So how do you choose between these two phones that seem to offer almost everything you want? We compare some of their features to help you decide which one will suit you best:

• First impressions: design, size and weight
• Using the phone: interface and data entry
• Getting connected
• Applications
• Practical matters, such as battery life and storage
• Summary of Differences between the Apple iPhone and Nokia N95

Bear in mind, though, that these comparisons are based on the specifications of the iPhone in the US as the European specs were not available at the time of writing.

First impressions

Just like your clothes, the design of the phone you carry can make an immediate impression on others. And with its reputation for design, it’s not surprising that Apple’s iPhone was eagerly awaited by those who really care how their mobile phone looks. It didn’t disappoint. The handset is slim and beautifully crafted, and measures a mere 11.6mm thick.

The N95, on the other hand, has a “dual slide” design, meaning that the back can slide both ways to reveal extra keys, depending on the features you want to use. This, though, makes it almost twice as thick as the iPhone at 21mm. Face on, however, the iPhone is larger at 115x61mm compared to the Nokia’s 99x53mm, and the iPhone weighs slightly more too, at 135 grams versus the N95 at 120g (although the latest N95, announced at the end of August 2007, will be almost the same at 128g).

On both devices the screen takes up most of the front of the device. The iPhone’s screen is a huge 3.5in (diagonal) display with a resolution of 480 by 320 pixels at 160dpi. The screen on the N95 is just 2.6in (2.8in on the new 8Gb model) with a resolution of 240x320.

If you are looking for something slim and stylish, with a very large screen, the iPhone is clearly a winner as the N95’s design simply isn’t as good. The weight difference isn’t really noticeable, but you may just want to check that the iPhone’s longer, wider design suits your pockets.

Back to top

Using the phone

Here’s where you see the clearest distinction between the two handsets. The iPhone has just one physical Home key set below the screen. Everything else is controlled by using your fingers on the touchscreen. This can involve single or double taps, or sliding one or two fingers across the screen, depending on the function you are using. Some controls are intuitive, others less so, so whether the iPhone will suit you depends on your willingness to learn the moves and to use both hands occasionally to control it (whereas these days many people consider a phone to be a one-handed device). That said, the iPhone’s interface is generally intuitive and makes the most of its large screen.

The N95, on the other hand, sports a set of keys on the front of the device with two others, one at either end of the slide-out lower half: one set comprises media keys and the other a numeric keypad. You will need to learn how to use the main keypad with all the phone’s various functions, but if you prefer keys to a touchscreen, this is a better phone for you.

If you are undecided, get your hands on both models and try them out. Also, be realistic about which functions you will use most and consider how you prefer to interact with them. You may prefer physical keys if you send a lot of texts, for example, but a touchscreen if you do a lot of web browsing.

Both devices let you use the large screen in landscape format for some functions, such as surfing the Web.

Back to top

Getting connected

Any preference you have for a network operator may affect your choice of handset as Apple’s iPhone probably won’t be available to work with all networks in the UK.

The N95 features a whole host of actual connectivity options, including WiFi, Bluetooth, infrared and HSDPA. It’s been lauded by those who regretted Apple’s decision not to design the iPhone as a 3G model, even though it offers WiFi, EDGE and Bluetooth (but not stereo Bluetooth). However, the iPhone that launches in the UK could yet be a 3G device.

Back to top

Applications

Both of these handsets are so packed with functions that it’s a travesty to simply call them mobile phones. Take a look at the listings on PriceRunner to see a full set, which includes email, web browsing, music, maps and a camera

Apple clearly has a lot of experience with music players and the iPhone is an iPod in its own right that makes the most of the huge screen and integrates fully with iTunes on PCs and Macs, albeit having much less storage than a dedicated iPod. The N95 does play music but only works with iTunes on the Mac: PC users have to use Nokia Music Manager.

When it comes to the camera, the N95 has specs that blow away the iPhone. It has a 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, LED flash and a lens cover, and can record MPEG-4 VGA video as well as still images. It also has a secondary, lower resolution camera for video calling and portrait-mode use. The iPhone, on the other hand, has just a 2 megapixel camera and can’t record video. With no optical zoom, neither fully replaces a dedicated camera, but the Nokia’s specs are far better.

Apple’s iPhone offers Google maps if you want to use your phone to fund your way around, but again the N95 wins out by offering built-in GPS satellite navigation. It’s really designed for use as a handheld GPS device, but it may be possible to use it in a car if you position it carefully.

Back to top

Practical matters

All these great functions are useless if your phone keeps running out of battery life. The quoted talk time for a Nokia N95 is up to 160 minutes if you are using WCDMA or up to 240 minutes on GSM, while Apple claims twice as much; up to 8 hours for the iPhone. The N95’s standby time is said to be up to 200/225 hours (WCDMA/GSM) while the iPhone offers up to 250 hours.

However, you should trawl the reviews and ask in the PriceRunner forum to find realistic battery lifetimes for the combination of features you are likely to use. Heavy users of either phone may find they have to recharge it every night.

You might also want to look at the storage. The iPhones were launched with 4Gb or 8Gb while the N95 is set to move from shipping with 2Gb to 8Gb as standard. However, although it has up to 160Mb internal dynamic memory, the rest of the N95’s storage is on a microSD memory card, allowing heavyweight users to upgrade their storage.

Back to top

Summary of Differences between the Apple iPhone and Nokia N95

Feature	Nokia N95	Apple iPhone
Size(mm)	99x53x21 (100x52x21 for 8Gb version)	115x61x11.6
Weight(gm)	120 (129g for 8Gb version)	135
Screen size (diagonal in inches)	2.6 (2.8 on 8Gb model)	3.5
Resolution	320x240 pixels	480x320 pixels
Screen: portrait and landscape use?	Yes	Yes
Keypads	Three: one on the front, plus set of media keys and numeric keypad, each revealed by sliding the phone.	Home key: everything else controlled by using the touchscreen
Music player	MP3	iPod; integrates with iTunes on PC or Mac
Web browser	Nokia Web Browser	Safari
Camera	5.0 megapixels (primary); 2.0 megapixel (secondary)	2.0 megapixels
GPS	Yes	No but includes mapping function
Connectivity	Quad band GSM; WCDMA (3G); WiFi (802.11b/g); Bluetooth; USB; GPRS; EDGE;	Quad-band GSM; WiFi (802.11b/g); EDGE; Bluetooth
Memory	Either 8Gb flash or 160Mb internal and up to 4Gb microSD card	8Gb flash
Battery life (quoted)	Talk time: up to 5 hours (model and network dependent)Standby: up to 280 hours (model and network dependent)	Talk time: up to 8 hours Standby: up to 250 hours
Network operator	All	02

This buying guide was last updated on 4th December 2007 by:
Roxanna Maynard
PriceRunner Content Manager

Back to top

Useful Links

iPhone Tariffs

Nokia N95 Tariffs

Mobile Phones Buying Guide

Popular Discussions

Apple iPhone Discussions

iPhone vs. Nokia N95

Poll

iPhone vs. Nokia N95 - which would you choose?