After writing about my initial thoughts about the Nokia N97, its time for me now to get down to the main review of the phone. To start with, I will talk about the design, form factor and the build quality of the Phone. I found the design and the build quality of the phone to be very good. The phone is big and feels bulky but for people who like big and solid devices in their hands, this phone is like their holy grail. The design of the Nokia N97, especially the slide out QWERTY keyboard, which is supported by a set of patented hinges, is very unusual and has never been found in any Nokia phone earlier. The display of the phone is also nice with the resistive feel to it. As i told you, some people will find the size and weight of the phone, which is 150g, a bit awkward, especially if they are too much into slim phones. Though the Nokia N97 is large and bulky, it easily fits into your pocket and feels good while using. The hinge mechanism worked pretty well with no plasticky sounds and creaks. The screen is house in a metal casing, which give sit a sturdy look.
The front face of the phone has three buttons out of which two are touch sensitive buttons. The menu button is the only pysical key that is their on the front face of the phone. If you are using the phone then you will soon realize that it is the menu button but for the first timers its a bit confusing. The button reminds you of Nokia's earlier N Series devices like the Nokia N91. It takes moments for you to realize that it is the menu button but product should be such and a end-user should make out the basic features, them moment he/she sees it.
The buttons on the N97 like, volume control, camera button, screen lock buttons are easily accessible and can be used without any hassles even if you are using the phone with one hand.
The one thing, which i did not like about the N97 is its battery cover. I have been using a white Euro version of the Nokia N97 and the battery cover is very plasticky and comes off easily. Even you will notice that the chrome plating might come out after days of use. The battery cover can be removed easily unlike some of the Nokia phones like 5310 and 5300 where you might end up breaking the cover while trying to open it.
The phone is thick and some other things that will appeal to your guys in the design is the 3.5 mm standard headphone jack and the microUSB charger. You can use your laptop or desktop for charging the phone using your USB. The phone comes with an additional microUSB connector, in which you can plug in your old (big pin) or new (small pin) charger and charge the phone suing standard voltage.
N97's Keyboard
Though the N97 is a full touch screen phone with on screen keyboard, Nokia has hit the right spot by giving the hings mechanism based QWERTY keyboard that slides out. Though the keyboard is a bit cramped up, it is really useful when you are typing long mails or sending long messages. The keys are small but you will get used to it quickly. The keyboard also features a D-Pad which is pretty helpful when you are browsing sites or composing messages. The N97 Mini does not have a D-Pad and if a N97 user shifts to the Mini, he/she will certainly miss that D-Pad. The keys on N97's keyboard are a bit elevated and feel while typing. This kind of feeling was missing on the slide out QWERTY keyboard of the Nokia E75. Also, the space bar key is places in a awkward position and you will take time to get used to it if you are into fast typing.
Last but not the least, near the top ear price on the left hand side you will see a proximity sensor. The main purpose of this sensor is that, it shuts down the screen when you move your phone near to your ear during call, so that the touch screen does not get operated accidentally. On the right hand side there is the front camera which can be used to click images as well as for video calling. The output is ok, not great. You will also see a small light sensor on the right side, adjacent to the camera. The light sensor dims or brightens the keyboard lights.
Design and build wise Nokia has produced a winner here. The phone feels good in hands, the buttons are accessible. I have been suing the Euro version of the Nokia N97 and have heard that the Asian N97s have a plasticky feel to it. But yeah Nokia N97's Solid Design rocks!!
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