Nokia N8 launches this month

Posted on 7 Sep 2010 at 14:07

Nokia has officially stated that its N8 smartphone will be launching on the 30th of September, but UK-based buyers are in for a treat: we get it on the 23rd, a full week before anyone else.

The Nokia N8, which we previewed back in April, is Nokia's latest flagship handset - and the first smartphone to use the company's Symbian^3 operating system, an important distinction in today's increasingly Google Android-centric market.

Featuring a massive 12 megapixel camera with 720p video recording capabilities, a 3.5in AMOLED 640x360 multi-touch screen, and Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and GPS connectivity, the specifications are certainly impressive - but it's the software that will have to prove itself in an extremely competitive market.

With the N8 being Symbian^3's first outing, it will likely form a proving ground for the software: good sales will ensure that Symbian^3 forms a major part of Nokia's future smartphone strategy, whereas a poor reception will likely see the software dismissed in favour of Nokia's MeeGo Linux-based platform - or even Google's rival Android OS.

While initial reactions to the Symbian^3 interface by testers was cool, Nokia has worked hard to improve the look and feel of the finished product - but it remains to be seen if the company has done enough.

Official pricing hasn't been announced, but third-party sites are offering pre-orders for the SIM-free, unlocked version - which is not subsidised by a contract - for between £420 and £480.

Author: Gareth Halfacree

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