Nokia N82 vs Nokia N85 vs Nokia N95 8GB vs Nokia N96 Camera Flash Test in Darkness
Some people asked me how the dual LED flash is on the Nokia N85 compared to the xenon flash on the Nokia N82. What better way to answer by showing the results instead? I took pictures with N95 8GB, N96, N85, and N82. Sheila was kind enough to stand in front of the camera and try not to get blinded.
Post Now Updated with the answers below and link for larger original image sizes.

Nokia N82 vs N85 vs N95 8GB vs N96
Here’s the breakdown on what kind of flash each phone has:
- Nokia N95 8GB - LED
- Nokia N96 - Dual LEDs
- Nokia N85 - Dual LEDs
- Nokia N82 - Xenon!
The photos were all taken in automatic mode with all the lights turned off in our hallway. The wall is painted light yellow and the doors are dark brown. The photos were also resized to fit the blog’s width. Can you guess what camera phone was used? I’ll update this post with the answers and links to the larger original size photos on Monday night.
Guess
I wonder if the guesses will be unanimous. Is it hard or too obvious ? We’ll see. Please let me know your answers in the comments.
Answers:
You can click on the photos and check the properties to make sure I am telling the truth. I think the Nokia N85’s picture looks better than the N96, but the Nokia N82 is still definitely Nokia’s photo flagship.
- A = Nokia N96
- B = Nokia N95 8GB
- C = Nokia N85
- D = Nokia N82
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caliboy99 on 25 October 2008:
A = N95 8gb
B = N96
C = N85
D = N82
Reply to this comment
Cj on 25 October 2008:
I’d say :
Camera A : N95-8gb
Camera B : N85
Camera C : N96
Camera D : N82
Do I win the Cookie ? DO I !!?!?
Reply to this comment
ryan on 25 October 2008:
A: N95-8gb
B: N85
C: N96
D: N82
Reply to this comment
Al Pavangkanan on 25 October 2008:
A) N96
B) N95
C) N85
D) N82
Reply to this comment
slugg on 25 October 2008:
well…
without a doubt n82 is the option D
but seriuosly i cant believe taht 1 of the dual led its almost the same that a single led
but since ive seen some pics showing the n85 dual led is brighter than the single led on n95, ill bet for the n85 is the option C (and really hoping it)
and ive read that the n96 camera has some little problems focusing, and the only pic that i think is some out of focus, ill say the n96 is the option B
and obviuosly the n95 is the option A
Reply to this comment
Jirka on 25 October 2008:
A) N85
B) N96
C) N95
D) N82
Reply to this comment
Rita El Khoury on 25 October 2008:
A: N96 or N85
B: N95
C: N96 or N85
D: N82
B & D are very obvious. A & C are basically the same so it’s hard to tell which handset took which picture.
Reply to this comment
Pablo on 25 October 2008:
A N85
B N95
C N96
D N82
Reply to this comment
Micky on 25 October 2008:
A) N96 Dual LED
B) N95 8GB Single LED
C) N85 Dual LED
D) N82 Xenon!
Reply to this comment
Mark Guim on 25 October 2008:
Don’t want to say anything to give away the answers yet, but this test made me want to do another take on Nokia N96 vs. Nokia N85 camera. Even though both have dual LEDs flash, their results came out different!
Reply to this comment
drrks on 25 October 2008:
A: Nokia N95
B: Nokia N96
C: Nokia N85
D: Nokia N82
Reply to this comment
anthonyb on 25 October 2008:
Come on. Give us the results.
I am an N95 8Gig US version owner and so far, even if my phone is the darkest, I dont see a reason to switch because the others are not that much better than the worse/darkest one.
Now camera D is awesome however I can makeup for this by using more room light.
I guess.
Reply to this comment
brian on 25 October 2008:
A: N95
B: n96
C: n85 i hope
d: n82
Reply to this comment
Howard on 25 October 2008:
Hi Mark, have you managed to hack your N85 to install unsigned apps?
i’m struggling in find the hacks…
Reply to this comment
Mark Guim on 25 October 2008
Don’t see the need for a hacked N85 yet. Maybe later.
Reply to this comment
jack on 26 October 2008:
please i want to know the answer
a)n95
b)n85
c)n96
d)n82
Reply to this comment
Victor on 26 October 2008:
A)N85
B)N95
C)N96
D)N82
Reply to this comment
John on 26 October 2008:
I asked for this test and I got it. So much Thank You, Mark, you are very kind!
P.S. D is for 82 ; )
P.S.S. Whether N85 is A, B or C they are all not so good. So N82 still has a great gap. In my country N82 is for 400$ and N85 is 750$. Is it worth it? I think after this test maybe N82 is even a smarter choice for this price, how do you think?
Reply to this comment
Mike Macias on 26 October 2008:
Thanks Mark for this test. I’m surprised that the double led doesn’t look much different than the single LED. I was hoping it would be a little closer to the xenon, but as you’ve shown this isn’t the case.
Looks like I will be sticking with the n82 till nokia steps it up and sells another xenon phone.
Reply to this comment
Patton on 26 October 2008:
I skipped other’s comments to avoid “contamination” of my opinnion. But it seem to be pretty obvious.
A: N958GB
B: N96
C: N85
D: N82
(you should have opened a poll to tabulate results though)
Reply to this comment
drasm on 27 October 2008
The poll would have to have 24 different options…
Reply to this comment
Jullian on 27 October 2008:
a) N85
b) N95 8GB
c) N96
d) N82
Camera D shows good color reproduction, even and well lit flash indeed.
I think it really is N82 as Nokia’s Imaging Flagship Device.
Reply to this comment
Santo on 27 October 2008:
A) N85
B) N96
C) N95 8Gb
D) N82
Reply to this comment
rturius on 27 October 2008:
C - N82 has white tone, xenon flash
D - N85 has yellow tone, LED flash
Reply to this comment
Bram on 27 October 2008:
A: N95 8Gb
B: N85
C: N96
D: N82
Reply to this comment
Sru on 27 October 2008:
A = N95
B = N82
C = N96
D = N85
I think it is time to tell and update the post.
Reply to this comment
Bradley on 27 October 2008:
n85
n95
n82
n96
Reply to this comment
Mark Guim on 27 October 2008:
ATTENTION: The post is now updated with the answers and links to the larger original sized images on Flickr
Reply to this comment
Mark Guim on 27 October 2008
I’m surprised not many people got it right. Congtas Al and Micky. You get cookies!
Reply to this comment
Cj on 27 October 2008:
Holy Shizz I did NOT think the N96’s double LED would be that bad. The lighting in that picture is way worse than the N95 with its Single LED Flash.
Reply to this comment
feifei on 28 October 2008:
Why the picture of the n85 feels like some kind of transparent mask or glass or something cover up the whole image causing a lot of weird noises all over the picture?
It is not as natural as the other three model.
This issue happened as well on 5800.
Anyone know why?
Reply to this comment
Stefan on 28 October 2008:
Ye y is the Nokia N85 picture have such bad quality and a lot of noise?
Reply to this comment
Mioke on 31 October 2008:
A = N96
B = N85
C = N82
D = N95 8GB
Reply to this comment
fsdf on 5 November 2008
n00b…get a life!!
Reply to this comment
MiGs on 1 November 2008:
WOW!
the N96, the more expensive phone of the three, can’t even provide a good picture?
unbelievable….
Good thing im a nokia n82!
Reply to this comment
Umair on 3 November 2008:
a=n95 8gb
b=n85
c=n96
d=n82
i won send me prize thanks
Reply to this comment
MIKO on 8 November 2008:
mark,
how about a comparison of videos in darkness too! let’s see who tops this one. thanks.
Reply to this comment
gooner on 8 November 2008:
hi guys. iam debating about getting the N85 or N82.what do you guys suggest?
Reply to this comment
Mohammed Faisal zaveri on 9 November 2008:
First 1* D = Nokia N82 is Perfect Excellent
second 2* C = Nokia N85 is very good
Third 3* A = Nokia N96 is Fair good
fourth 4* B = Nokia N95 8GB fair good
————————————————
Reply to this comment
Mohammed Faisal zaveri on 9 November 2008:
# Nokia N95 8GB - LED
# Nokia N96 - Dual LEDs
# Nokia N85 - Dual LEDs
# Nokia N82 - Xenon
Reply to this comment
Mohammed Faisal zaveri on 10 November 2008:
D =Nokia N82 - Xenon
A =Nokia N96 - Dual LEDs
C =Nokia N85 - Dual LEDs
B =Nokia N95 8GB - LED
Reply to this comment
Denver on 14 November 2008:
Hey people. Why is it that the Nokia N79 wasn’t included in this shootout? Does this simply mean that the N79 & the N85 have the same flash performance? It would’ve been nice to see the N79’s flash performance. Please…
Reply to this comment
Atton on 19 November 2008:
-N82
-N865
-N96
-N95 8gb
The xenon is amazing!
Reply to this comment
algert on 20 November 2008:
it looks like the N8X series has best flash afteral
Reply to this comment
Boffill on 23 November 2008:
Hooray! N82! I really made a right choice of choosing N82 since I really love taking pictures!
Reply to this comment
Dennis on 30 November 2008:
I did a total darkness test with my n 95-3 in auto mode. picture was so dark. But when I set it to night portrait what a world of difference it made! Shots were waaay brighter! Could you do a similar test like this Mark? thanks!
Reply to this comment
joke on 30 November 2008:
I can’t believe that a single LED n95 gb beat the n96 dual lead! i thought the n95 is supposedly the darkest… but anyhoo, it seems like every spare parts of the nokia phones can be bought separately (GOOD!) How i wish i can buy a XENON lead to replace the LED on my n95 8gb! is that possible?
Reply to this comment
kelvin on 1 December 2008:
n85 pictures quality with deal LED isnt bad
Reply to this comment
UK on 15 December 2008:
eh? what doors? what walls?
Reply to this comment
Varun on 17 December 2008:
Hey Mark,
N82 rocks for sure !!
N82 is nokia’s photo flagship and also she’s posing the best way for n82 camera
Reply to this comment
claudio on 21 December 2008:
N96
N95/8Gb
/
/
Porque nokia sigue sin tener un telef con windows?????
Reply to this comment
shaf1 on 28 December 2008:
n82 is way better than any other nseries phones! It rocks!
Reply to this comment
AIA_85 on 5 January 2009:
thank u but u missed an option called (red eye deduction)
because when u focus on photos that u have captured u will know what i mean specially with the last photo
totally i think n82 is the best
also n85 is not bad and i think it’s a good rivals comparing with n82
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