NOKIA 808 PureView Pro Reviews

When we started this article we thought that the Samsung Galaxy Camera and the Nokia 808 PureView might have a lot in common - a great camera package with a smartphone OS to extend their functionality. It turns out that they are pretty different and will get different people interested. The Galaxy Camera is great for the social networking photographers. With built-in 3G or LTE you can upload photos straight to Instagram or Facebook or Twitter or Google+ or anything really - we can't think of a popular web service that lacks Android support. Then there are things like instant upload, image editors, IM clients and everything else in the Google Play Store. When it comes to actual camera features, the Galaxy Camera offers impressively long zoom, manual controls, as well as 60fps and 120fps slow-motion videos that are nothing short of impressive and unmatched by phones (too bad YouTube doesn't support them). It also has the best screen in the camera world - by far. It's not all good though - the Camera is bigger than most micro four thirds and costs as much. Most disappointingly, it is miles behind them in terms of actual quality.

At present this is all rather hypothetical anyway, yes you can buy the PureView for around £500 SIM-free in the UK, but as the handset is based upon the old Symbian operating system, we can't see anyone trading in their Android or iOS device for this phone. Of course that would all change should we see a Windows 8 Phone PureView handset in the near future at a competitive price. In fact it could finally be the edge that Microsoft and Nokia have been looking for to make serious inroads into the smartphone market.

The Nokia 808 PureView is the best cameraphone out there, but you'll have to be willing to forgo the simplicity, function and comfort of competing smartphones if you intend to own it. You also have to be seriously imaging-obsessed to handle this as your daily driver. While Nokia has made some effort to make image sharing painless, these features are still limited, with constrained options and an OS that often collapses under the weight of even moderate demands. In general, you might hear reviewers toss around clichés like "setting new benchmarks" and "peerless results," but in this case, all these platitudes ring true. The 808's low-noise shots, even in dim light, and its loss-less digital zoom features roar. Throw in the superb video and audio recording performance and you have have a clear cameraphone champion. The problem is, it's one that demands a more capable and (future-facing) operating system.

The short and bittersweet conclusion is this: Nokia has produced the greatest cameraphone ever and saddled it with the most antiquated and frustrating OS it could find. You’ll be as astonished by the 808 PureView’s image quality as you will be by Nokia’s audacity in shipping a phone with a dead end operating system that should have been retired from duty years ago. A careful reading of this review will reveal that I haven’t once referred to the 808 PureView as a smartphone. Smartphones are supposed to let you take your email and web browsing on the move with you, whereas the 808 does the first of those things poorly and the second atrociously. Lacking in compelling apps, staring into an abyss of negligible future support, and being fundamentally unpleasant to use, Symbian in 2012 is a sick joke played at the user’s expense.

Nokia can really say that they have accomplished their mission. Espoo said they waited for someone to steal the crown from the Nokia N8 and, after waiting and waiting, they decided to make a product that would allow them to steal it themselves. There is absolutely no doubt that the 808 PureView is the best camera phone money can buy at the moment. But should you buy the 808 PureView or should you go with a dedicated camera? Surely, the 808 PureView is a smartphone but a “smart camera” description would better suit it (a camera which can make phone calls, send e-mails and run applications). If you are not a power user and your daily usage implies using the phone, sending e-mails, texts, listening to music, snapping pictures and recording videos plus the occasional navigation, this phone is for you. This phone is also for you if you already have the Nokia N8 and you want to keep it Symbian, while upgrading your hardware. However, if smartphone functionality is more important for you than the camera, you should probably either pass on this one if you are completely uninterested or wait for the PureView technology to come to Windows Phone if the platform is the only thing that holds you back (however, the 41-megapixel sensor might not make it to other platforms even if the PureView technology will). If you are a casual photographer, again, this phone is for you, if you always carry your entry-level camera and a phone with you. Professional photographers will not give up their gear for the 808 PureView, and they really shouldn’t. At the end of the day, the 808 PureView might only be a proof of concept, a pioneer, or a soon to become collector’s item, but Nokia surely managed to step up the game in a serious way!

The Nokia 808 PureView is getting a lot of attention - if nothing else, the Finns have sparked people's curiosity to unprecedented levels. This review is just the latest in a series of articles we've posted to try and cover every aspect of the most impressive cameraphone we've ever seen. The camera is of course the single most prominent feature of the 808 - both in terms of physical appearance and level of interest. It beats every other phone camera at still photography and the flexibility offered by the camcorder is unmatched. And don't forget the zoom - the loss-less digital zoom alone is enough of a reason to make this cameraphone a great buy. In good light you can stand next to someone with a DSLR and keep your chin up. And with its xenon flash, the PureView comes out smiling even in most low-light scenarios. The Symbian experience is light years ahead of what it was on the 5800 XpressMusic. The OS has caught with to the competition with numerous UI and usability updates, and it's lightweight enough so even the 1.3GHz single-core processor of old architecture delivers a fast, fluid experience.

There are inexpensive compact cameras that offer more photographer-friendly features than the 808, but as a cameraphone, the Nokia blows its competition out of the water, and significantly narrows the gap between dedicated cameras and portable communications devices to the point where ultimate convergence seems all but inevitable (and probably sooner than some commentators had realised). Nokia didn't release the 808 PureView in the hope of making much of a dent in the smartphone market - the Symbian operating system is obsolete, and Nokia's future plans are focussed on Microsoft's Windows Phone OS. If you want an 808 in the USA, you'll have to pay full price ($699) since no carrier (to date) is subsidizing the hardware through contracts on this side of the Atlantic. But while the Nokia 808 might not be an iPhone or Samsung Galaxy killer, it is a fascinating and compelling product, and one that has added a definite shine to Nokia's reputation in the tech industry, which was looking a little tarnished, to say the least. The 808 proves that Nokia can innovate, and its PureView technology has piqued the interest of serious photographers, being one of the most important innovations - arguable the most important - in mobile photography since the smarphone era dawned five or so years ago. As such, the 808 is intriguing not just in itself, but because of what it represents. Things could be about to get interesting...

Nokia 808 PureView review - As Nokia's SymThe Nokia 808 PureView is not for everyone, mainly due to its high SIM free price and lack of availability through UK operators. The Nokia 808 PureView is not for everyone, mainly due to its high SIM free price and lack of availability through UK operators. For those of you out there that loved your Nokia N8s with its 12MP camera you'll love the Nokia 808 PureView with its 41MP camera and increased display and storage capacity.

Truly staggering camera technology - it's such a shame Nokia chose to debut it on such an underwhelming smartphone

The Nokia PureView 808 offers exceptional image quality in the PureView (PV) mode, with significantly better image quality than other 8 megapixel camera phones. It's also impressive how much zoom is available in PV and video modes, however, you don't really spend nearly £500 on a 12 or 8 megapixel camera phone, particularly one running Sysmbian's operating system. In fact a number of competitors are available for less with 8 or 12 megapixel cameras running the latest versions of Andoid, such as the HTC One X, and Sony Satio S (12mp). The headline feature of the Nokia PureView 808 is the large 41 megapixel sensor. This provides the pureview benefits as discussed above, but also gives 38 megapixel 4:3 aspect 28mm photos, as well as 34 megapixel 16:9 aspect 26mm photos. The level of detail visible in these photos when shooting conditions are right is phenomenal, as you can see things in shot that you simply weren't aware of before taking the photo.

The Nokia 808 PureView is a phone that excites and disappoints all at the same time. Its lackluster hardware, dated and clunky operating system, and lack of available apps make it difficult for anyone but the most die-hard Symbian fans to make it a daily driver. The $700 price tag and lack of support for 4G networks doesn't help there either. But, my oh my is that camera something to behold. To say that it is a breakthrough in imaging technology can only be considered an understatement. Nokia has promised that it will bring the PureView to its Lumia line of Windows Phone smartphones in the future. Unfortunately, the company hasn't said exactly when that will happen. Rest assured, however, once the PureView camera is available on a more modern smartphone, I'll be lined up to buy one. You can order the Nokia 808 PureView from Amazon for $699 now.

There will no doubt be people who will tell you that Symbian is out-classed by Android and iOS. In terms of apps, and perhaps the quality of the developer ecosystem, they are probably correct. But the fact is, the 808 comes to you as a feature-complete phone, with some lovely extras and the best camera ever fitted to a mobile phone. Almost everything about the 808 is well designed, and it comes from Symbian being a well-established and solid operating system. Sure, there are some irritations, like the SMS system being a bit clunky, and there are still menus in Symbian that make absolutely no logical sense whatsoever. The 808 was never intended to be an iPhone or an Android handset. It was a technology showcase for something that will start appearing in all manner of new phones, and beyond, over the next few years. Assuming Nokia can survive the current storm. Like all of the company's hardware, it's excellently constructed and feels like it could last 100 years.

We are arriving back to our introductory question now, and it was whether some might swap or go directly for the Nokia 808 PureView before the iPhone 4S. Given that the price is about the same, the answer would be yes only if you are a shutterbug, or just very curious to try the outstanding PureView sensor. The arguments are that Nokia Belle is leaps ahead of what Symbian used to be, supporting multiple homescreens, widgets and a notification bar, but is still no match for the fluidity of iOS, not to mention the power of many thousands of quality apps that the Nokia Store doesn't have much to show for. The Nokia 808 PureView has the advantage of its free offline voice-guided navigation Nokia Drive, though, which saves you a few tens that you'll need to buy a good standalone navigation app on iOS. A big hindrance is also the lousy screen resolution that those Nokia apps are written for, and which makes both the interface and even the best apps look quite outdated in comparison with what's out there for the Retina Display of the iPhone 4S. The design of the Nokia 808 PureView also looks pretty outdated next to the exclusive iPhone 4S chassis. Still, it feels like a solid function-before-form device, and is more versatile in terms of connectivity and expandability, offering a removable battery and a microSD slot. What might make you fall in love with the Nokia 808 PureView and forget about all of its disadvantages in comparison with a modern mobile OS smartphone like the iPhone 4S, however, is that groundbreaking PureView camera technology. While it might not make you switch your Apple handset, especially if you are design-conscious and deep into the iTunes ecosystem, it might certainly make you consider it a choice when you go on vacation or on your next night out, that's how good the 41MP PureView sensor is.

If you are not shutter-happy, the Nokia 808 PureView might be quickly put in the drawer and taken out only for occasions, going out and vacations, if you have the Samsung Galaxy S III as your daily driver. The flexibility of Android, planted in the thin and compact body with a gargantuan 4.8” Super AMOLED HD display and the addition of special features like Pop Up Play make the Samsung Galaxy S III a much better choice. About the only advantage the 808 PureView has in terms of software is the free offline voice-guided navigation of Nokia Drive that comes with it. In terms of hardware, however, despite that the silicon which powers the Galaxy S III is way ahead of what's inside Nokia's handset, we have one area where Nokia's handset has a huge advantage. The 41MP PureView camera is the best ever made for smartphones. The loudspeaker and the Rich Recording stereo audio are much better on Nokia's phone too. The sensor is so good, that a few botched party or holiday shots and videos with the Galaxy S III, where the Nokia 808 PureView would have passed with flying colors, might make you reconsider how much design and apps you actually need. If you are not the one for photos or videos, well, then the Galaxy S III will be an easy pick before the Nokia 808 PureView, especially in light of the comparable pricing.

Viewed as a modern phone, the 808 PureView is a recipe for frustration. It’s heavy and chunky, the screen lacks pixels, Nokia Belle is short on apps and long on aggravation, and even those apps that are onboard run with varying degrees of wretchedness on the wheezing processor. When the 808 starts to make more sense is when you flip it around, and consider it not so much a phone with an amazing camera, but an amazing camera with a 3G internet connection. With such mundane matters as messaging, internet browsing, multimedia and apps left to a more flexible (but less photographically-capable) platform like iOS or Android, that frees up the 808 PureView to do what it undoubtedly does best: take awesome photos and video. If you can find space in your pocket or bag for two phones, and you’re a keen shutterbug, then there are huge advantages to using the 808 rather than your regular phone camera.

We admit that we paid the bulk of our attention in the review to the camera on the Nokia 808 PureView, because we were mesmerized by what the 41MP module is capable of. As a phone the handset functions as good as it gets with Symbian, especially if you have some experience with this mobile OS, then your basics will be covered, otherwise the learning curve might be steep. To somewhat compensate for the comparatively clunky interface and apps, the 808 PureView carries the free offline navigation of Nokia Drive in most countries worldwide. Frankly, we are in awe of what Nokia has produced with the camera in this phone. The achievement makes us optimistic about its future flagships, despite the major turnaround that is going on at the company now. Even in today’s breakneck smartphone industry, it’s been a long time since we saw true innovation - something that is leaps and bounds ahead of the competition, with no chance of being replicated in a few months by everybody, as was the case with dual-core processors or HD screens - the main hardware innovations in the last two years.

Nokia's 808 PureView is best described as a camera with a phone in it. A 41-megapixel camera to be precise. Though its imaging capabilities certainly sound impressive, the 808 PureView's Symbian software will determine whether or not it becomes a success.