View Full Version : N73 vs N80
As far as I can make out:
N73: better camera (still)
Stereo Speakers
Less Buggy (at the moment)
N80: Wi-Fi
UpnP
better video camera
better screen??
It seems like the N80 bugs are slowly being sorted aswell.
I will definately look at both before I decide which one Im going to get but does anybody have anything else that I should know about?
Thanks
Marwood
25-08-2006, 11:52 AM
I have noexperience with the N73, but I am interested in it. I would assume that it is not totally bug free, there is bound to be someting.
Some find the slider on the N80 a pain. Yes you can lock it with a third party app but it can still be activated in your pocket. i would assume this will not be an issue with the candybar N73.
The video quality on the N80 is ok, but in low light levels it is dreadful!
There are still bugs with the N80 in the gallery. Other 'minor' opperating niggles can be over looked if you really like the N80. The issue is down to RAM, there is not enough!
On some N80s there are build quality issues regarding the slider. They all tend to mve a bit in the closed position, but some members have returned theirs as the movement is too great (around 2mm).
I would need to check the specs on the screen to compare properly, but the N80 screen is the best I have used. However, for browsing, the bigger the screen the better....look at the E61. Wifi on the N80, once set up will save you paying your network outrageous money, and it works well enough.
Regarding FW on the N80, there is a new one out. Check the N80 section.
Hope this helps a bit! :)
M
bjh_101
25-08-2006, 11:53 AM
Yes the N80 does have a better screen.
But I'm not sure that you can say the N80 has a better video camera. It really is pretty bad.
bavlondon
25-08-2006, 11:58 AM
As far as I can make out:
N73: better camera (still)
Stereo Speakers
Less Buggy (at the moment)
N80: Wi-Fi
UpnP
better video camera
better screen??
It seems like the N80 bugs are slowly being sorted aswell.
I will definately look at both before I decide which one Im going to get but does anybody have anything else that I should know about?
Thanks
I wouldnt say it has a better video camera. It should be the same infact identical as they both record in CIF format. But at the moment its terrible.
Also the N80 has worse battery life than the n73. This is due to new Li Po batteries being used in the n73.
bjh_101
25-08-2006, 12:09 PM
Here is an interesting article regarding the shortage of RAM in S60 devices:
http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/features/item/Why_the_penny-pinching_over_RAM.php
Then have a look at this page:
http://3lib.ukonline.co.uk/s60history.htm
It shows that the N73 will have a fraction more RAM available after boot compared to the N80.
Marwood
25-08-2006, 01:03 PM
Excellent links and information!
Tried to rep you bjh, but as I have already done this I can't do it, sorry!
RAM is a particular bugbare of mine coming from Windows and 64Mb.
The articles confirm what I have long suspected. What the heck are Nokia up to. It's like training an student to pass exams and then telling them they have to write their responses without using a pen.
It's all very well updating the FW on these phones....couldn't they just up the RAM to start with. oh the trouble it would save users and networks!
M
Pay attention to n80 battery. A good phone, without power to work with, display, Wi-Fi, 3G, Bluetooth...
N73, have a less resolution screen, but bigger screen, what help a lot, Also the battery on N73 is decent.
Do your choice!
Thanks for the input guys. I think the 2MB extra isn't even worth talking about. I'm sure there will be bugs on the n73 aswell, though hopefully alot less than the n80. I think I am going to go with the N80 though, mainly because of the wifi. That might change when I see them live in the shop, but I doubt it.
bavlondon
25-08-2006, 02:14 PM
The n80 hasnt been mentioned here i notice. It seems ok to be honest but for such a high end phone i would have expected something a little firmer.
For me the D600 has a much better slider system. It feels firmer when you close it. The n80s general bodyhas been known to be able to minutley suffer from loosness aswell but as I say it is a tiny amount.
It depends on how much you are bothered by those little things. Otherwise its a great phone.
Incidentally Nokia replied to my email regarding the video. They are currently reviewing the situation.
I've not seen the N73 in action yet, but i need the wifi and crystal clear display. i use the wifi when i am setting up networks to check if i have a live connection, my n80 is so handy for this and saves me time. also i think once you get used to the super clear screen it must be horrible to use anything else? the battery life on my n80 seems to be lasting much longer now too :)
kllo88
04-09-2006, 03:20 PM
I just got my n73 for one week, and it is far more better than the n70 ( i dont have n80)
Sicknote
04-09-2006, 03:53 PM
I just got my n73 for one week, and it is far more better than the n70 ( i dont have n80)
I have just got my N73 and would like to know how is the battery life and how long did you charge it for:)
Thanks
mcgon1979
08-09-2006, 10:49 AM
I wouldnt say it has a better video camera. It should be the same infact identical as they both record in CIF format. But at the moment its terrible.
Also the N80 has worse battery life than the n73. This is due to new Li Po batteries being used in the n73.
The N73 records in Mp4 format mate. It is better quality.
kllo88
08-09-2006, 02:37 PM
I have just got my N73 and would like to know how is the battery life and how long did you charge it for:)
Thanks
4 days for normal use and fully recharged in 4 hours.
bavlondon
08-09-2006, 04:48 PM
The N73 records in Mp4 format mate. It is better quality.
The N80 also records in MP4 format! As does the n70, n71, n90, n91 and n93.
The type of file means nothing. The 6280/6233 only records in 3gp so would you assume that by that its video is worse than the n73?
On the contrary it is better as it records in VGA at 30fps.
The n70, n71, n80, n90, n91 record on CIF format (352 by 288 pixels) at a rate of 15fps.
VGA is 640 by 480 pixels which is a much higher resolution. In fact its currently the highest resolution in terms of mobile phone video recording on the market.
The 6280 and 6233 record it at 15fps and the n93 at 30fps.
I hope this clears up the misconception that MP4 = top recording.
In the case of the n80, it has a bug which gives a lot of noise. I dont know if this is due to the stabaliser (its a theory but i doubt it) but we wont know for sure becasue Nokia will not comment on it. ( not yet anyway)
51LV3573R
10-09-2006, 08:32 PM
Having used both phones, i can suggest the n80 to any owner of a wireless router. However if you don't have one or feel you will never use this feature, i would recommend the n73. It never crashed on me and the n80 isn't that bad now with the new firmware. The screen is large and taking photo's is a delight. The n80's slider unlocking and locking the keypad feature really bugs me, but then again it still is an amazing phone. Basically the wifi and upnp really makes the n80 the superior but if you've not got a router i'd get a n73.
chaslam
10-09-2006, 08:41 PM
Ive seen alot of talk about screen in here. The N80 and N73 have the same screen res, but the N73s screen is bigger, however, in my opinion, not less sharp at all. This screen is the best screen I have ever seen on a mobile to date.
duncnz
25-09-2006, 09:09 AM
Ive seen alot of talk about screen in here. The N80 and N73 have the same screen res, but the N73s screen is bigger, however, in my opinion, not less sharp at all. This screen is the best screen I have ever seen on a mobile to date.
The screen resolutions are not the same. N80 res 352 by 416, N73 res 240 by 320. Although the N73 screen is physically larger, the more detail packed into the smaller N80 screen means it is sharper and better viewing web pages.
duncnz
25-09-2006, 09:38 AM
My take on the two phones....
N80: I have had mine for about 3 months. During this time I think it my have frozen up twice due to a bug in the gallery, hardly anything to get too upset about. Haven't bothered to upgrade the firmware yet. My slider is fine. The battery life is not nearly as bad as is often portraid, although if you use the wireless a lot, it will chew through it. With the moderate use that I do, I tend to get about 3 days between charges. A collegue has one and he was bitching about his battery life until I pointed out to him that his was constantly searching for WiFi! The high res screen is great for web browsing. The accidental unlocking of the keypad in my pocket can be annoying. The user interface can be slow - insufficient RAM? All in all I am very happy with my N80. As others have said, if you have a wireless router, get one! Even out and about, there is no shortage of unsecured hotspots to jump onto for free!
The N73: We are considering one for the wife. Why this over the N80? She isn't a fan of slider phones, she is unlikely to ever want wireless, it is lighter, it has a neat little cover for the lens and flash, the big screen, the great photo quality, it seems to have a slightly quicker interface (I think?), it seems like more of a chic's phone. Another collegue raves about his.
Don't read too much into the problems you might see in the forums, remember that for every person that has a problem, there are a lot more who are really satisfied, it is in our nature to only write when we have an issue with something.
Take the one that has the best feature set for you and enjoy, they are both great phones!
louise501
25-09-2006, 02:50 PM
I really like the look of the N73, I think it looks far nicer than the N80, I like the big screen. I had the N80 but I didn't like the keyboard, it is the same as the N90, with your fingers hitting the base of the phone when texting using the upper keys.:(
I returned the N80 after about 30mins of having it. I felt the build quality on it was awful, and also found it pretty bulky.
Went for the N73 after getting over the fact it doesnt have Wifi and its been a great decision. The screen is excellent - though the scrolling banner at the bottom is a real pain.
Sicknote
26-09-2006, 09:43 AM
you can take the scrolling banner off but you will lose active standby at the mo, as they are linked:(
yazoo32
30-09-2006, 09:09 AM
whats the scrolling banner?
Sicknote
30-09-2006, 05:30 PM
whats the scrolling banner?
It only on phones from 3uk
yazoo32
30-09-2006, 07:57 PM
It only on phones from 3uk
ahh, thanks.
cuteass71
03-10-2006, 02:58 PM
Hi
Im very bad at making decisions, so as there's such a nice bunch on here I thought Id ask for advice. Im not the richest person in the world so trying to save some money, Id really like the N73 but after numerous phone calls to O2 retentions there is no way I can get it cheaper than £99, I have tried all the tips I have read but every person on there says the same price, so what Im wondering is, is it worth upgrading from a 6680 at the moment, its still a pretty much top of the range phone and I wondered if it would make more sense to wait a bit till the N73's come down in price a bit or if you think its a lot better phone and its worth paying the £99. Where I live the other networks give you a lot of trouble with signal, O2 is the most reliable I have never had a problem with them.
Any thoughts appreciated
Kind Regards
Katy
ive got an n80 and an n73 and i dont know which one i prefer now!!! got the n80 as n73 wasnt out on o2,but got an unlocked n73 from egay,if the n73 had wi fi it would be excellent,that i feel lets the phone down but the huge screen and battery life swings it back into favour! check the for sale section for one or the other very soon lol
louise501
09-10-2006, 11:17 AM
I really like the N80, I just didn't like the keypad, I also love the N73 screen. Having used both I prefer the N73 :)
nothinghurts
24-10-2006, 09:19 PM
hmmm interesting debate.
From fiddling with my N73, i do see the advantages over the N80. but I dont have my N80 back to compare directly.
One thing though, although technically the N80s screen is better, the N73 in reality has a superior screen.
Will decide on Fri I think.
I dont get Nokia, they could have amazing phones but screw them up by not putting the right features in them. The N73 could be vastly superior if only it had WiFi! Stupid Nokia! I look forward to a Nokia N73i with Wifi. .... please
chaslam
24-10-2006, 10:06 PM
Hi Nothinghurts,
Please could you try to refrain from swearing. Thanks.
Yes Wifi would be nice with the N73, however, I had it on my N91 and found that its a bit of a gimick. I found that acually it was faster to use the 3G connection to connect to the net, for some reason, I dont know why that is as wifi should technically be faster. On my 3 contract I have 512mb free data a month, and has my N73 is off for repair (The joystick fell out) im using the N91. Ive found I havent even needed to use Wifi, as the 3G connection seems to be alot better. Now what would make wifi really worth while in a phone is to make its so you could connect it to a laptop or PDA via bluetooth or USB and acually use it as a wifi connection, rather then restricting the wifi to the phone browser only. That would really make wifi a must have in phones for people with PDAs and old laptops (as most new ones have it built in nowadays).
Also, Nothinghurts, have you seen the N95? Has just about everything you could possibly want from a phone.
hmmm interesting debate.
From fiddling with my N73, i do see the advantages over the N80. but I dont have my N80 back to compare directly.
One thing though, although technically the N80s screen is better, the N73 in reality has a superior screen.
Will decide on Fri I think.
I dont get Nokia, they could have amazing phones but screw them up by not putting the right features in them. The N73 could be vastly superior if only it had WiFi! Stupid Nokia! I look forward to a Nokia N73i with Wifi. .... please
i guess if they put all the best features on one handset we wouldn't need to compare them like we are doing here, also they need to hold back on features for future sale of handsets. i perfer the design of the N80, shape, look, feel, and the size of the phone... i can't wait to test out the N95 :)
SirGbolalot
26-10-2006, 09:03 PM
how i wish there was something that could give my N73 wi-fi, i would pay any amount. I saw somethign called an 'SDIO' card which give PDAs and a few other things wifi in the form of an mini sd card, but i don't think this will work on my N73 :(
Hughesy
27-10-2006, 10:09 AM
It is a shame the N73 doesn't have wifi.
The far superior battery life of the N73 swung it for me though.
I use my Dell x50v PDA for wifi browsing at home and out (using BT openworld). It has a VGA screen which is much better for browsing. The browser on N73 and N80 is really good though, better than MiniMo which I use on the PDA.
sunking101
31-10-2006, 11:07 PM
Nokia purposefully didn't put WiFi on the N73 because it would take sales away from the N80. The N80 was until a few months ago the flagship of the N Series range. The N73 is actually quite low down. I own the N73 and the N80 and these are my findings:
N80
WiFi :D
Better build quality overall
Better sound quality despite not having stereo speakers
No joystick which is much better
Dreadful battery life :(
No autofocus on camera, poor macro mode:(
N73
Much better battery life
Better camera (but only really in the excellent macro mode, not much different overall)
Bigger and brighter screen
Appalling creaky build quality, loose lense cover, cramped keypad and cheap silver effect buttons:(
Dodgy joystick:(
No WiFi:(
Tinny piercingly loud stereo speakers:(
So, the N80 gets 2 thumbs down and the N73 gets 3! Thus the N80 is the winner but only if you can get to a charger every night. Even if the WiFi isn't needed I'd still plump for the N80 but the WiFi will be the clincher for most people.