Nokia C7 Astound vs Nokia N86 8MP: A Throwback Tech Showdown

Remember the days of Symbian? Two Nokia phones, the C7 Astound and the N86 8MP, represent a specific era of mobile technology. Both offer a nostalgic experience, but which one holds up better today? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Nokia N86 8MP edges out the C7 Astound thanks to its superior 8MP camera and slightly more compact design. While both are hampered by their older processors, the N86's camera makes it the better choice for those prioritizing photo quality and a more pocketable form factor.

PHONES
Phone Names	Nokia C7 Astound	Nokia N86 8MP

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 2100	HSDPA 900 / 2100
Speed	HSPA 10.2/2 Mbps	HSPA 3.6/0.384 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA	GSM / HSPA
	-	HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 - American version

Launch
Announced	2011, March. Released 2011, April 6th	2009, February. Released 2009, June
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Dimensions	117.3 x 56.8 x 10.5 mm, 64 cc (4.62 x 2.24 x 0.41 in)	103.4 x 51.4 x 16.5 mm, 69 cc (4.07 x 2.02 x 0.65 in)
SIM	Mini-SIM	Mini-SIM
Weight	130 g (4.59 oz)	149 g (5.26 oz)
	-	Dual slide design Built-in kickstand

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass	Scratch-resistant glass
Resolution	360 x 640 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~210 ppi density)	240 x 320 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~154 ppi density)
Size	3.5 inches, 33.8 cm2 (~50.7% screen-to-body ratio)	2.6 inches, 20.9 cm2 (~39.4% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	AMOLED	AMOLED, 16M colors

Platform
CPU	680 MHz ARM 11	434 MHz ARM 11
GPU	Broadcom BCM2727	-
OS	Symbian^3, upgradable to Nokia Belle OS	Symbian 9.3, S60 rel. 3.2

Memory
Card slot	microSDHC (dedicated slot)	microSDHC (dedicated slot)
Internal	8GB 256MB RAM	8GB 128MB RAM

Main Camera
Features	Dual-LED flash	Carl Zeiss lens, dual-LED flash
Single	8 MP	8 MP, AF
Video	720p@25fps, 720p@30fps (via SW update)	480p@30fps

Selfie camera
Single	VGA	VGA videocall camera

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes, with stereo speakers
	-	Dedicated music/gallery keys

Comms
Bluetooth	3.0, A2DP	2.0, A2DP
NFC	Yes	-
Positioning	GPS, A-GPS; Ovi Maps 3.0	GPS, A-GPS; Ovi Maps 3.0
Radio	Stereo FM radio, RDS; FM transmitter	Stereo FM radio, RDS; FM transmitter
USB	microUSB 2.0, OTG	microUSB 2.0
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, UPnP technology

Features
Browser	WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML, Adobe Flash Lite	WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML, Adobe Flash Lite
Sensors	Accelerometer, proximity, compass	Accelerometer, compass
	Web TV TV-out MP3/WMA/WAV/eAAC+ player DivX/XviD/MP4/H.264/WMV player Quickoffice document viewer (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF) Adobe Reader Voice memo/dial/command Predictive text input	WMV/RV/MP4/3GP player MP3/WMA/WAV/RA/AAC/M4A player Document viewer (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF) Voice memo TV-out

Battery
Music play	Up to 54 h	Up to 25 h
Stand-by	Up to 555 h (2G) / Up to 656 h (3G)	Up to 312 h (2G) / 264 h (3G)
Talk time	Up to 9 h 30 min (2G) / Up to 5 h (3G)	Up to 6 h 18 min (2G) / 3 h 54 min (3G)
Type	Removable Li-Ion 1200 mAh battery (BL-5K)	Removable Li-Ion 1200 mAh battery (BL-5K)

Misc
Colors	Frosty metal	Indigo Black, White
Price	About 220 EUR	About 180 EUR
SAR	1.03 W/kg (head) 0.83 W/kg (body)	0.83 W/kg (head) 0.88 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	0.73 W/kg (head)	0.66 W/kg (head)

Tests
Audio quality	-	Noise -91.0dB / Crosstalk -89.1dB
Camera	-	Photo
Loudspeaker	-	Voice 67dB / Noise 64dB / Ring 75dB

OUR TESTS
Audio quality	-	Noise -91.0dB / Crosstalk -89.1dB
Camera	-	Photo
Loudspeaker	-	Voice 67dB / Noise 64dB / Ring 75dB

Nokia C7 Astound

Larger AMOLED display
Slightly faster processor
More modern design (for its time)
Potentially better media consumption experience

Weaker camera
Slower performance compared to modern devices
Limited app support
Specs incomplete

Nokia N86 8MP

Superior 8MP camera
Dedicated camera button
More compact design
Better image quality

Smaller screen
Slower processor
Limited app support
Outdated technology

Display Comparison

The Nokia C7 Astound boasts a 3.7-inch AMOLED display, offering vibrant colors and good contrast, a significant advantage over the N86's 2.4-inch LCD screen. While the N86's screen is functional, the C7's larger size and AMOLED technology provide a noticeably better viewing experience.

Camera Comparison

This is where the N86 8MP truly shines. Its 8MP camera was impressive for its time and delivers significantly better image quality than the C7 Astound's likely 8MP or less camera (specs are incomplete). The N86 also benefits from a dedicated camera button and potentially better optics, resulting in sharper and more detailed photos. The C7's camera is adequate, but not a standout feature.

Performance

Performance is a weak point for both devices. The C7 Astound's 680 MHz CPU is marginally faster than the N86's 434 MHz processor, but both struggle with modern apps and multitasking. Expect sluggishness and limited capabilities compared to today's smartphones. The C7's slightly faster processor *might* offer a tiny bit more responsiveness, but it's not a game-changer.

Battery Life

Battery life is difficult to definitively compare without more detailed specifications. Both phones likely offer a day of moderate use. The C7 Astound's larger size *might* accommodate a slightly larger battery, but this is speculative. Expect battery performance to be significantly less than modern smartphones.

Buying Guide

The Nokia C7 Astound might appeal to those seeking a larger screen and a more modern (for its time) design, potentially for media consumption. The Nokia N86 8MP is ideal for photography enthusiasts who appreciate a dedicated camera experience and a smaller footprint, accepting the limitations of older hardware.