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Nokia N9 review

7.6/10 AVG.
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Nokia N9
Nokia N9
Nokia N9
Nokia N9
Nokia N9
Nokia N9
Nokia N9
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7.6/10
Informr score
The Nokia N9 currently has an Informr score of 7.6 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 9 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

The Nokia N9 was announced in June of 2011 and features Nokia's proprietary software running on top of the MeeGo 1.2 operating system. While the phone is not yet available for purchase, Nokia is touting it as an all-screen phone that is very user-friendly and fast.

"All-screen" is a pretty apt description for the N9, as the phone has none of the toolbar buttons Android users are accustomed to. The only buttons this phone features are the wake and volume buttons on the side. Its 3.9 inch AMOLED capacitive touchscreen takes up the entire front of this device, protected by an ever-so-slightly curved piece of Corning's super-strong Gorilla Glass, giving it an extremely sleek look and feel.

Behind the N9's sexily styled exterior is a 1 GHz Cortex A8 CPU working with one full GB of RAM. Unlike many of its competitors, the N9 does not offer the user the option of expanded memory through the use of microSD cards; however, the phone is rumored to be available in two models sporting 16 or 64 GB of storage.

One of the most incredible features on the N9 has to be its 8 megapixel camera featuring Carl Zeiss optics and dual LED flash. The pictures this phone takes are incredibly clean and crisp regardless of light levels. Additionally, the phone takes full 720p HD video at a smooth 30 frames per second.

While Nokia's version of the MeeGo operating system does seem to be very intuitive and user-friendly, it comes with a very serious drawback. Nokia is dropping the OS in favor of a close partnership with Microsoft, making the N9 Nokia's first and last MeeGo phone. The OS itself remains under development, but, with Nokia gone, the future of MeeGo looks bleak and its hard to imagine developers rushing to the platform to develop enough cool Apps to compete with the likes of Android and iOS.

All in all, the N9 is a beautifully styled phone with a sleek new operating system that has a lot of potential. Whether the phone flourishes or flops is up to the individual user; however, it cannot be said that Nokia isn't an innovative company that has offered a highly impressive smartphone.

Need to know: Nokia N9

1. The camera in the Nokia N9 is hands-down one of the best integrated digital cameras available in any phone on the market. (The Good)

2. The N9 includes twice the RAM of most competitors' smartphones, allowing for users to multitask without having to wait for the phone to catch up. (The Good)

3. There is no option for expanding the memory in the N9 with external memory cards. (The Bad)

4. The operating system on the N9 is highly intuitive and user-friendly; however, available software and apps may be limited unless the operating system catches on with another manufacturer. (The Bad)


Linux
Operating system
Operating system
Linux
1 GHz
Processor
Processor
1 GHz
3.9"
Screen Size
Screen Size
3.9"
8+ MP
Camera
Camera
8+ MP
1450 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


GSMArena
GSMArena

Beautiful. Simple. Brilliant. Out of place and hardly on time. Timeless. The Nokia N9 is a story with no happy ending but you want to enjoy every word. Sad story. Post-coital kind of sad.

- GSMArena team, GSMArena
Coolsmartphone
Coolsmartphone

I’m a huge fan of mobiles featuring a physical QWERTY keyboard. I also love customizable homescreens with a decent calendar widget taking prime spot. My daily workhorse currently is the HTC Desire Z and it excels in both these areas, but the Nokia N9 doesn’t provide either. However, the N9 has unque...

- Dawid Lorenz, Coolsmartphone
MobileBurn
MobileBurn

The Nokia N9 is a classic tragedy. It is one of the most interesting and unique phones to be released in 2011, with beautiful hardware and a truly different experience from other smartphones on the market. Unfortunately, because of Nokia's business plans, many in the world will never be able to acce...

- Dan Seifert , MobileBurn
Techsmart
Techsmart

Nokia’s N9 is the most exciting and coolest smartphone that the company has produced for a while, sporting a beautiful design, a very intuitive UI and excellent features. The only question that concerns us is whether users will have access to firmware updates and a multitude of apps in the future, a...

- Hanleigh Daniels, Techsmart
SlashGear
SlashGear

It’s hard to escape the polish of the N9′s hardware/software combination. Seldom are we so reluctant to part with a review unit as we are over sending the N9 back to Nokia. It may not be the fastest, or the most whiz-bang of the smartphones, but it’s holistically beautiful and an e...

- Chris Davies, SlashGear


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Nokia N9 user manual here.


Nokia backs up the N9 with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your N9 has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Nokia support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Nokia's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.



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Quick view

Screen Size
3.9"

The Nokia N9's screen size is 3.9 inches with x pixels resolution.

Processor
1 GHz

There is a ARM Cortex A8 1 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on proprietary operating system firmware.

Camera
8+ MP

You can take photos or capture video with the phone's onboard 8+ MP camera.

There's no secondary front camera.

Storage
16/64 GB

Internal memory is 16/64 GB. No external card slot is available for expansion.

Battery
1450mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 1450 mAh battery. Nokia's performance ratings are 16 days standby time, 660 minutes.

Nokia N9 Specs

Overview
Release Date September 27, 2011
Regions Available USA
Operating System No

Compare Linux Smartphones

Processor ARM Cortex A8 1 GHz
Internal Storage 16/64 GB
RAM 1 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
Noise Cancellation No
SAR Head: 1.02 W/kg
Body: 0.85 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Data Cable, Headset, Manual, Standard Battery
Cellular
Networks
EDGE, HSDPA 14.4, HSUPA
Mobile / Cellular Data
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling No
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) No
SIM card size
Yes
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 2.1
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HFP, HSP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot No
Memory Expansion Slot No
Expansion Slot Info
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
8+ Megapixels
Zoom
4x digital
Flash
Yes (Dual LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Face detection, Geotagging, ISO, White balance
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, 3G2 / 3GPP2, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV
Video Recording Parameters
HD (1280 x 720 pixels), 30 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology AMOLED
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution x pixels
Pixel Density Unknown
Size 3.9 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch No
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla glass, Anti-glare polariser, 2.5D curved glass
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 1450 mAh
Removable Battery Yes
Wireless Charging
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Unknown
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Unknown
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 660 minutes
Standby Time Up to 16 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Colors Black, Cyan, Magenta
Dimensions [H x W x D] 11.6 x 6.1 x 1.2 cm (4.6 x 2.4 x 0.5 in)
Weight 135 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers No
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key No
Home Key No
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Messaging: SMS, EMS, MMS, IM, Google Talk
ROM: 512MB
Multi-Use Smart Phone / PDA: Yes
Graphics: Wallpapers
Themes: Yes
Backlit Illumination: Yes
Zoom / Magnification: Yes
Predictive Text Entry: Yes
Keypad/Screen Lock: Yes
Multiple Numbers Per Contact: Email address, Other fields
Voice Activated Dialing: Yes
Photo Caller ID: Yes
Web Browser: Yes
Email Client: Yes
Email Protocols: POP3, IMAP, Microsoft Exchange
PC Synchronization: Yes
Audio Formats: MP3, eAAC+, eAAC, AAC, WMA
Video Playback Formats: 3GP / 3GPP, 3G2 / 3GPP2, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV
Streaming Video: Yes
Custom Ringtones: No
Vibration Alert: Yes
Downloadable Ringtones: Yes
Ringer ID: Yes
Speakerphone: Yes
Data Tethering: Yes
Radio: Yes (FM/RDS)
Wi-fi Encryption: -
Viewable document types: DOC, DOCX, GIF, JPG, PDF, PPT, PPTX, RTF, TIFF, TXT, XLS
Games: Downloadable
Apps: Downloadable, Pre-installed
Included Software / Apps: -
To-Do / Task List, Calendar, World Clock, Alarm, Calculator, Maps, NotePad, Voice Memos / Recorder

Other Names (AKA): Nokia N9-00
Related Links Manual (PDF)
Nokia N9 Reviews
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