Comparison: Who Wins In The Nokia N78 vs Nokia N82 Battle?

May 16th, 2008 • Mark Guim • Filed Under •

When the Nokia N78 comes out, its price will be close to the Nokia N82. You need to decide what is more important to you because these two devices are not that similar in features. I’ll explain some important features and let you decide which phone wins over your wallet.

Nokia N78 N82

Nokia N78 Pros

  • The Nokia N78 runs on a newer OS with nicer fades and animations as well as other improvements. You can review Neil’s video demo of the Nokia N78 to see what I mean.
  • The Nokia N78 features a 1200mAh battery compared to the Nokia N82′s 1050mAh. I’ll assume a bigger battery means longer battery life.
  • The Nokia N78 is thinner than the Nokia N82.
  • The Nokia N78 has an FM transmitter useful for long car journeys.
  • Nokia N78 has a North American variation that will work on AT&T’s fast 3G data. Nokia N82 users in the US are stuck on slow EDGE speed.

Nokia N78 Cons

  • The Nokia N78 features only a 3 megapixel camera with VGA video capable of 15 frames per second. The Nokia N82 comes with 5 megapixels and 30 fps videos.
  • Nokia N78′s LED flash is not as bright as Nokia N82′s Xenon flash. Take a look at my Nokia N95 LED flash vs Nokia N82 Xenon flash video.
  • Nokia N78 does not have a TV-out compared to the Nokia N82. You won’t be able to quickly show off your videos and photos to your friends on a TV with a cable.

Thoughts

Did I miss anything? In the Nokia N78 vs Nokia N82 battle, which one is your winner and why?

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View Comments »

  1. dandandan on 16 May 2008:

    I’d have to go with the 78, although I haven’t had my hands on it yet, I’ve had the N82 for a bit, and while I luuuuuvvvvvvveeeee the 5Mp and Flash, I’d have to say that I NEEEEEEDDD 3G! I’m in Westchester NY and I use a decent amount of data. as for the loss of video out, I’ve been using Ovi and uploading whenever I’m not talking on the phone… ;)

    Thanks Mark!

  2. Apostol Apostolov on 16 May 2008:

    I really wanted to wait for N78, but I couldn’t – I bought Nokia N82 and so far I love it. Yes, I miss the new OS version and I hope for Nokia to at least give us N82s an upgrade to it, though that’d make two phones bitter rivals and Nokia doesn’t want this. Still, one can hope. I also would note that N82 has a lens protection that N78 doesn’t (I think so) and if I had to hate myself for one thing, that’d be the new, better battery. I have to recharge my phone once 2 days, and when I use radio all day, It doesn’t live a single day.

  3. StyloMovil » Blog Archive » Nokia N82 vs. Nokia N78 cual escoger? on 16 May 2008:

    [...] NB Etiquetas de Technorati: Nokia N78 vs [...]

  4. Mark Guim on 16 May 2008:

    Thanks @apostol I missed the lens cover point. @Dan 3G is the first priority for me in selecting a phone.

  5. juan on 16 May 2008:

    i prefer the nokia n82 because on movistar venezuela the nokia n82 is sold with 3Gbands 850 mhz y 2100 mhz and it’s the greatest phone that nokia had made REALLY i have one its amazing

  6. Zaq on 16 May 2008:

    Mark,
    You say that the n78 has a NA variant that’s coming to AT&T but I can’t get anyone at AT&T to confirm this. Can you give us any more information on this?

    Further, if it were to come to AT&T, would we get it in its current form (full of features) or are they going to castrate it?

  7. Mark Guim on 16 May 2008:

    @Zaq I’m saying the variant will be compatible with AT&T’s 3G network just like the N95-4 and N95-3 are compatible with the 3G network.

  8. dandandan on 16 May 2008:

    @Zaq the wording was “Nokia N78 has a North American variation that will work on AT&T’s fast 3G data.”

    Meaning that it will WORK on US3G, (which we will also hope will include T-Mob in the near future) but it was not designed to be SOLD exclusively by AT&T, or nothing has been said for sure.

    hope that helps!

  9. Mark Jambas on 16 May 2008:

    nice comparo :-) i have to say after playing around with the n78 i still prefer the n82. it’s all about that flash and camera for me since i use it as my main camera these days. it’s always disappointing heading back home to the US from europe and losing the rocketship data speeds, but i’m happy enough to wait for wifi if i really need it. also dont need the mp3 transmitter, so n82 is still my favorite and the nokia phone i recommend the most to our pro customers at ShoZu

    Best,
    Jambo

  10. Zaq on 16 May 2008:

    Thanks for clearing that up guys. For the record, I’m waiting for an n78 over getting an n82 today because of FP2 & the FM transmitter

  11. roninja on 17 May 2008:

    N82 has the far more powerful OMAP2420 processor with PowerVR MBX graphics acceleration which the N78 lacks.

  12. Andy Burgin on 17 May 2008:

    The N82 is to Plasticky from Nokia,it does not feel as solid as my previous N73 which felt really solid in your hands,o.k the camera an flash might be good on the N82 but i have the Black 8gb N95 now an the screen size is superb for viewing images an videos so i will stick with this until the N96 becomes available

  13. dandandan on 17 May 2008:

    @Andy, I’ve been playing with the N82 for about 2 months, I don’t notice anything plasticky, I did jump up from an N73 and notice that it feels the same, if not a little different… I wrote about it, if you’d care to read from a new user’s POV, but getting back, I can’t really see comparing the 95-8 to any of Mark’s discussion here…

    I hope that what the 78 lacks from the 82, it makes up for in the US Market with the 3G and the FM transmitter, a built in feature that even on the 5th or 6th build of iPods, it still isn’t incorporated!

  14. Viipottaja on 17 May 2008:

    Btw, Mark, anyone else, have you heard any rumors of a N82 with US 3G frequenzies?

  15. coolio on 18 May 2008:

    The n78 has the better looks compared to the n82. However the n82 has the better specs

  16. cbxbn on 18 May 2008:

    The numerical buttons are really hard to use o the N78. I have tried it and I own N82 and I will stick with my N82. The buttons are really much harder to use then I tought.

  17. William Bryson - Nokia N78 on 18 May 2008:

    Personally, I’m counting down the days until the Nokia N78 is released. The primary drawbacks above compared to the N82 are related to the camera; it’s all about the network for me – 3G! And that sweet new OS. Great summary comparison, thanks for the post.

  18. Day Kevi on 19 May 2008:

    If I have to choose definitely I will go for Nokia N78 between these two. But I am waiting for Nokia N96.

  19. jim on 23 May 2008:

    when is it been eleased there was 2 dates 15th and 22nd may according to vodafone let me no cheers

  20. kohai on 29 May 2008:

    N82 vs N78
    N82 has (and N78 has not):
    -accelerometer
    -5 mpx camera with lens cover, 30fps VGA videos
    -omap 2420 processor(see a youtube comparison between n81 & n95 and you´ll see the difference, btw n81 same processor as n78 and n95 as n82)
    -TV out
    N78 has (and N82 has not):
    -FM transmitter and RDS radio
    -1200mAh battery
    -fp2 (but this is rumored to be solved in a future N82 firmware update-source mobile review)

    I was to buy a N78 but I have bought a N82, it´s a better phone hands down.

  21. Апостол Апостолов on 30 May 2008:

    FP2 on N82 sounds like a dream come true for me, because that was the only reason I wanted to wait for N78. Sure, battery is weak on N82 and that’s not gonna change ever, and I cannot use it to listen to radio or MP3 because it drains the battery too easily, but overall I am happy with my phone.

  22. Ayham on 18 June 2008:

    what about the Navi Wheel on N78, I found on the net some rummers saying that N82 also has it also as hardware but Nokia has delayed the firmware compatible with Navi Wheel until N78 is shipped and spread in the market, any ideas?

  23. kalbidi on 26 June 2008:

    What’s FP2 and RDS radio? I own a Nokia N82 and I love it. It’s all about images to me. Though I love listening to music as well and the N78 has better battery life than the N82. I’ve never used the N78 before. I think I’ll try it at a Nokia shop. The N78 was just released in my country. My country always get things late. I have a question: Which is faster? 3G or wifi?

  24. Daniel on 29 July 2008:

    Can i watch youtube on N87

  25. link on 1 August 2008:

    wifi is faster.. I’d go for the N78 because of battery life and I’d like to listen to music on the phone at times. Gui is good and more refined. I also like the SE G900. hhmm.. What u guys thing?

  26. me on 30 August 2008:

    N78 is the winner undoubtedly !

  27. dandandan on 30 August 2008:

    How can you say that @Me? Have you tried them both?
    What marked are you in?

    I’ve not had the chance to try it, but I think that it’s gonna take a bit to convince me…
    I loved the N82!

  28. mike on 30 August 2008:

    From time to time i like to read documents which one of these phone have that feature

  29. mike on 30 August 2008:

    i know that they are multimedia base but it would be really cool if they had any office apps

    shiny bulky one inclination or the other well i think that it all depends on your life style n82 could be a load and n73 has its limitations but both phones have there personalities as the user compare and match and life on

  30. nabeel on 6 September 2008:

    umm dudes i wna know if i can watch youtube on a nokia n82, n78 or a nokia n81

  31. MoJo on 20 September 2008:

    Hi

    I previously owned a NOkia N82 until it got stolen. I really loved the phone…until i saw the N78. So the camera and xenon flash has been downgraded….and tv-out (which i hardly used) i suppose if u use the phone as ur main camera/video recorder (hence require 5mp camera) then u wd also require tv-out to view ur photos/video quickly…. so its the N78 for me…and the looks/form factor simply blows the N82 out of the water.

    @nabeel: yes I cd view youtube vids on my N82 using the wifi connection.

  32. Rolle on 22 September 2008:

    How about N79 vs E66? =) Crazy comparison? Well, I am thinking about it…need a nice bizniz phone, with no qwerty-keyboard.

  33. Shaddy on 24 September 2008:

    everybody forgetting abt the Navi wheel of n78

  34. taimur on 8 October 2008:

    which of the two phones has better processing power cuz i had an n 70 and got real upset with its speed…….presently i hav to get either of the 2 phones …any suggestions?

  35. jackwild on 31 October 2008:

    lens cover! for me is a must.

    i dont like on my N82, the red spot finder (i dont know how to turn it off), and set by default all photos without flash. I use to take close photos to my 2 yr old daughter and is very unconfortable to set off flash on every shot.
    i was using my “old” sony cybershot 2Mb pix i guess, but is nice to take +20 shots in a series without worry about setting flash, autofocus delays, etc, etc. why not k.i.s.s.?

    the other features are not useful for me.
    i live in southamerica. high speed telephony is VERY expensive and not worth for me.

  36. N78User_from_Jakarta on 17 November 2008:

    the review above doesn mention these ;

    *when u see the screen in outdoor, N78 certainly win compare to N82 in brightness and resistance to sun glare

    *N78 has navy wheel

    *N78 gps works better compare to N82.

  37. kalbidi on 1 December 2008:

    So N78 is better you say?

  38. manishain on 2 December 2008:

    if you like music and multimedia..then go for the n78..if you like camera and multimedia..then go for the n82..my choice will be the n78..because im not a picture taking guy..i just want to hear music..and its much cheaper now..

  39. darkslide on 3 January 2009:

    @cbxbn, i have n78 so far i dont have problems with the keypad

  40. nathan on 11 January 2009:

    Pros and cons

    N78 over N82
    -Better screen (clarity, brightness etc.)
    -fp2 (though n82 might get it soon)
    -better audio quality
    -navi wheel
    -far better gps
    -better processor (369 mhz to 330 mhz)

    N82 over N78
    -accelorometer
    -far better camera
    -more available RAM (128mb to 96mb)
    -more practical keypad

    Sources: GSM Arena and Phonegg

    I would personally take the N78. It is a far better phone except for the camera, in which case the N82 is your preferred option.

  41. no name on 14 February 2009:

    N78 is better than N82.it is my opinion.:=)

  42. derlis on 30 May 2010:

    en mi opinion el n78 es mas elegante ya que tube los dos en las manos es mas liviano el dysplay del n78 es de mayor resolucion la camara no ay diferencia solo si a ampliamos obviamente el n82 no se descompone tan rapido el n78 tiene el software mas nuevo ya que el modelo es mas nuevo¡¡ yo lo tengo con 8 gb de memoria y ni siente las fotos son impresionantes,asi como la calidad de sonido en los auriculares,trasmisor fm la duracion de la bateria es muy buena¡¡no lo se el n82 pero tambien tenia un 5800 xm y es un desastre ese aparato es lento no dura la bateria y el wifi no funciona bien algunas veces me decia sin respuesta de gateway¡¡no suena bien en los auriculares yo lo cuidaba como mi vida y despues de 3 meses que lo tube se descompuso solo no cargaba mas y no se pudo reparar mas por suerte lo vendi bien y me compre el n78¡¡ es un cañon yo me quedo con el¡¡¡¡nunca se colgo¡¡¡a todos los que tengan 5800 vendan ya¡¡¡no funciona¡¡¡en serio les digo gracias¡¡saludos¡¡¡

  43. derlis on 30 May 2010:

    en mi opinion el n78 es mas elegante ya que tube los dos en las manos es mas liviano el dysplay del n78 es de mayor resolucion la camara no ay diferencia solo si a ampliamos obviamente el n82 no se descompone tan rapido el n78 tiene el software mas nuevo ya que el modelo es mas nuevo¡¡ yo lo tengo con 8 gb de memoria y ni siente las fotos son impresionantes,asi como la calidad de sonido en los auriculares,trasmisor fm la duracion de la bateria es muy buena¡¡no lo se el n82 pero tambien tenia un 5800 xm y es un desastre ese aparato es lento no dura la bateria y el wifi no funciona bien algunas veces me decia sin respuesta de gateway¡¡no suena bien en los auriculares yo lo cuidaba como mi vida y despues de 3 meses que lo tube se descompuso solo no cargaba mas y no se pudo reparar mas por suerte lo vendi bien y me compre el n78¡¡ es un cañon yo me quedo con el¡¡¡¡nunca se colgo¡¡¡a todos los que tengan 5800 vendan ya¡¡¡no funciona¡¡¡en serio les digo gracias¡¡saludos¡¡¡

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