Nokia 808 PureView InDepth Specs Pricing Pros & Cons Unveiled

Network Capabilities

The Nokia 808 PureView was designed with robust network capabilities for its time. It supported GSM and HSPA with a range of bands that included GSM 850, 900, 1800, and 1900, as well as HSDPA 850, 900, 1700, 1900, 2100. This versatility allowed users to connect and communicate effectively across different regions with seamless roaming capabilities. The device also offered excellent speed with HSPA 14.4/5.76 Mbps, providing adequate bandwidth for multimedia streaming and browsing at relatively high speeds.

Launch and Availability

Announced in February 2012 and released to the market in June 2012, the Nokia 808 PureView quickly became recognized for its groundbreaking camera technology. However, it has since been discontinued, making it a sought-after collector's item for aficionados of mobile technology. Despite its legacy, the phone's impact on smartphone camera technology continues to be felt in newer generations of devices.

Design and Build

The Nokia 808 PureView featured a sturdy yet elegant design typical of Nokia's design ethos. It measured 123.9 x 60.2 x 13.9 mm and weighed 169 grams, making it relatively compact for a smartphone with a high-quality camera. Designed to support a Micro-SIM, its build was resilient and made for durability, qualities that were complemented by its ergonomic design, making it comfortable to hold despite its bulk compared to modern smartphones.

Display

The device came with a 4.0-inch AMOLED display, offering vibrant images with high contrast ratios and deep blacks. With a resolution of 360 x 640 pixels and a pixel density of approximately 184 ppi, the display was clear enough for most everyday tasks despite being outclassed by today's high-resolution screens. The inclusion of Corning Gorilla Glass added an extra layer of durability against scratches and impacts, enhancing the screen's longevity.

Platform

Running on the Nokia Belle OS, the 808 PureView provided a unique user experience. It was powered by a 1.3 GHz ARM 11 processor and a Broadcom BCM2763 GPU. This combination offered satisfactory performance for the tasks the device was designed to tackle, albeit slower by today’s standards. Nokia Belle was praised for its intuitive interface and customization options, making the user experience both engaging and user-friendly.

Memory and Storage

The Nokia 808 PureView came equipped with 512MB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. The device also supported expandable storage via a microSDHC card slot, which allowed users to increase storage as needed. This was particularly useful for those who frequently used the camera—one of the device’s primary selling points—and needed additional space to store high-resolution images and videos.

Camera

One of the standout features of the Nokia 808 PureView was its camera. The device featured a 41 MP sensor with Carl Zeiss optics and a Xenon flash, capable of capturing stunning, high-resolution images. The camera included features like auto-focus and 4x lossless digital zoom while supporting video recording at 1080p@30fps. Despite it only being a single lens, the camera was revolutionary at its time and set a new standard for mobile photography, emphasizing quality and clarity.

Selfie Camera

The front-facing camera, while not as advanced as the rear camera, featured a VGA resolution capable of capturing videos at VGA@30fps. Although modest by today’s standards, it provided basic functionality for video calls and simple selfies, meeting the essentials needed at that period.

Sound and Audio Features

The Nokia 808 PureView included a loudspeaker and a 3.5mm audio jack, accommodating traditional headphones and providing flexibility for audio output. The device's audio quality was noted for its clear sound transmission during calls, with noise levels and crosstalk recorded at -89.7dB and -89.0dB, respectively, indicating good audio clarity and minimal interference.

Connectivity Options

This device supported a range of connectivity options including Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, UPnP, and Bluetooth 3.0, with A2DP providing robust wireless audio streaming. Its GPS and A-GPS capabilities allowed for effective location services, complemented by NFC for proximity-based interactions. Additionally, it offered USB connectivity with microUSB 2.0, including OTG support, allowing for connection with external peripherals.

Additional Features

The Nokia 808 PureView came with several sensors, including an accelerometer, proximity sensor, and compass, which facilitated ease of use and functionality across a range of applications. Its inclusion of stereo FM radio with RDS and an FM transmitter provided users with ample media consumption options beyond digital music libraries.

Battery Life

Powered by a removable 1400 mAh Li-Ion battery, the Nokia 808 PureView offered decent battery life for its time. It provided a standby time of up to 465 hours on 2G networks and 540 hours on 3G networks, with talk times of up to 11 hours and 6.50 hours respectively. This was adequate for ordinary daily usage, accommodating the power demands of its advanced camera and connectivity features.

Market Position and Legacy

Upon its release, priced at approximately 280 EUR, the Nokia 808 PureView was considered a premium device aimed at photography enthusiasts and tech-savvy consumers. Despite not achieving massive commercial success, its innovations in mobile camera technology left an indelible mark on the smartphone industry. Nokia’s leap in imaging technology set a benchmark that continues to influence how mobile cameras are engineered today.

Conclusion

The Nokia 808 PureView remains a celebrated icon in the evolution of smartphones. It marked a pivotal point in the convergence of mobile and camera technologies. While discontinued, its legacy as the vanguard of mobile photography ensures its place in history as a device that was truly ahead of its time.