Nokia N85 vs Nokia N810: A Throwback Tech Showdown

The mid-2000s were a fascinating time for mobile technology, with Nokia leading the charge. The N85 and N810 represent distinct approaches to early smartphone design. This comparison dives deep into their features, performance, and overall appeal for those nostalgic for a simpler era of mobile.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Nokia N810 edges out the N85 thanks to its slightly faster processor and more robust web browsing capabilities. However, the N85 boasts a superior camera and a more appealing design for some. Both offer a unique glimpse into mobile history.

PHONES
Phone Names	Nokia N85	Nokia N810

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	N/A
3G bands	HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 2100	-
EDGE	No	No
GPRS	Class 10	No
Speed	HSPA 3.6/0.384 Mbps	-
Technology	GSM / HSPA	No cellular connectivity
	HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 - American version	-

Launch
Announced	2008, August. Released 2008, October	2007, October. Released 2008, Q1
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Dimensions	103 x 50 x 16 mm, 76 cc (4.06 x 1.97 x 0.63 in)	128 x 72 x 14 mm (5.04 x 2.83 x 0.55 in)
Keyboard	QWERTY	QWERTY
SIM	Mini-SIM	No
Weight	128 g (4.52 oz)	225 g (7.94 oz)
	Dual slide design	-

Display
Resolution	240 x 320 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~154 ppi density)	480 x 800 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~226 ppi density)
Size	2.6 inches, 20.9 cm2 (~40.6% screen-to-body ratio)	4.13 inches, 48.5 cm2 (~52.7% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	AMOLED, 16M colors	TFT resistive touchscreen, 65K colors
	Touch-sensitive Navi wheel	-

Platform
CPU	369 MHz ARM 11	400 MHz
Chipset	-	TI OMAP 2420
OS	Symbian OS 9.3, S60 rel. 3.2	Internet Tablet OS 2008 edition

Memory
Call records	Yes	-
Card slot	microSDHC (dedicated slot), 8 GB included	miniSD, up to 8 GB
Internal	74MB	128MB RAM, 256MB ROM, 2GB
Phonebook	500 entries, Photocall	-

Main Camera
Features	Carl Zeiss optics, LED flash	-
Single	5 MP, AF	VGA
Video	480p@30fps	352x288

Selfie camera
Single	CIF videocall camera	-
	-	No

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Alert types	Vibration; Downloadable polyphonic, monophonic, MP3 ringtones	-
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers

Comms
Bluetooth	2.0, A2DP	2.0, EDR
Positioning	GPS, A-GPS; Nokia Maps 2.0	GPS
Radio	Stereo FM radio, RDS; FM transmitter	No
USB	microUSB 2.0	2.0, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, UPnP & DLNA technology	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g

Features
Browser	WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML, Adobe Flash Lite	HTML, Adobe Flash
Games	Downloadable	-
Java	No	-
Messaging	SMS, MMS	-
Sensors	Accelerometer	-
	MP4/WMV/H.264 player MP3/WAV/eAAC+/WMA player Organizer Document viewer (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF) Voice dial/memo Push to talk TV-out Predictive text input	MP3/AAC/WAV/WMA player MP4/H.264 player Organizer Document viewer

Battery
Stand-by	Up to 363 h (2G) / Up to 363 h (3G)	Up to 336 h
Talk time	Up to 6 h 50 min (2G) / Up to 4 h 30 min (3G)	Up to 4 h
Type	Removable Li-Ion 1200 mAh battery (BL-5K)	Removable Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery (BP-4L)

Misc
Colors	Copper, Black	Silver, Black
Price	About 250 EUR	-
SAR	1.03 W/kg (head) 0.79 W/kg (body)	-
SAR EU	0.81 W/kg (head)	-

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -94.4dB / Crosstalk -88.1dB	-
Loudspeaker	Voice 67dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 71dB	-

OUR TESTS
Audio quality	Noise -94.4dB / Crosstalk -88.1dB	-
Loudspeaker	Voice 67dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 71dB	-

Nokia N85

Superior Camera (6MP Carl Zeiss)
Slightly Larger Screen
More Traditional Phone Design
Good Build Quality

Slower Processor
Less Open Operating System
Smaller Internal Storage (compared to N810)

Nokia N810

Faster Processor (400 MHz)
More Open Operating System (based on Linux)
WebTV Functionality
Expandable Storage (SD card slot)

Lower Quality Camera (2MP)
Smaller Screen
Less Intuitive User Interface
Less Appealing Design for some

Display Comparison

The N810 features a 2.4-inch QVGA display, while the N85 has a 2.6-inch QVGA display. While both are small by today's standards, the N85's slightly larger screen offers a marginally better viewing experience. Both displays are transmissive and lack the vibrancy of modern OLED screens.

Camera Comparison

The N85's 6-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics significantly outperforms the N810's 2-megapixel camera. Image quality, detail, and color accuracy are noticeably better on the N85, making it the clear winner for photography enthusiasts.

Performance

The N810's TI OMAP 2420 chipset with a 400 MHz CPU provides a slight performance advantage over the N85's 369 MHz ARM 11 processor. This translates to slightly faster web browsing and application loading times on the N810. However, both devices can feel sluggish by modern standards.

Battery Life

Both phones utilize a similar battery capacity (BL-5B, approximately 1050 mAh). Real-world battery life is comparable, typically lasting a day with moderate usage. Heavy web browsing or media consumption will drain the battery faster on both devices.

Buying Guide

The Nokia N85 is ideal for those prioritizing camera quality and a more traditional phone form factor. The Nokia N810 is better suited for users who value web browsing and a more open operating system, even with its smaller screen.