Review: Nokia N93 Multimedia Marvel

Nokia N93

Nokia N93

Nokia N93

The Nokia N90 was the first auto-focus camera phone for the Finnish company and we were really impressed by it. Now the N93 ups the ante and brings 3x optical zoom in a phone to the masses. Running on the 3rd Edition of the S60 user interface and equipped with a 3.2 megapixel camera sensor, the N93 is set to rock the world of mobile phones. As if that's not enough, the N93 also features TV-out, which you can use to display your pictures and videos on your home TV. Users of the N90 will be glad to know that the N93 has the vibrate function missing from the old N90.

The N93 is a dual mode phone, featuring WCDMA (2100MHz) and tri-band GSM (900/1800/1900MHz) coverage. This review will be based on the N93's capabilities in GSM mode, as I do not have access to 3G networks.

Physical Aspects

Unlike the N90, the new Nokia N93 does not have a twistable lens barrel. It is a chunky clamshell with larger dimensions than the N90, but with smoother curves. The lens barrel is huge, and the top portion of the phone is connected via the right side of the barrel. There are three ways to open the N93 - view mode, imaging mode, and phone mode. The view mode is done by way of twisting the screen open rightwards from closed. This causes the screen to be in a landscape orientation and is a better way of watching videos or surfing the web, as you get a much wider screen. You can access the imaging mode by flipping open the phone 90 degrees and then twisting the screen anti clockwise (with the screen facing you). You then hold the phone like you would hold a camcorder. Left handed people might find it difficult to hold, since they will have to switch or cross their hands to access the two soft keys on top of the screen. Phone mode is when you open the N93 like how you would with any other clamshell phone to answer calls and such.

The N93 is made entirely of good quality plastic. Our review unit was black in color with hints of silver and chrome. The N93 is solidly built, and I could find no creaks or squeaks anywhere on out review unit. Even the hinge feels solid and should be able to withstand the twisting and turning of the flip. One complaint would be the total lack of a spring mechanism in the hinge. This made opening the phone a bit troublesome since I had to use both hands all the time.

On the front of the N93, you will find the small external display and the loudspeaker. On the right side of the phone, the camera shutter button is located on the hinge. The zoom lever circles this button just like you would find on a normal camera. A 5-way navigation d-pad is located next to the camera and LED flash buttons. On the left side of the phone, the huge lens is located just above the LED flash. Nokia has provided users with a lens cap that can be attached with a string to the phone. The lens cap was an annoyance and was a pain to remove from the lens, though it can be detached from the phone easily. The miniSD card slot, charging port, and Pop-Port connector are all located on the left side of the N93. The power button is located on the top of the N93, and an Infrared port is placed on the bottom of the phone, on the top portion of the flip. There is nothing on the back of the phone except for the battery cover release button.

Flipping open the N93, the forward facing camera is situated above the screen alongside the earpiece and light sensor. The white backlit keypad is huge and is divided into three sections, each surrounded by chrome borders. The topmost section contains the 5-way navigational d-pad, flanked by the right and left softkeys, along with the call and end keys. The middle section is where you will find the edit, menu, multimedia, and clear keys. The bottom section is the biggest, and this is where you will find the large numerical keypad of the N93. I'm very glad to report that the N93's keypad is a joy to use with such big keys. They offer excellent tactile feedback and I must say that this is truly one of the best keypads out there right now.

The Nokia N93 is certainly a huge phone. Measuring 118.2mm x 55.5mm x 28.2mm (4.65" x 2.18" x 1.11") and weighing a hefty 180g (6.34oz), many will be put off by this giant. However, the solid build of the N93 and professional looking color scheme make it a pretty good looking phone, albeit a slightly fat one.

 

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