• Nokia N97 mini [Review] (Updated!)

    Nokia N97 mini [Review] (Updated!)

    Prasad Naik, Dec 08, 2009 1600 hrs IST

    A smaller, cheaper and equally well performing version of N97

    Build quality, sharp, high resolution display, full QWERTY keypad, connectivity options, audio quality, high quality supplied earphones, 8GB built-in memory, good pre-installed apps and widgets

    Poor display visibility under sunlight, unimpressive camera performance, resistive touchscreen response not up to the mark, interface design not intuitive, slow scrolling in web browser

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Design & Construction

Unless you are a geek who loves to keep track of all that is happening in the mobile phone world and have keen eyesight, chances are you won't be able to differentiate the N97 mini from the standard N97. This isn't exactly a bad thing, as the standard N97 isn't a bad looking phone. However, when told, most people noticed that the size difference is not much. But then again, the N97 wasn't exactly a huge phone to begin with and considering that the N97 mini has almost all the features of the N97, including the slide-out QWERTY keypad, you could excuse it for not being much smaller.

But despite there being a minor size reduction, the N97 mini lacks the overwhelming nature of the N97 design, which makes it better to use for day-to-day functions. It also looks a bit trendier, despite having the same basic design, perhaps due to the colour scheme used. The N97 mini is available in Cherry Black (the one that we got), Garnet and White.  

On the front of the phone, you can see almost the exact same arrangement of features as on the standard N97. Nokia has just printed 'N97' above the display instead of N97 mini, which makes it even more difficult to differentiate between the two. 



Just like on the N97, the N97 mini has the resistive touchscreen layer all over the front surface, and the only thing that sticks out is the main menu key. On the top of the large touchscreen you'll find the earpiece, proximity sensor, 3G video call camera and the display light sensor. Below is the main menu key, which has a slightly different pattern etched on it than the N97 and looks more like the one on the N86 8MP. Then there are the Call and End keys, which are actually touch sensitive and not mechanical keys like the main menu key. Around the front surface is a chrome surround finished in a nice shade of bronze.

 Just like the N97, there is plenty to see along the sides of the N97 mini. On the top is the power button, which also doubles as the profile switcher, and the 3.5mm headphone jack. On the right side are the volume keys and the camera shutter keys. On the bottom you'll find the holes for connecting the lanyard. On the left side is the microUSB port with a charging indicating lamp. The phone can charge over USB and the charger has a USB jack to it. The USB port on the N97 mini, for some reason, has been turned upside down as compared to the one on the N97. There is also the sliding phone lock switch and the two stereo speakers placed on the extreme edges for maximum stereo separation. 







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Nokia N97 mini Review mobile phone Nokia N97 mini S60 5th edition symbian smartphone touchscreen phone QWERTY keypad N97



Discussion Board
(32) Comments
Anshuman
,Hyderabad, on Aug 08, 2011 01:13 AM
Nokia should be shameful and shoul aplogise to the customers who has bought N97 Mini. It is such a pathetic phone, lacks on every other feature you can think of...very annoying thing is when you are talking at that time the screen will go blank, you cannot use dial pad or any thing, screen lock-unlock will just not work... overall it would be such a horrible experience to use this. Never ever buy this model, and as long as for me....I have already smashed the phone on the wall and will never ever buy any Nokia phones.
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sujala
,bangalore, on Aug 13, 2010 12:37 AM
n97 mini sucks big time....pls dont buy any nokia phones. i had an horrible experience...my n97 mini keeps restarting and even though its in warranty period the so called nokia care center people didnt bother to replace it. i have already given it 4 times for service and those service assholes,fools,dumbasses keep telling this time we know wat to do and make us customers to shut up. but the phone has never been better. still the same problem....one more time if it happens then i am going to the consumer court.. guys pls dont buy nokia phones. it really is an headache . my friends also face the same problems. they never value their customers!!!!
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Arjun
,Kurukshetra, on Feb 09, 2011 04:12 PM
And so does the tech review team. Mr/Ms. Head of techtree....please chuck your tech analysis team out who happen to be Nokia agents...I hope you dont hv someone like nira radia influencing your decision to retain them. This fone is a nightmare. The displays could get lost on its will ( now i know that fones have soul and brain..they decide when to hang up on you)..the camera is shitty and the battey...Kya kehna
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RAJESH GEORGE
,TRICHUR, on Aug 12, 2010 04:13 PM
I am totally disatisfied with the performance of mini. Sound gets jarred. range is an issue, where other nokia hand sets have range but not our mini>..!
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satya
,Bangalore, on Apr 06, 2010 12:46 PM
one of my colleague bought it today for 19.5K, very good, no problem with sliding (for @sk2002..
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sk2002
,mumbai, on Mar 05, 2010 10:32 PM
does the n97 mini have a problem with its sliding mechanism. I just heard from someone that it has a tendency to fail
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nipurn
,calicut, on Feb 16, 2010 11:41 PM
when is n900 launching in india and hows it as compared to n97
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Anonymous
,nnn, on Dec 08, 2009 08:08 PM
nokia suks big tym....
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Lal
,BPL, on Jan 21, 2010 10:26 PM
Lot.. i heard from you all.. now here is a true response.. mini is just as good as its name is, its mini.. camera is really a drawback for nokia as batteries were for sony. Missing stylus really makes it difficult some times to punch as the touch screen is not so responding. Although the price has now reduced considerabely so this can be considered as a good buy.
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Rabih
,Beirut, on Dec 10, 2009 05:09 PM
what's the difference betwen the N97 and the mini one?
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Pankaj Ramnani
,Ghaziabad, on Jan 18, 2010 10:55 PM
You such a loser man !! after reading such a huge article , u say whats the difference !! C'mon get a life !!
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Anonymous
,wb, on Dec 09, 2009 03:08 AM
Unless the price of mini drops considerably, n97 is much better buy. It has larger screen, tons of more memory, larger battery, a d pad, lens cover. I think most will be able to live with a little bit extra bulk.
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Pankaj Ramnani
,Ghaziabad, on Jan 18, 2010 10:54 PM
Plus an FM transmitter !! That's one of the best features which is missing in the Mini ! Its like iTrip on a mobile !!
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glasgow!
,glasgow!, on Jan 13, 2010 10:55 PM
the n97 mini is great but wish it had a stylus :(
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SAURABHA
,Hyderabad, on Dec 28, 2009 10:30 AM
Which one is better n97 mini or omnia pro b7610. The major difference I could figure out is the processor speed, Operating system, screen type, size & resolution, Battery power internal memory & RAM. In all the above mentioned difference Samsung is better except the Internal storage (mini has 8 GB and omnia has 2 GB). Feature wise Omnia has Business card reader, Document editor, DivX certified and mobile tracker where as mini has Digital compass, Document Viewer, Flash Lite 3. Also, Omnia is cheaper than mini around 1.5 to 2K. My major requirements are A-GPS, E-book / PDF viewer / reader, E-mail and calendar synch, Wi-Fi, Camera (not much) and build quality (my mobile falls on an average once or twice in a week). Can anybody help who has used both the phones?
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avanindra
,bareilly, on Dec 25, 2009 11:32 PM
kabbi kisi ladaki ko apne girlfriend ke bare mein mat batao agar batao to use hamesha sach mat batao kabhi vishwas nahi karegi
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Shehan
,Hobart, on Dec 22, 2009 03:21 PM
While testing out the phone was there any problem with lag??? This phone has a 434 MHz processor and 128 Mb ram while the competition has much more (Iphone - 256 MB ram, 600 MHz). Does this effect the phone?
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Prasad Naik
,Mumbai, on Dec 23, 2009 10:39 AM
No, the phone is fairly fast without any lag as such. As for the processor speed, it is perfectly fine for the operating system that the N97 mini uses.
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kellie
,boton, on Dec 13, 2009 06:56 AM
i'm getting this phone for christmas mega excited it's soo little and cute AHH CHRISTMAS HURRYYY :)
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naushaad bera
,dundee, on Dec 11, 2009 08:07 PM
wheres the stylus ( pen ) that should have come with the n97 mini like the standard n97 ...... ?
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Prasad Naik
,Mumbai, on Dec 11, 2009 08:40 PM
The N97 mini does not come with any stylus, unlike the standard N97.
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Anonymous
,Mumbai, on Dec 11, 2009 07:15 PM
Hey Prasad ! Please review samsung b7610 Omniapro which sells in mumbai Rs 22,000 , its true value for money - touchscreen , qwerty , windows 6.1, UI superb , 5 MP camera ********* Far better than trash nokia n97 mini or n97 .
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COYS
,London, on Dec 10, 2009 11:02 AM
mixed feelings on this phone. The os is awful, very sluggish and the menus and settings are a mess quite frankly. Lots of bugs which I hope nokia fix soon but not sure they will. Screen resolution is really good but the touchscreen function can be unresponsive and incomsistent as per the review. Overall i have mixed feelings as clearly the phone has some good functions but its use is hampered by the poor os and several bugs. Had to return my 1st one because of the camera fault mentioned in the review and debating on whether to return my second one unless i believe nokia will sort out the bugs with a firmware upgrade. Probably should have got an iphone.
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Joe
,Covai, on Dec 10, 2009 10:23 AM
Hi Techtree, could you please review Nokia E72.
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roshan
,bangalore, on Dec 10, 2009 10:07 AM
please review samsung omnia pro b7610.
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Dave
,place, on Dec 08, 2009 11:12 PM
I have seriously gotta disagree with some of the stuff you said. 1. The camera is very impressive for 5 megapixels, the carl zeiss lenz in amazing. 2. The headphones are totally shit. 3. The screen is extremely well responsive even for me and this is my first touch screen phone. 4 And the slow scrolling during web browsing is really a thing that depends on were you are in terms of connection. I've had the phone for a month now, and im very happy with it. Would definetly reccomend it to people who are interested and I just cant see why people keep slagging off this excellent little piece of technology.
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MiniMan
,Mumbai, on Dec 09, 2009 01:18 AM
I agree with you .. Did this guy even use the camera ? Screen is actually pretty good.
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Rayn
,Riyadh, on Dec 09, 2009 03:39 PM
Yes I too agree.This phone is very easy to use and has twin benefits of a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and a large ultra-hi-res touchscreen.The camera is the same as the one on the N97, which in turn is essentially the same as the camera in the old N96. But it's an excellent camera nevertheless, and outperforms most smartphones. The sensor is a respectable 5 megapixels, but it's the quality of the Carl Zeiss optics that makes it perform so well. The dual LED flash isn't as powerful as the xenon flash on other competitive brands, but it's more than a match for most camera phones. Video recording is excellent too, with the ability to record at VGA format.The only drawback is the OS,Symbian phones often have a tendency to freeze or reboot at the most annoying times, and the N97 was no exception.The price tag seems high compaired to N97 brother,but i think it will drop to another 4k. This N97 Mini is a perfect example of an intelligent compromise. Yes, the screen is smaller, the battery life is shorter. But the phone is significantly slimmer, lighter and quite a bit cheaper too, bringing the power of the N97 within reach of a whole new market segment.
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Vinod
,mumbai, on Dec 09, 2009 01:12 PM
simply a waste of money. are these at nokia crazy?it seems they think we indians are fools.nokia n97 as far i am concerned is a complete disaster. now comes the mini. can't understand the logic. wait for the nokia n900, if at all they officially make it available. it is a vailable in the grey market for arnd 43k. a great peice of hardware.
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Sanjay Narang
,New Delhi, on Dec 09, 2009 10:09 AM
Whats the point of releasing this phone when the price difference is not that much? Someone please tight those loose bolts in NOKIA people heads so that they can understand what price they should keep. IF u compare both phones, u 'll find that for 3K more N97 is still the better buy( U get 32GB space over 8GB & better battery life)!
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inuggshopping
,DY, on Dec 09, 2009 09:14 AM
great!!
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Anonymous
,xyz, on Dec 08, 2009 04:44 PM
Nice
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