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| from GSMArena.com |
Price and where to get it in the Philippines
I saw a model displayed in
a cell phone shop in one of the provincial (where I live nearby) SM malls. It
costs around Php 30,000. But on one of Nokia’s authorized resellers in the
Philippines at Mall of Asia, the item is offered at Php 27,500. But that’s not
what they said over the phone. They at least remembered the recent phone call
inquiry and were willing to give the item at only Php 25,500 but on a cash
basis. With the addition of an extended 2 years warranty at Php 1,900, the
total amount paid is at Php 27,400.
Although the item was not
even displayed and only the Lumia models are prominently shelved in a
conspicuous area, the store people were at least very helpful. They happily
showed us the Pureview and made a demo of how it works. My only complaint was
that there was not even a Nokia bag to carry the box and the phone with. There
was only an unfashionable red Electroworld (most likely the franchisee of the
Nokia store) plastic bag to go with it.
I mentioned that the Nokia
808 was not meant to last in the Philippines. That explains why it was not even
displayed among the other phone units. In fact, the assistant who assisted us
admittedly said that the distribution of the Pureview will soon cease and only
a few units were intended to be sold. Only those who are genuinely interested
and will specifically ask for the unit will have the opportunity to even see
it. Also, they only have white and no black or red units available.
Adjustments
upon purchase
You have to know that the
Nokia 808 only accepts micro SIM cards. So you either need to buy a new SIM or
have your current SIM cut to precisely fit the phone’s SIM slot. If you choose
the former, you may ask your network provider. I’ve asked the nearby SUN office
and they don’t have any. Luckily, the adjacent mobile stores have a specific
SIM card cutter which turns regular sized SIM cards into micro SIMs. There’s
only a single slot for SIM cards by the way, the slot beside it is for a memory
card.
Next adjustment will be
about contacts. Unfortunately, the micro SIM may become corrupt and you won’t
be able to access its memory and everything along with it, including contacts
if you have saved them on the SIM. So it’s best to copy your contact numbers on
another phone’s memory first prior to transferring it the Pureview.
If you are using a
compatible Nokia phone, you can actually transfer the contacts from the other
Nokia device via Bluetooth. Just go to settings -connectivity - data transfer
- phone switch. Then follow the prompts.
Powering on the Nokia 808
for the first time will prompt you to choose specifications, I suggest for you
to pay attention, otherwise, you miss important updates and syncing.
Specifications at a glance
Type: Smart phone
Available
colors: Black, red, white
Operating
system: Nokia Belle OS (Symbian)
Connectivity: Bluetooth
(v3.0), 3G, 2G, WiFi, HDMI, DLNA, NFC
Data Speed: HSDPA 14.4 Mbps, HSUPA 5.76 Mbps
Browser: HMTL 5, Adobe Flash Lite
App store: Ovi Touch screen: AMOLED, 16 M colors, Gorilla glass protection, Nokia ClearBlack display GPS: Yes. Nokia MAPS navigation preloaded Screen: 4.0 in., 360 x 640 pixels, 184 ppi pixel density
Size: 123.9 mm x 60.2 mm x 13.9 mm
Weight: 169
grams
Camera: 41
MP, 7728 x 4354 pixels, Carl Zeiss lens, Xenon flash, auto focus, digital
zoom, neutral density filter, 1/1.2'' sensor size, face detection, geo tagging
Video: 1920 x 1088 pixels, 1080p, 30.0 video frame rate per second
Audio: 3.55 m jack, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby headphone
enhancement, loudspeaker, noise cancellation, mic
Radio: FM Stereo
Alert and ringing: Vibration; WAV, MP3, preloaded tones
present
Messaging: SMS (thread view), MMS, Email, Push
Email, IM
Memory: 16 GB mass storage, can be expanded
up to 48 GB
Battery: 6.5 hours talk time and 525 hours on
standby (3G)
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The
box
The container box has the
phone of course, a charger, headset, phone strap, care guide, user guide,
warranty, and NFC info. The charger is comparable to that of iPhone devices
where you can separate the head from the USB (version 2.0) cord and use the
latter as a USB charger and connection for computers and even HDTVs with HDMI
or DLNA ports.
The
Good Side
Camera
The camera is obviously
the number one reason behind purchasing the Nokia 808 Pureview. It was the same
reason why I waited for it for months. I wanted to get a good camera that is
not too burdensome to carry around (unlike the way DSLR cameras are) for those
blogging moments when you want to capture a potential blog post picture at
unexpected places. Digicams would have been good enough since there are units
which can offer as much as 20 MP or even higher. But it still means I will have
to carry 2 items. So I was contented with my Nokia phone then. It is handy and
can provide a decent picture which I can always edit afterwards to improve the
photo.
Images,
video, audio
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| Eye of MOA, SM Mall of Asia SM by the Bay |
So here comes the Pureview. It was released
last June. The camera is indeed captivating. It features 41 megapixels (can be
lowered through the creative menu at the camera, middle buttons) with a 7728 x 4354 pixels ratio (by far the highest among other phones). On
the hardware side, it comes with a Carl Zeiss lens,
and Xenon flash. Other features include auto focus, 3x lossless digital zoom,
neutral density (ND) filter, and 1/1.2'' sensor size. ND filter enables the camera to automatically
modify colors to make them more vibrant. For social network fans who would like
to upload photos directly from the phone, face detection and geo tagging is
possible.
For videos, expect
HDMI type with 1920 x 1088 pixels, 1080p (the
highest resolution), and 30.0 video frame rate per second. Speaking of HDMI,
you may connect the phone directly to a computer or an HDTV as well as DLNA
compatible devices to view images and videos. As for audio, it supports 3.55 m jack
and is compatible with Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby headphone
enhancement. There’s also a mic with an active noise cancellation feature.
Screen, Size, Weight
The
screen is generous at 4.0 in. with 360 x 640 pixels and 184 ppi pixel density. The higher the ppi
pixel density, the crisper the display becomes. The screen is also protected by
scratch prevention Gorilla glass. The extended warranty even covers accidental
drops which may break the glass with the exemption of liquid damage. As for the
home screen, you can choose among 4 and edit which items, options, or menu to
add. Still about the screen, you can flip it on a landscape or portrait mode in
whichever window you are at.
The size at 123.9 mm x 60.2 mm x 13.9 mm is perfect for
people with limited grip, unlike other smart phones that are too large to hold.
It’s also lightweight at 169 grams.
Connectivity
and data speed
The Nokia 808 connects via Bluetooth
at version 3.0 (highest and fastest so far), 3G, 2G, WiFi, HDMI, DLNA, and NFC.
As mentioned above, HDMI and DLNA enables direct access of images and videos
from the phone towards compatible devices including HDTV, gaming gadgets, and
more. NFC can be easily described when compared with bar codes. Scanning the
code reveals information about an item. The same applies to NFC and its
predecessor QR codes (see embedded links to read more about these technologies). Data speed
on the other hand is measured at 14.4 Mbps for HSDPA and 5.76 Mbps for HSUPA.
Battery life and memory
The Pureview offers 16 GB internal mass storage and can be
expanded up to 48 GB through a microSD memory card. For best results, choose an
HDMI microSD item. You should also know that the higher the MP used on the
camera, the bigger the size of the image, thereby, increasing memory used. As
for the battery life, the phone promises 6.5 hours talk time and 525 hours on
standby (both on 3G). The sales rep at the store mentions 3-5 days on standby
mode. True enough, the battery lasts long like most other Nokia phones. You may
even extend the battery life by powering on the power saving mode (red phone
icon on the right).
Apps
The phone is preloaded with apps including Adobe Reader,
Drive (map which guides you like a GPS), Maps, Traveler, ABC Dictionary,
Weather, CNN, NatGeo, Check in (for Facebook mobile places), YouTube, Shazam, F
Secure (mobile security), Nokia Sync (free data storage online), QuickOffice
(for files and documents), Vlingo (let’s just say it’s like Siri J), JoikuSpot Light (turns your phone into
a hotspot), some games like ColorizIt (simply makes photos black and white),
Angry Birds (thank goodness!), Asphalt 6 (race cars), Bounce Boing Battle,
BlockBreak3, Lets Golf 2, Silent Film, and so much more.
Other features
SMS messaging can be displayed on a thread view like other
smart phones do. The message reader even reads your text messages for you (apps
page through the menu button – four square dots on the left). But since it’s
based in English, it would sound awkward if the text is in the local tongue.
You can also turn on the “say caller’s name” option through your chosen profile
settings and the phone will say whose calling.
The
Bad Side
The phone looks a little
bulky, particularly with the Carl Zeiss camera lens protruding at the back. But
it’s still definitely smaller than huge DSLR cameras considering the video and
camera features it is able to offer. The volume and loudspeaker isn’t as loud
as other Nokia phones, particularly the Express Music types. In fact, the loudspeaker sounds broken when you accidentally cover it (bottom area). The back cover is
also a bit challenging to open as well as close and you would think it’s going
to break; something common with Nokia phones.
In terms of apps, there’s
no way that the Ovi can beat the Android market (now Google play) although the
phone is at least preloaded with useful apps which include games, productivity
apps, maps, GPS, and more. As for the operating system, it is incomparable with
the Android OS 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) but the Nokia Belle OS is still fast
for a smart phone.
The
Verdict
If you’re looking for the
best mobile camera experience, then the Nokia 808 Pureview is the best in town
as of the moment. If you’re after apps, Android based phones are still the
champions although there are also options available in Symbian when it comes to
apps. If you need a phone for messaging and calls, then this device offers both
fun and formality. You decide. To conclude this Nokia 808 mobile review, I can rate the Nokia 808 Pureview a
9/10.
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