Comprehensive Review of Nokia N81 Specs Prices Pros & Cons

Design and Build

The Nokia N81 was launched in 2007, a time when smartphone designs were exploring new territories. It featured a compact and sturdy build, measuring 102 x 50 x 17.9 mm and weighing 140 grams, making it comfortable to hold and carry around. The device was made available in cobalt blue and graphite grey colors, catering to a sense of elegance and style. The front façade was dominated by a 2.4-inch screen with a 35.0% screen-to-body ratio, displaying 16 million colors for vibrant visuals. The tactile keypad below the screen offered a classic mosaic of navigational controls, typical of Nokia devices of that era.

Display

The Nokia N81's 2.4-inch TFT display featured a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels, delivering fair clarity with a pixel density of approximately 167 ppi. This was quite adequate for its time, offering a decent level of detail for web browsing, messaging, and multimedia consumption. The 4:3 ratio of the display was standard, and it performed satisfactorily under various lighting conditions, although it struggled slightly in direct sunlight, as was expected of screens from that period.

Performance and Software

Under the hood, the Nokia N81 was powered by the Symbian OS 9.2 with Series 60 v3.1 User Interface. Although this operating system was starting to show its age during the latter half of the 2000s, it still remained functional for a wide range of mobile tasks. The device came equipped with a 369 MHz ARM 11 processor, complemented by 96MB of RAM. While not blazing fast by today's standards, it was capable of handling everyday applications such as calling, texting, and light browsing, efficiently.

Camera Capabilities

The smartphone came with a 2 MP main camera, which was standard at the time for devices in its category. This camera, equipped with an LED flash, allowed users to capture images and record videos at 320p resolution at 15fps. While it offered basic photography features, the camera was adequate for casual picture-taking scenarios. Additionally, the phone supported a CIF videocall camera, allowing users to engage in video calls, a novelty during its period.

Audio and Connectivity

One of Nokia N81's standout features was its sound capabilities. The device included a loudspeaker and a 3.5mm headphone jack, supporting a range of alert types like vibration and downloadable polyphonic and MP3 ringtones. In terms of connectivity, the phone supported GSM/UMTS networks, offering 2G and 3G bands, and had a data speed of up to 384 kbps. Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP allowed for wireless connectivity, while Wi-Fi 802.11b/g with UPnP offered additional versatility. Additionally, the phone featured a stereo FM radio, adding to its multimedia offerings.

Battery Life

The removable Li-Po 1050 mAh battery (BT-6MT) powered the device, delivering a standby time of up to 410 hours and talk time of up to 4 hours on 2G and 3 hours on 3G. Although modest by today's standards, this battery life was substantial back in 2007, ensuring users could stay connected without frequent recharges.

Memory and Storage

The Nokia N81 provided 12MB of internal storage paired with 96MB of RAM, which was expandable via a dedicated microSDHC slot, with a 2 GB card included. This total storage capacity was suitable for storing contacts, messages, and applications, though it was limited for extensive multimedia storage. The option to expand the memory was a notable advantage, allowing users to augment their storage as needed.

Market and Legacy

Upon its release in November 2007, the Nokia N81 was priced around 200 EUR, positioning it within the mid-range segment of the market. Although the phone has since been discontinued, it remains a part of Nokia's rich history in mobile phone innovation. It is remembered fondly by enthusiasts for its unique combination of multimedia features, comfortable design, and reliable performance. As smartphones have evolved, so too have the expectations and technological capabilities, but the Nokia N81 serves as a snapshot of an exciting era in mobile history.