Head to Head
LG KG920 v NOKIA N95
LG KG920
SPECIFICATION
Size
Length 108mm
Width 50mm
Depth 18mm
Weight
138g
Main display
TFT, 256K colours, 240x320 pixels, 30x41mm
Camera
5mp, 2592x1944 pixels, autofocus, video (QVGA), strobe flash, 4x digital zoom
Connectivity
Triband GSM, Bluetooth 1.2, USB 1.1
Memory
8MB internal memory plus miniSD memory card slot (256MB supplied)
Battery
Standby 180 hours
Talk time 3 hours
Look and feel:
Brushed aluminium candybar styling looks professional, rounded edges feel camera-like. Body twists in half around the centre.
8/10
Externals:
Zoom, flash and timer buttons beside display on left; shutter button is on the corner above (which is the righthand corner when KG920 is used as a camera). Still/video selection from small round buds between the call buttons. Connectors for earpiece, charger and memory card behind individually pieced plastic doors on left edge.
8/10
Keyboard:
Unusual design-- keypad to one side, joypad to the other. Looks neat but takes some getting used to; keys are very small, too
7/10
Display:
Good – viewable even in direct sunlight.
8/10
Memory:
Just as well there’s a 256MB card supplied – internal memory of 8MB is risible, and 128MB shipped with the phone in some markets is inadequate.
7/10
Connectivity:
Disappointing. No 3G, no WiFI, slow USB, older Bluetooth 1.2 without stereo audio.
7/10
Camera:
Excellent spec, including just about all the controls of a basic digital camera, and photo quality (especially in daylight) was generally very good. But focus delay and shutter lag make quick snaps virtually impossible; sequence shots can’t be done at 5mp (you have to go to a lower resolution); can be tricky to select the right imaging mode.
7/10
Phone:
No problems with signal reception or call quality.
8/10
in use:
Very natural camera-like shutter position, though LCD screen and lens are both easily obscured by thumb and forefinger respectively. Texting is very awkward with the small keys, letters appear slowly on the screen.
8/10
Extras:
Voice recorder, decent MP3 player (equalizer presets, shuffle, 3.5mm earphone jack on), photo-and-video file album
7/10
WE LIKE:
• Camera capabilities (5mp, autofocus, macro)
• Camera-like styling and very natural shooting position
• Decent music player
WE DON’T LIKE:
• Unconventional, awkward keyboard
• Slow performance – eg on focussing, shutter, text display
• No 3G
Overall:
Very nearly an excellent cameraphone, let down by some design and performance flaws.
78%
NOKIA N95
SPECIFICATION
Size
Length 111.5mm
Width 62.5mm
Depth 12.8mm
Weight
130g
Main display
TFT touchscreen, 64K colours, 240x320 pixels, 50x37mm
Camera
5MP, 2592x1944 pixels, video (VGA), flash, 20x digital zoom; secondary CIF videocall camera
Connectivity
3G and HSDPA, triband GSM, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0, USB 2.0, IR
Memory
160MB internal memory plus microSD memory card slot (128MB supplied)
Battery
Standby 220 hours
Talk time 6.5 hours
Look and feel:
Classic Nokia – slightly retro feel but generally good ergonomics. Innovative two-way slider: move dial pad conventionally to make calls, slide in the other direction to expose keys for camera or music player.
7/10
Externals:
Camera lens on rear, video call camera on front (top right). Sides are clean and uncluttered – camera shutter, volume up/down rocker on one side; power, mini-USB port and headphones on the other.
8/10
Keyboard:
Classic Nokia. Well-differentiated keys with good tactile feedback, familiar navigation.
8/10
Display:
Doesn’t get much better than this – big screen, QVGA resolution, 16m colours, impressive 3D graphics. Very crisp in all light conditions.
9/10
Memory:
Generous: 160MB internal memory plus hot-swappable microSD card (up to 2GB, but included is one 128MB card).
9/10
Connectivity:
Just about everything bar the kitchen sink: 3G and HSDPA, triband GSM with EDGE, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0 with stereo support, USB 2.0 via pop port, even infrared
9/10
Camera:
5mp and a superb Carl Zeiss lens with autofocus and many imaging functions. Good daylight photos. Flash is surprisingly weak, though, and shutter lag is noticeable. Excellent hi-res video with little jerkiness.
7/10
Phone:
Good signal reception, average call quality. Battery life is excellent for such a well-specified device.
8/10
In use:
Very comfortable as a phone, excellent in landscape mode for viewing videos etc; feels slightly lightweight as a camera.
7/10
Extras:
Numerous, including built-in GPS with maps, good music player (with both stereo Bluetooth and 3.5mm jack), stereo FM radio .
8/10
WE LIKE:
• Clever two-way slider design
• Extras – generous memory, good MP3 playing, satnav (though it wasn’t working on the prototype we tested)
• Video recording and playback
WE DON’T LIKE:
• Not so comfortable to use a still camera
• Danger of over-complication – possibility or unexplained hanging (though not in our tests)
• Dull looks
Overall:
Difficult to pack any more capability into this compact device, but a real camera needs a more precise design than a jack-of-all-trades handset.