For: Superb build quality; manual keypad lock and support for various audio formats.

Against: Weight and price lower the phone's appeal; Crowded keypad.



Specifications: Dimensions (WxHxD mm): 55.2x113.1x22, Weight: 165 gms, Network: UMTS, GSM 900/1800/1900, Display: 176x208 pixels, Ringtones: 64 channel polyphonic, System Memory: 30 MB, Storage: 4 GB microdrive, supports GPRS, EDGE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, mini USB, Visual Radio, Audio Output: 3.5 mm jack



Nokia’s N-series phones epitomize entertainment—communication playing more of a facilitator’s role. The N91 stands out of the lot mainly because of its storage capacity and the medium it uses to provide so much space—4 GB on a microdrive. But frankly, there is more to it than just oodles of song storing.



Features and applications

Apart from providing storage space for over a thousand songs (assuming the songs are encoded at 128 kbps and are 3.5 MB in size), the N91 comes loaded with some powerful features. Its “active desktop” is similar to that of the N70 with shortcuts to contacts, messages, calendar, visual radio, camera and the built-in web browser. You will never run out of space for saving all your contacts—30 MB is quite generous. (It is a 3rd edition Series 60 phone that comes installed with Symbian OS v9.1). On the messaging and e-mail front, the phone supports POP3, SMTP and IMAP accounts. This means you can access mail accounts that use any of these protocols. Photos taken with the 2 MP camera produces decent results at 1600x1200. Video clips are recorded at a maximum resolution of 352x288. Real Player is used to play any video you record onto this device. It supports the video that is encoded in H.263, 3GPP or MPEG-4 format. The phone supports an array of popular PC and mobile formats for playing music such as MP3, AAC/AAC+, WAV, WMA, M4A, AWB, AMR and AWB. You can change your shortcuts, re-assign the key functions and set voice commands to contacts as well as applications. The Standby and Music service always runs in the background at any point of time. The music continues to play even when you’re using applications like the camera, for instance, and pauses while in the video mode. Visual Radio is new and has recently been introduced only in New Delhi—so the rest of us will have to access regular stations. The connectivity options offered by the N91 are Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g)—features that the corporate sector particularly look for in their cell phones more than anything else.







Ergonomics and build quality

The N91’s shell is made of stainless steel; the overall build of the phone with a sliding mechanism is excellent. The buttons on the phone are placed for easy single-handed use. The menu button is positioned on the right edge of the phone for easy access to the thumb—too bad if you are a leftie. The lower half of the phone slides open to uncover a closely packed keypad. The buttons have a superb tactile feel but they are too small for even medium-sized fingers. Performance Phone navigation is simple. Accessing music from the microdrive is a little sluggish. Details (except bit rate) and album art can be viewed on the phone. Audio output on the earphones provided is average. Since audio output is via a 3.5 mm jack, you can use your own headphones. Connecting the phone to the PC is simple if you transfer music fi les. Just set it to be detected as a mass storage device and that’s it.