Nokia N97 vs the N97 Mini | Which one will you buy?
Posted by Norman John in N-Series, N97, N97 Mini, Nokia
Now that the Nokia N97 Mini is available many customers are asking themselves which one they should buy, the Nokia N97 or the N97 Mini? Both devices have a lot in common but differ from each other in many ways too. Therefore I will be comparing the two to see what the pros and cons are for each device.
Size:
As the name already states the N97 Mini is smaller than its big brother. It’s shorter, slimmer and slightly narrow. Images alone cannot demonstrate the different but when holding both devices in the hand I found the Mini to be more appealing and comfortable to hold. Actually the Mini has a good size for a touch sensitive smartphone, without being to bulky.
Screen:
Since the N97 Mini is smaller, Nokia had to decrease the screen-size. The really huge 3.5” display is now only 3.2″ yet the original resolution remains at 360 x 640 pixel with 16M colors. It depends on the taste of the user but I prefer bigger screens and the N97’s 3.5” screen is ideal for me. However, the 3.2” display is the best solution for the Mini. Moreover, I found that the N97 Mini’s display is much brighter, and the colours are more vivid, whereas the Nokia N97’s colours appear rather pale.
Built quality:
In terms of built quality both devices really stand up from other N-Series devices. I found the N97 Mini to feel even better and solid compared to the N97, mainly due to the stainless steel battery cover. The battery cover makes a huge difference. It was a good choice to replace the plastic battery cover with a more solid and better looking stainless steel cover.
Camera protection:
Both, the N97 and the Mini take pictures with 5 megapixels and record videos with 30 frames per second with a resolution of 640×480. So they really don’t differ in the camera specs. However, N97 Mini’s 5 megapixel Carl Zeiss lens isn’t protected by a shutter. Actually I don’t see a downside in here as the shutter, which should protect the lens, was actually scratching some N97 lenses.
QWERTY-keyboard:
The full QWERTY-keyboard, despite the smaller amount of space, is still present. Nonetheless, there has been some redesigning in terms of the keypad. First, the big D-pad on the left side has been replaced by four arrow keys on the right side. There is more space between each key now and the keys are a little bit higher giving you a much better feel when typing. Also the keys have more grip and give you a more secure feeling. Nevertheless, this redesign has also its downside. As the D-Pad has been replaced by four arrow keys which have been placed on the very right side, the interaction between the keyboard and touch-screen has been changed. It was ways easier to use the D-pad with the left thumb while the right thumb was selecting the options or clicking the menu-key. With the arrow keys on the right hand side this isn’t as easy and comfortable anymore.
Storage and RAM
It seems that the word ”Mini” does not only mean that the size has been reduced but also the amount of memory. The mass memory is no longer 32GB but 8GB. For the average user this will not be of any importance, and if you happen to run out of memory you can always expand the memory with a MicroSD cards to up to 24GB, which would be more than enough. Surprisingly, the C-Drive, is almost 230MB, while the N97 has just around 45MB.
After a fresh boot-up the Nokia N97 has 46MB of free RAM just like the N97 Mini.
FM-Transmitter:
Another feature that has disappeared is the FM-Transmitter. Thus you cannot ‘’stream” your songs to your radio anymore. I use the FM-Transmitter of the N97 while driving a lot, to listen to my music. However, this doesn’t need to be an obstacle for the N97 Mini user. You can buy a separate FM-Transmitter. Of course, this isn’t as handy as having a FM-Transmitter build in but the option is there nevertheless.
Navigation and TV-out:
The N97 Mini offers just ten days of free voice guided navigation while the N97 comes with one month of voice guided navigation. Also in terms of accessories, Nokia is rather sparing with the N97 Mini in contrast to the N97, the Mini does not come with a TV-Out cable.
Price:
Nokia is selling the N97 for 549€ while the N97 Mini costs 10€ more. Also when searching the Internet you will find better deals for the N97 than for the Mini. If you bear in mind that the N97 has a TV-out cable, 1month of free voice guided navigation, a FM-transmitter, 32GB memory this is ridiculous. Basically the Mini needs to be a lot more cheaper.
Battery:
In the course of the decreasing of the size Nokia put a smaller battery into the N97 Mini. Instead of a big 1500mAh strong battery, the Mini is powered by 1200mAh. In our test the N97 Mini went out of power 3hours before the N97.
Verdict:
As you can tell, both devices have advantages but also disadvantages. The N97’s key advantages is the bigger screen, FM-Transmitter, more memory, bigger battery and the D-Pad. For the N97 Mini we have the better form factor, better built quality, better keys and a more vivid screen.
The price is also almost identical thus it really depends on what you want and where your priorities are. Of course we cannot tell which phone is the best for you but we can help you by elaborating on the differences.
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I will buy to Nokia N97
Nice coverage buddy. For me the N97 mini is the better choice. The lack of a d-pad isn’t an issue, however the lesser battery may prove to be a deal breaker.
none. they are crap and a ripoff. get a kickass motorola droid/milestone for less money.
If N97 Mini use Symbian Open Source or have 3D Hardware Accelerator i will buy. to bad until now Nokia not use 3D Hardware Accelerator on their S60v5 Smartphone. Hope X6 have it. but i’m waiting for Symbian Open Source Smartphone i’m boring with basic UI on S60.
oh i’m forget dpad for candybar Symbian Smartphone touchscreen. navigation with dpad while browsing much better than finger navigation.
I thought that the n97 did not come with any tv-out cables? does this differ between regions?
Also, can u provide any thoughts on the GPS performance between the 2.
TTFN8-)
I ordered N97 , thought that was the best choice but didnt take a good look at N97 mini and now i want that instead .. haha.
n97 is the best
I have n97 but have some problem with it, like stability and a bit slow, also GPS…. How did u make FM transmitter work? Can u tell me step by step? Because till now i had some problem with it. I had N85 before and it was working fine!
Is this the last we will see in new significant Symbian phones from Nokia ? …. the New N900 is now on the Maemo5 platform.
Perhaps this is the starting step … much is being made about pending Maemo6 and that that will be the time that technology switches in Nokia.
Just trying to weigh up whether to get N97mini or N900
N 97 Mini or N900 ?
That is my problem
I have a N97 and its the best!!
I agree with Anish. Recently discovered the N900, I’m stuck on the decision of n97 and n900. The ability of n900, minus the tilt screen and the dpad. dunno. S60 v5 still boring to operate…
My unique situation is that I have about 2,800 people listed in my “contact” list.
I purchased the N97 when it was introduced in July 2009 and it work well until the firmware was updated in mid November 2009, then the N97 stop working when it was mated with a bluetooth headset. The symptoms are that the “contact” list could not be read and calls cannot be made and calls cannot be received with the bluetooth engaged. The N97 also froze up or the unit would blank or black out. So, Nokia was informed and the N97 was sent in for repairs.
The N97 went back and forth to Palco (Nokia’s repair facilities) every week for a month, four times for repairs but to no avail. Nokia’s Palco had even exchanged the unit with another new replacement unit, but the problem still was the same with the new unit as well. This situation was never resolved and the “upper” management of Nokia 97’s technical sector was called in and they were also frustrated as well. Management had given me several options as to resolve the situation. First, as to refund my money “prorated” or to replace it with the “newly” N97 Mini or with the “newly” N900. Since I had ALREADY owned the N900 when introduced in November 2009, that option was out of the equation. The two choices left, were to accept a prorated refund or to accept the Mini. I went with the later because the Mini should be like the N97 for I always liked the N97 workability with my habits of usage when I am in the field. Also the Nokia technicians had believed that the problem that I am having does not exists in the Mini, for they claim there are differences with the two units. Well, I accepted the Mini with reluctance, due to a smaller screen and with only 8G’s. Anyway, upon receiving the Mini, I downloaded the “contact” file’s data and turned on the bluetooth mode to pair it with the headset and only to find the same problem is with the Mini as well. So, with my frustration, called up the person directly that I had dealt with as to inform him that the situation is STILL the same. He and technicians had no clue as what the problem may be.
I then decided to experiment on my own, as to shrink the list by deleting non-essential people in my contact. It took me over 14 hours to manually reviewing and deleting over 600 people. With the deletion, only then did the Mini’s contact with the bluetooth modes do both become operable. Basically, there seems to be a “limited capacity” to the contact list and Nokia and technical staff didn’t know??? Duhhhhh is the word…..
Now about the N900? It had many problems and they had at least three updates since it introduction. The N900 operates differently then the N97 and the Mini, with very few similarities. It is actually a real computer with a phone, then a phone with a computer. There are no searching capabilities as “find.” There is NO voice prompting with the GPS. The fonts are too small and there are no ability to be enlarged them. You will need to keep your glasses with you as to read the small fonts — Not with the N97 or the Mini. In contacts where there should be a field with “fax,” it is replaced, as “another” phone listing so you will have to figure with is which upon transferring the info. One of my habits is that I like to listen to music via a bluetooth (mono) headset as to keep one ear to hear the ambient surroundings in NYC. The N900 only generating a “left” channel signal and there is NO “right” channel signal, which means you are listening to only half of the music through the one ear bluetooth headset. This is not so with the N97 or the Mini, for the two units do generated both channels into a monaural sign for the one ear headset. On another note, unless it is my imagination, the Mini is the best musical sounding unit then the N97 and the N900.
Also In bluetooth mode with the N900, when mated with the Nokia’s car kit that is installed in my car, the radio is CONTINUALLY “muted” even after the phone call is ended. The N900 technician told me that the N900 bluetooth is not supposed to have worked with the car unit and they don’t understand why mine did??? I could not believe my ears…
By the way, the N900 contact does hold my 2,700 plus listing of people in “contacts” with no problems…. So…….
@KLO: Thanks for your comparison of the N97, N97 mini & the N900. I was looking for an upgrade to my 5800, and I initially wanted the N900 because of its fast processor and that it’s more of a computer than a phone. I read that the N97 & the N97 mini have the same processor speed as the 5800, and I wanted something as fast as the iPhone.
However, after much thought, I realized my smartphone usage is more on multi-media (music, video, photo, and paint pad!), social networking (via nimbuzz) and fast surfing (opera mini). I read that most Java apps don’t work with the N900!
And so I’m down to N97 vs N97 mini. I’m gonna buy the N97 due to the 32gb on board memory and larger screen.