Key features:

* Massive storage space (8GB version)
* Symbian OS 9.2 S60 3.1 UI
* Wi-Fi support
* Unique gaming experience with the new N-Gage platform and dedicated gaming keys above the display
* Brilliant 2.4" 16M-color QVGA display
* 2 megapixel camera
* 3.5 mm audio jack
* Touch sensitive Navi wheel
* Dedicated music keys and hardware keypad lock switch
* 3G with video calls
* Nice multimedia menu

Main disadvantages:

* Mediocre camera
* Awkward D-pad
* Hefty weight
* Uncomfortable keypad
* No HSDPA

As you all know, there are two versions of the handset - standard and 8GB. The standard version features a memory card slot, the other has none but offers the exciting 8GB of onboard memory. We are looking at the Nokia N81 8GB but all of it holds true for the standard Nokia N81 as well. Therefore, from now on we are going to simply call it Nokia N81

Both versions of Nokia N81 have been in the spotlight ever since their official announcement at the Nokia Go Play Event in London back than in August. The air is getting thick with anticipation, as N81 seems to have earned quite a lot of fans. No wonder with a specs sheet like this, though we know better than taking anything for granted. After all, the question is whether performance cashes the checks written by the specs. Besides, we just couldn't wait to play a few games and see if those dedicated keys are worth the fuss.

Symbian goes flat

Nokia N81 is about the size of most other Finnish smartphones. It stands at 102 x 50 x 17.9 mm, which is almost identical to Nokia 5700 XpressMusic or Nokia 6110 Navigator. No need to fuss over a millimeter or two. The difference in weight however can't be overlooked, with the N81 weighing 15 grams more than the recently reviewed Navigator and good 25 grams more than the 5700 XpressMusic smartphone. Even Nokia's top multimedia device - the omnipresent N95 - is as much as 20 grams lighter. Not that it's too much of an issue, but there are a lot of people who don't want such a load in their pocket. In any case, the phone will be hard to squeeze in tighter pockets and, if dimensions are the most decisive factor when buying a phone, you will probably have to look elsewhere.

On a different note, the handset is of solid build, with high-quality sturdy materials used on the casing. The slider construction also seems very reliable though it somewhat lacks smoothness. All in all - the phone is a typical Nokia in that aspect.

Starting with the Nokia N81 front panel, at the top right corner is the video-call camera. Dead center at the top of the front side is an oblong plate with the earpiece right in its middle. The plate serves as a dual key (rocker) with the two gaming buttons on each of its sides. Invisible when not in use, the dedicated gaming buttons backlight in environments where they can be used. Under the gaming keys is the sparkling 2.4" display. It supports 16M colors and has a QVGA resolution. Offering stunning picture quality, the display ranks among the best even by Nokia's standards. Under the screen come a whole bunch of controls in what seems the most crowded of D-pads. The Navi Scroll key is the central element. It is truly unique for two reasons. Firstly, it offers the exceptional Navi wheel navigation and, secondly, its confirming center is very hard to press. This may sound unbelievable, especially given its ample size. In fact, it has to be pressed exactly in the center, otherwise the cursor will move before confirming. We did have some trouble with it and we have little hope that it's going to be fixed in the retail version. On the other hand, the Navi wheel is doing a truly amazing job but more on that later in the review. The square Navi Scroll key is framed within a larger pad with the four dedicated music keys at its angles. On the periphery of this frame-within-frame layout are the two soft keys (top), and the Menu key and Clear key (bottom). At the sides of the D-pad are the Call and End keys, placed on the sloping edges of the handset's front. Finally, on the right side of the scroll key we find the last control: the silver multimedia key. It has the same functionality as in Nokia N95 - opening a dedicated multimedia menu, which has been redecorated and is now looking even better and more convenient to use. Except for the multimedia key and the frame of the scroll key, all other buttons are completely flat. Regardless of their touch-sensitive disguise, they are actually regular hardware keys.[img]http://http://img816.imageshack.us/img81[/img]
Opening the slider reveals the numeric keypad, which just happens to be one of our greatest disappointments with Nokia N81. The keypad is entirely flat with almost undetectably thin lines separating each row of keys. If you had any hope of typing on Nokia N81 without constantly looking at you fingers, you'll be vastly disappointed. The keys themselves are quite large but still fail to resolve the usability issues of this keypad. Built on the concept of a new gaming experience, the N81 will likely attract the young and it is not the smartest decision by Nokia to make the phone so texting unfriendly. After all, SMS is key to exactly this age group, which the N81 seems to be targeting and keen texters wouldn't appreciate having to put so much effort into it.

Picture perfect

When we speak about phones, a 2.4" inch display is well worth a praise. With N81 and the N-Gage gaming experience it offers, the 2.4" display with 16M colors and QVGA resolution seems the spot-on choice. The display on Nokia N81 has great sunlight legibility, incredible picture quality and is large enough for everyone to see. You can hardly want any more even in this price range.

Symbian with a pinch of fun

Nokia N81 is running on Symbian 9.2 OS and uses the well known S60 3rd edition graphic user interface. The improved Feature Pack 1 is no news anymore, as all recent Nokia smartphones are equipped with it. Among the strong points of the FP1 is the availability of multiple alarms, as well as the voice memo limit increase to a whole hour. Furthermore, it displays blue circles on running applications' icons to remind you to turn them off when you don't need them any more. No one wants used up RAM to slow down their smartphone. All that said, we need to mention that Nokia N81 is armed with the fastest Nokia processor to date (ARM 11, 369 MHz). The same CPU powers the Nokia 6120 Classic and Nokia 5700. Navigating the menus is very fast. All the commands are executed in an instant, which greatly contributes to the impression N81 leaves.

Audio quality test

Being able to listen to your favorite tracks is one thing but playing them properly is completely different. We were more than glad to realize that Nokia N81 is good at both. Our audio quality test showed very good results and convinced us that Nokia N81 is a real step forward for Nokia in this aspect. It is way better than Nokia 7500 Prism, which we recently tested. The Nokia 6110 Navigator worthies nowhere near such a comparison. More details about the test itself here. And there go the results,

Camera reduced in rank

It's astonishing that Nokia has decided to integrate a 2 megapixel fixed focus camera into the Nokia N81, instead of trying to close the gap in the three megapixel race. But let's leave our frustration aside and continue the camera test.

The camera interface looks identical to the one found in the Finnish multimedia flagship Nokia N95. The camera options are shown with small icons near the lower end of the screen. These can be hidden to make full use of the display as a viewfinder. The main camera only shoots in landscape mode which is easily explainable by the position of the dedicated camera key. Besides, it feels far more natural to take pictures this way. Camera settings are identical to the one on Nokia N95 with one nice addition - grid lines can now be added to the viewfinder. You can use them to help compose your snapshots like a pro - the photography rule-of-thirds is that you should place your main subject either along these lines or at the points where they intersect. The rule-of-thirds also applies to landscape shots. There you should have the sky occupying either one third or two thirds of the frame. The other change made goes without saying - macro mode is not present due to the lack of autofocus on Nokia N81. Luckily the customizable ISO settings, white balance and scene modes are still present. Finally we need to mention that the dedicated camera button could be a bit bigger and easier to press. As it is with this phone, you either need to look at it or spend a few seconds finding it with your fingertips.

Get yourself connected

Connectivity is definitely among the Nokia N81 priorities. A microUSB port is in charge of cable connections. If you do not have the required cable, you can always rely on Bluetooth v2.0 or Wi-Fi. In addition, there is a rich choice of network selections - GPRS, EDGE and UMTS are all present. We felt sorry that HSDPA has been missed out this time, but we could live with it, having all those alternatives at hand. The N81 8GB lacks a card slot too but, as we see it, card readers are rarely used for transferring data from and to a mobile, so it is not a big deal.

N-GAGE gaming

Nokia N81 will come with three preinstalled games. All of them are based on the new N-gage platform and even the demo versions promise a pleasant pastime. The keys above the display also contribute to the improved gaming experience. You can take a look at our videos for a feel of the games on N81. At this stage purchasing the full games from the N-gage site is not yet available but it's expected to start in the nearest future. Then we'll also know what a game would cost to buy. It is sure however, that these games will excel at both graphics and interface and, as the list of expected titles shows, there will be something for everyone.