Reviews of Nokia N93i

Transform the way you see, shoot, shape and share your stories.
There's a life changing moment around every corner. Capture each one in DVD-like quality video with the Nokia N93. See the world with new eyes using Carl Zeiss optics, 3x Optical Zoom. And share every detail of your story in MPEG4 quality video, on the impressive high definition 2.4" display. So you'll always tell stories worth watching.

~ Make movie magic ~
Do your stories justice with the Nokia N93. At 30 frames per second, you won't miss a single moment. The MPEG4 technology creates DVD-like video, making all your movies feel like being there. Digital video stabilization ensures you'll always get best shots, even when you're swept up in the action.

~ Sharp shooting ~
Take a sharp shooter wherever you go. The Nokia N93 also features a 3.2 megapixel camera, Carl Zeiss optics and 3x optical zoom, enabling you to get up close and personal while shooting the sharpest quality images possible. Once captured, edit your photos directly on your device and share them on the web with your friends. All this in one single device.

~ See the big picture ~

See your photos and videos as they should be seen. View your gallery in brilliant color on the impressive 2.4" display. For a truly big screen experience, connect your Nokia N93 to a compatible TV using direct TV out connectivity or via Wireless LAN and UPnP technology. Then dim the lights, grab the popcorn and enjoy the slideshow.

~ That's a wrap ~
Shooting is just the beginning. Apply the finishing touches to your videos using the Adobe Premiere Elements 2.0 editing software, included in the standard sales package. Then cut, merge and add effects to your videos, creating home movies with ease. Burn professional looking DVDs at home right on your compatible PC.


The Nokia N93i isn't actually strictly an upgrade to the N93. The N93i is an evolution of the original design, to be sure, and the main point is that it's much slimmer and more visually appealing, thus attracting people who would have dismissed the original bulk of the N93. he N93i is the one most newcomers will buy, but there are quite a few compromises made in the N93i design that might annoy anyone determined to buy the 'flagship' S60 smartphone.

~ Appearance and design ~
Dimension: 108 x 58.6 x 25 mm; weight: 163g.

While the N93 comes in at 118х55.5х28 mm and 188 grams, the newcomer features 108x58x25 mm and 163 grams. Bluntly speaking, dubbing this handset as “so-much-more-portable” wouldn’t be the right thing, that’s why the way the N93i will be treated in won’t change too much, since the most crucial flaw of the phone is neither height nor width, but is thickness, brought about by such awesome camera module found inside, even though it has been shape-changed in the N93i. In-hands experience of the N93i is no different from what we felt with its predecessor, although the top half has become much lighter, it doesn’t make all the difference in the handset’s image.

First impressions of the N93i are excellent, with the large mirror-backed screen prominent and attractive, with a silver surround that's unfortunately not carried down into the base unit, which remains black(ish) - the two-tone silver/black looks a little odd.

~ Keypad ~

Opening up the Nokia N93i reveals changes too, both positive and negative. Most obvious is the flush, metallic keypad, probably a necessity given the new slimmer lines of the base unit. There are spidery rubber inlays to improve grip and give you a better sense of where the key boundaries are in the dark. Although this largely works well and there's a definite 'click', the amount of force needed to effect each keypress is fairly high and the N93i isn't as useable as its predecessor when it comes to text entry. I also didn't like the way there were no dividers between the Green/Edit and (more vitally) C/Red 'keys', it's going to be quite easy to go for 'C' and hit the hangup button by mistake, thus ending the application you're in.

~ Additional buttons ~

The power key sits on the top rim, the same button stands for switching profiles while in standby mode.

The right side features camera shortcut keys. The shutter button, marked with a red point, originates from usual digital cameras, as well as a ring rounding the key, which performs zooming in/out actions. The navigation key with OK button placed inside is located a bit lower – it’s used for changing camera modes and browsing through the menus, not in camera application. Frequently this very button allows managing the handset single handedly; however the dimensions override this handy possibility. Dedicated flash button becomes flashlight trigger while in standby mode – to tell the truth this might be the only application of the flash, as it doesn’t make much difference when taking pictures, because it’s rather weak. The side “OK” button locks and releases keypad lock, and once again, you can hardly make use of it. The Shutter key turns the external display into monochrome one, where you are shown current date and time.

~ Sizes, Ports and Slots ~

Now Pop Port is protected by a plastic drop-out latch (whereas on the original N93 it was a rubberized flap). The slot for miniSD cards has become much easier to manage as well – now you won’t have a hard time accessing it. The eye on the bottom end looks better on the N93i and moving the Infrared window from the top end of the upper half onto the side has brought some benefits as well.

~ Display ~
Over at Nokia they have come to the same conclusion and put under the mirror plate a OLED screen sporting the same resolution and displaying up to 65 K colors, but the dominating tones are always monochrome pastel colors, which allows the phone to keep the picture in acceptable state in various environments and on top of that this color perfectly matches the mirror finish of the handset’s face. The display is topped by an indicator having a pair colors onboard – green or blue depending on active mode.

On incoming call the external screen gets filled up either with the caller’s name or his number, and a variegated animated handset. Status indicators of signal’s strength and battery charge are curved a little adding some fashion-points to the N93i.

TFT, 240х320, 16.7 million colors

The N93i has 16 million colours rather than the N93's (paltry!!!) 262,000 available. What this means is that colours are more vibrant and more accurate, which is good. Not so good is that the change in screen technology has meant undistinguished performance outdoors, especially in sunlight. The outer layer of the screen proved too reflective and consequently ruined the contrast, whereas the original N93 screen reflected nicely off the back of the display, giving excellent contrast in the brightest of light.

~ Camera ~
3.2 Mpx, Video, 3x ZOOm

Although restyled, the camera seems to be identical, in terms of hardware, to that in the N93, though once you examine photos you'll realise that there is a significant difference.

The reason why the camera is integrated into the upper rim is not its actual measurements, but rather presence of optical zoom. Size of the matrix has remained pretty small and equals 4.5х5.5 mm, therefore images quality is not too far ahead of the competitors, however implementation of glass lens and considerable focus length allow acquiring good results. A small hood covering the lens which can be fastened to the casing with a strap is also an appealing detail. All in all, the manufacturer has succeeded in creating an illusion of a tiny amateur camera.

Similarly to Nokia N93 this camera is equipped with flash, highlighting you in the dark if needed.

~ Pluses ~
Slimmer, sleeker, shorter
Great display
Pop port and card covers
EDGE
Side joystick
Light Indicator for charging/missed calls/sms

~ Minuses ~
No Mini-USB and 3,5mm Audio Jack
Small external Screen
Keypad is hard to press
Poor Battery life

~ Conclusion ~
The N93i looks and feels like a second generation design and will doubtless delight many a new Nseries customer as well as make jaws drop around the world, in homes and offices, both at its looks and at the sheer number of things such a relatively small device can do.
Many good and bad things on the Nokia N93i, still it’s a very impressive phone which I’d definitely recommend before the old N93!
It become noticeable slimmer, the LED, the new cam joystick and the Camera improvements takes this phone on top. Still Nokia didn’t manage to give it a mini USB and 3,5mm audio jack, unbelievable...
[see full specs]
[source: mobile blah]