review in 2 hours of playing with a device?