Review: Nokia 8800

Nokia 8800 Review

Phone rating:

The Nokia 8800 looks a million dollars and costs nearly that much! But that's the point - exclusivity and style is what the 8800 is all about. The looks of the 8800 are unique. The phone's sliding keypad cover is made from stainless steel and is laser-cut for precision. The cover is engineered to be strong and to protect the phone. The screen is also built to last, being made from reinforced scratch-resistant glass, so your investment will be well protected. The keypad isn't the easiest to use, but it's OK. The phone is quite heavy, but feels good to hold. The overall impression of the phone is first class.

The 8800 has an exclusive user interface with its own styles, themes and ringtones. The ringtones were composed for the 8800 especially by the composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, although to be honest we don't know anyone who actually likes them. You might want to download your own!

Moving on from the look and feel of the phone, the 8800 isn't the best-specified phone around, especially when you consider the price tag. The camera is rather poor, although the display is excellent, with 262,000 colours and high resolution. The MP3 player supports both MP3 and AAC formats with stereo output via a conventional stereo headset (included) or an optional Nokia Bluetooth wireless headset. 3D games are supported, plus fast data transfer via EDGE. There is also an XHTML web browser.

The battery life of the 8800 is really quite poor. It does improve after a few full charging cycles, but is shockingly bad in the early days. Memory is adequate at 64 Mbytes, but not really sufficient to make full use of the video and music features of the phone. A memory card would have unlocked the full capabilities of the phone.

We do have to criticise the audio quality of the 8800. The sound quality is not up to standard. For a phone in this price bracket, that's pretty shocking. Nokia should have got the basics right.

Overall, the 8800 does its job. It impresses. It's a stunningly beautiful phone that looks good, is lovely to hold, and does enough to hold its own against the competition. If style is what matters to you, then you may love the Nokia 8800, but there are too many issues to ignore, particularly battery life and poor audio quality. It could have been a five star phone, but doesn't make the grade. The new Nokia 8800 Sirocco improves on the original.

Features of the Nokia 8800 include:

• Integrated SVGA camera (0.5 megapixels)
• Video recording and streaming (QCIF resolution: 176 x 144 pixels, 30 frames per second)
• Active matrix TFT display: 208 x 208 pixels, 262k colours
• 3D image engine for enhanced graphics
• Digital music player with Bluetooth stereo (MP3, AAC formats)
• FM radio
• Integrated handsfree speaker
• 64-voice polyphonic ringtones & MP3 ringtones
• Messaging: SMS, MMS, Instant Messaging, email (SMTP, POP3, and IMAP4 protocols)
• Games: 3D games
• XHTML web browser
• Mobile Wallet 2.0
• Data transfer: WAP, GPRS class 8, EDGE/ E-GPRS, class 8
• Memory: 64 Mbytes
• Connectivity: Bluetooth wireless connectivity
• Triband
• Size: 107 x 45 x 16.5 mm
• Weight: 134g
• Talktime: up to 3 hours
• Battery standby: up to 8 days

Nokia 8800 Consumer Reviews

Love your mobile? Hate it? Please share your experiences to help other people choose the phone that's best for them. Please do not review this phone if you have not used it. This is a review site, not a forum, so please don't just ask questions. Please do not use swear words or offensive language, and please, no advertising!

Average rating from 100 reviews:

Reviewed by Jonathan Downing from Wales on 11th Apr 2006
Too Expensive, not good enough im afraid
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Reviewed by Scott from England, UK on 8th Apr 2006
I have owned a mobile since 1996. Since 1996 I have always owned Nokia mobile telephones. I bought in March 2006, and sold the Nokia 8880 within a WEEK of owning it on Ebay, and my poor experience with the unit has deflected me to owning an NEC phone! The Nokia 8880 is quite possibly the worst phone I have ever used. Keys are hard to press, the most important menu button is as small as a pin head, there is almost no point in owning a mobile phone - as the battery life is pointless on this model. If you want style, go and buy a stainless steal cigar holder it does about as much as the Nokia 8880. DREADFUL!!!!!
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Reviewed by dan from england on 3rd Apr 2006
The Nokia 8800 is purely meant for style looks and sophistication; I rate this phone 10/10, if all you phoney’s even had a brain you would have considered a cheap £100 phone which has all the sound, picture and extra memory that you need and not buy a Nokia 8800, if you want to show off buy the Nokia 8800, if you want to use the phone other then calls buy something you can afford, and then don’t cry over. I’d purchased the 8800 July 2005 and 100% happy. So for all you readers voting the phone down, just admit it you want one too.
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Reviewed by C.V from England on 31st Mar 2006
its the bomb its class the casing is smooth as ever so i think every one should buy 1 to bad there limited adition cos there mint and the style of it is the greats design i think that they have made.
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Reviewed by Omar from Malta on 30th Mar 2006
The phone is just Excellent A+. If you want to take photos buy a camera and for music buy an ipod ...but if you want a mobile phone you have to buy this one because even the touch of it its amazing...especially when you just hold it in your hands...ITS JUST CLASS...I just Thank Nokia for producing the 8800
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Reviewed by Phil from UK on 29th Mar 2006
for pictures, use a digi camera, for tunes use an ipod, for the dogs of all stylish phones use an 8800. This is a phone...fullstop, it looks slick...thats it, features are ok but not brilliant fair enough, but a top class pic needs a real camera, and enough tunes needs a pod. ive had over 60 phones and after the first few weeks the gadgets dont get used anymore and it turns into a phone again, for that reason why not get one that once your bored of the gadgets looks amazing! price a bit daft yeah...but how much does standing out a bit cost? for an all in one gadget get an i-mate jam (mda compact) does everythin pretty much, but trust me once ur bored its just a big phone like all the rest!
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Reviewed by Avov from - on 29th Mar 2006
Realy excellent phone. All required functions are present in this phone. Bluetooth is perfect. All game on this phone running fast. Found large collection of games fo this phone on http://play2java.com site, and use this site very oftenly to download games to my handy.
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Reviewed by Paul from England on 27th Mar 2006
This phone is for people who require a phone that concentrates on originality and style rather than gagets! The 88 series have always been Nokia's best phones and the 8800 follows in supream style... If you want a camera, MP3 or a radio go buy one, this is a PHONE!!
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Reviewed by Mit from UK, England on 25th Mar 2006
Phones looks good, feels nice in your hands. But the buttons are two small, and lacks the quality of its features. I have had many nokia's. This one must be the worst for the price and all the hype it gets. Yes it looks good, but a mobile is used for all its features. The java screen, does not even feel very rich, its like they spent all its time on the looks. I have a D500, and thats much better then this. I would say dont get the fone. Only had it for a day. Going to return it for the D800 instead.
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Reviewed by duncan from uk on 21st Mar 2006
its 50/50 here. As the main review says it looks the part and appears top of the range, especially considering the high price. However i think most people are like me and are equally interested in the features it has...which isnt a lot to be honest. most cameras are 2mp these days and this one is only 0.5 which is awful for such an expensive phone and ring tones are few and average to say the least. I really cant see what all the craze is about...high price does not equal top class in the case at all! i am now deciding to exchange the phone for something with much better appeal and not just some silly designed mobile thats has nothing else to offer!
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Reviewed by MW from UK on 21st Mar 2006
Would be the perfect phone if the battery wasn't so poor (really really bad) and the camera was a little better.
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Reviewed by stacey from england on 20th Mar 2006
well personally, i am currently using the nokia 8800, and itz wicked to use!! Itz easy to handle and most of all itz very good looking...but itz not all about looks that matters...!!!!!
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Reviewed by Yuman from England on 20th Mar 2006
This phone is first class if the most important attribute you look for in a phone is the look. I am such a person, and although I was slightly reluctant to purchase the phone due to being put off by the supposedly inadequate battery life, I just couldnt resist. I must say that after purchasing the phone I think talk of the battery life being poor is exaggerated, although it isnt the best,if you charge it daily it will do the job more than adequatley. The drawbacks of the phone are if you enjoy top class features on your phone then you are after the wrong handset, as the features are distinctly average if not downright basic. However, if all you look for in a phone is its flash look and you want to look exclusive then this is the phone for you.
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Reviewed by STEVE from UK on 15th Mar 2006
NEVER HAD SUCH A POOR PHONE NOKIAS GETTING WORSE IN A LONG LINE OF FAILYERS
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Reviewed by Saj from UK on 14th Mar 2006
Ive had this phone for a few days now and after reading lots of reviews and the comments about poor battery life, crappy phone etc I was a bit apprehensive about buying it but it looks so gorgeous I had to. I have to say Im very happy with the phone so far! The camera is by no means the best but it takes a decent picture, the phone is so intuitive to use you hardly need to read the instructions booklet to start using all the functions - battery life isnt a problem either - on my first full charge it lasted a day and this is with me playing around with the cam, the video feature and talking on it for about an hour - so no complaints there either - If I had paid the £400-£600 asking price I would probrably have been dissapointed (no phone is worth that much to me) but at £120 on an upgrade I have no regrets!
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Reviewed by Evelyn Keys from UK on 4th Mar 2006
Hi there I have had 3 of the Nokia 8800 and i think the settings on the phone are basic but the phone itsself I would say is very nice looking and I would agree it is very heavy to hold, The battery on the phone is rubbish, I had the phones about 3 days and sold them off as other people wanted them. I would mark the phone 5/10
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Reviewed by Richard from UK on 24th Feb 2006
Ive had this handset for a week now and after reading all the negative comments on it was a bit dubious but am pleased. it is a classy piece of kit that does what a mobile is supposed to dont buy it if you want to watch tv or play endless games and play mp3s on it cos its no good for that but if you want a fone that stands out from the rest this is it, classy and reliable like all the other nokias i have owned nice stainless steel body feels quality and opens nicely good camera nice sound quality brilliant ringtones and easy menu as always and the battery is not too bad if you charge it correctly!!! I have had nokias for the last 7 years dont bother with anything else they are still the best!! WELL HAPPY
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Reviewed by Emma from england on 20th Feb 2006
Me friend has it, it is a great phone but gets dirty very quickly and easily Also you can see your fingerprints just after you have held it!
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Reviewed by angel from Bahrain on 7th Feb 2006
This phone is an awesome Phone i loved it since the day i got it, n i dont think i can get another one.its worth the price btw. The only Problem i'm facing with it is the battery it gets me angry at times but it's still amazing. This Phone is made to be used by elegant fingers so dont expect it to work for you as good as as another everyday fone.it's a high class fone..
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Reviewed by Ric from UK on 3rd Feb 2006
After having owned previous Noka 8-series phones (8890, 8910i) it was time for a revolutionary change... Nokia 8800. To be honest, as a Nokia 8-series collector, I didnt give the damn about fucntions. Just one word needed to come up... style. However after reading the reviews posted on the site, I had one question to ask..."Is the battery life really that bad?" So I decided to get one. 3 weeks later, I was pleased ^^. You people out there who keeps on saying ur battery life only lasts half to a full day is cause u keep on playing wid it constantly... sliding it up and down, checking out the camera, listening to mp3 etc... just to show it off to ur mates. Com'on guys, its not necessary. All u need to do, is put the damn thing on the table and every1 will stare at it with envyness. Personally, I use my 8800 just for calling people and texting. Everyday i use about 20-30 mins of talk time and the odd texts. I switch the phone off when i sleep. And at the end, the battery lasts me 3 days. Of course, this isnt good but it isnt that drastic as decribed by other reviewers. I never play around wid it!! Disregarding the battery life, this phone is jsut the best there is on the market today. I cant describe that feeling when you hold onto it. Very good reception, as i tend to use it in the basement. Even if you consider the battery life, I still give it 5/5. QUALITY!!!
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Reviewed by Wille Stroker from England on 29th Jan 2006
This phone is really rubbish and from a European company who was once great we expect better. Battery life rubbish, functionality- poor, looks - good, ringtones - well probably the worst I have heard and terrible for a phone thats is supposed to be top of the range. Nokia have had a knack over the past few years of dissapointing their loval customers and it saddens me again to say they have done it again ! Poor technology for such an expensive phone. I have returned mine to the supplier and gone back with a competitors phone. Sorry Nokia a little more thought and a cheaper price tag next time!
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Reviewed by Shiv from India on 28th Jan 2006
I was actually a bit worried, about getting this phone, after reading some of the reviews, on the site. It was a see saw, some like it some don't. Thought i would just go for it, and since i have gotten it, it is great! It is just about what you need for a phone, with a few of the toys.... Ok it's not perfect, but at being a phone, which you can't complain, as with regard to cam performance, when you take a pic it look sgreat on it's screen, that will do. No Phone cam produces that hot a pic anyhow, many digi still cams are small enough to carry about nowadays. The features it posses are fully usable, and does what a semi business phone should do.... Ok it is showy... but that is one of it's usp's. No complaints at all, followed the instruction to the T and battery for me is good. So i am adding to the list of get one! Add it to your other gadgets....
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Reviewed by Striker from India on 27th Jan 2006
First of all, why u guys cry so much for the battery??Please be clear that you have to complete at least 5 full battery charging cycles to get full battery performance.I am using this phone for about 2 months and now thats unlike some guys who JUST got it and started writing reviews cursing nokia.This is no kid stuff, so if u r done playing games and clicking pics of hotties in the college and want something just to talk now and make a style statement then surely go for it.God Bless
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Reviewed by WB from London on 26th Jan 2006
Astonishing. In all the wrong ways. No two ways about it -this is a great looking phone. But why oh why did Nokia not divert some of the money they must have spent on aesthetic design towards getting the basics right? Whatever paraphenalia they come with (MP3, camera, dictation devices, calendars etc etc) most of us want mobile phones to function as phones. We want an easy to use phone with a decent operating system (Nokia still has the most intuitive operating system on the market). We want good sound quality when we speak to our friends so that we can hear what they are saying. And we don't want the battery out run out in less than one day with only moderate usage. The sound quality and battery life on this phone are appalling. Nokia's position in the market is down to a great operating system and a reputation for quality and reliability. They are steadily losing their way with a stream of dodgy handsets over recent years. Consumer familiarity with their operating system alone will not be enough to keep pulling in the punters. If this is what Nokia serves up to their customers in one of their top of the range phones, I think I'll take my chances and go elsewhere next time. Nokia - we want to like you but you are really testing our loyalty and our patience.
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Reviewed by Zoom from Netherlands on 22nd Jan 2006
Great phone! Camera quality could be better or camera must not be there at all. Great sound quality. P.S. mark from Engalnd, you can turn the blue light off, by pushing the buttom on the back of the desktop charger, right next to the jack for the charger.
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Reviewed by mark from england on 19th Jan 2006
I have given this phone a good rating for one reason the style and the weight the reason i like the weight is because i am heavy handed the ringtones make me gringe but you just get a bluetooth connector and download some better tunes when charging the light keeps cuming up a real pain at night but in the day time my torment is easied by the stunning model i have as a screen saver i find the mp3 player okay and the picture quality on the camera could be better but if you like sharp suits and qaulity german cars its most probaly the phone for you but if you crave value for money and practicality dont bother get your self a samsung D600 or the LG U880
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Reviewed by Rolf Wilson from England on 16th Jan 2006
Where do I start, all looks and no substance. As other posters said this is definatley one for the GIRLS. The battery life is absolutley pathetic but worse to come is the tinny and poor sound quality, I agree the ringtones do sound very camp, so much so that I have taken my phone back to the shop and changed it for a different model. How do Nokia keep rolling out these models, who does their product production - Design by Rolls Royce features by Fisher Price!
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Reviewed by Craig from Scotland on 16th Jan 2006
Dunno about alot of people reviewing on here, but I am old fashioned and tend to use my phone for.....well.....phoning!!!. Its great at it's job, i make alot of phonecalls without any major battery issues, it's stylish and well made and if your a heavy user like me it will last. If ye want all the MP3, camera and all the other stuff you find on phones nowadays then buy sommat else, this phone is not a media junkies phone, its just a plain phone, and it does it superbly.
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Reviewed by Runny from UK on 15th Jan 2006
The 8800 is all about style and perfection. The features are not all that, I find that the camera quality is actually better then my nokia 6230! The battery life is bad at the begining but does get better over time. The only bad bits i have to comment on are ; How does one open the back cover in seconds??? it is so impossible to open.... When your charging it on the desktop charger at night, the blue light switches on and off constantly!
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Reviewed by Monty Clampet from Manchester England on 11th Jan 2006
Bad battery life, poor quality sounds and ringtones so camp that you could pick up anyone in Manchester's Village. Definately a phone for the girls or the single gay men .Another disaster from the house of Nokia, when will they ever get it right, my advice is to go with either a Sony Ericsson or Motorola. I have changed my Nokia 8800 for a new Motorola and will never consider a Nokia for a long time to come.A joke of a phone!
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Reviewed by Scot from UK on 7th Jan 2006
This phone is really for those who want to be a little different. I've had mines now for a couple of months and love it. The only down side was having to get a blue tooth connector to transfer my address book.
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Reviewed by Nays from England on 2nd Jan 2006
i have a 8910i and thought it'd be a good idea to upgrade, so i paid my £100 and got one through my supplier, BIG MISTAKE it sucks, it went straight on ebay and my sim went back into my 8910i, the battery life sucks like other people say lasts about a day whereas my 8910i lasted a good few even with very heavy usage, the memory is rubbish, the screen is alright but all the other features are apalling, i even prefer the sliding mechanism on the 8910i, in my opinion it's a waste of time and money, if you have the chance to get one cheap buy it but then sell it on ebay cos there are alot of dumb people out there buying them at high prices, stick with the Razor V3 or V3i both of which are wicked phones, the latter which is awsome! or in my case i'm gonna stick to my 8910i Nays
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Reviewed by Tom from UK on 13th Dec 2005
1 Star due to very poor battery life. 5 stars if they sort it out!
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Reviewed by coxy from england on 6th Dec 2005
THIS PHONE IS THE BEST THERE IS AND EVER WILL BE. I BOUGHT THIS PHONE TO TREAT MYSELF ND IT GOT MORE RESPECT OF FRIENDS ND FAMILY THAN I HAD EVER HAD B4. U FEEL AS IF U OWN A FERRARI OR ROLEX ND U SHOWIN IT OFF. THTS WOT U GOTTA DO WIF THIS PHONE. SHOW IT OFF.WLK THROUGH A MARKET STREET OR TOWN CENTRE AND JUST PLAY WOF IT NON STOP.THEN COUNT HOW MANY PPL POINTS AT U ND SAYS "THERES THE NEW NOKIA 8800" LOL IT 1 QUALITY PHONE
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Reviewed by antonis from greece on 27th Nov 2005
I HAD THE V3 MOTOROLA AND I BOUGHT THE 8800nokia.AS IT CONCERNS THE DESIGN, THEY ARE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL IN THE MARKET!THEY DONT HAVE GOOD CAMERAS,VIDEO AND LONG LIFE BATTERY, BUT WHO CARES!!IF YOU WANT ALL THEM, BUY A PHOTO CAMERA WITH 5MPIXELS OR THE W8800i.THE DIFERRENCE AMONG THEM IS THAT THE 8800 IS A STATUS SYMBOL!!!!!!!YOU THINK THAT YOU HOLD A ROLEX!!THE PERFECT GADGET!!VALUE FOR MONEY!
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Reviewed by steve from lancs on 27th Nov 2005
Superb to say the least, best phone out for the looks of it.
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Reviewed by p0tsm0k4 from UK on 26th Nov 2005
BY THE WAY YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO CHARGE THE PHONE FOR 16 HOURS AS SOON AS YOU GET IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A PERFECT PHONE,GREAT FOR THE GANGSTER!
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Reviewed by wayne bates from uk on 11th Nov 2005
fantastic looking phone with manty features, the battery life is so poor that you need a spare battery in your pocket because if you make calls like i do, you are going to drop a call due to battery life.
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Reviewed by Kool-C from UK on 27th Oct 2005
Phone is fine but battery life totally useless - no wonder they give u 2 batteries! - Flat after 1 day! - Voadphone replacing loads as they have had many of complaints.
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Reviewed by Daniel Parker from England on 24th Oct 2005
This phone is all about style, it doesn't have the best camera or mp3 capability. If you are a business man who doesn't need a phone for camera or music because you have a camera and an mp3 player then get this. It has a great feel in the weight and looks great.
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Reviewed by Gray from UK on 21st Oct 2005
Poor battery, I dont want to be carrying two batteries when i'm going on a journey somewhere. Tiny buttons, I find them impossible to press, heavy, the poorest quality camera of all Nokia's available, poor MP3 ringtones, no upgradeable memory, awkward slide mechanism which is very noisy and not very smooth. Oh yes, on the plus side, it looks nice! But whats the point in having a car that looks like a Ferrari, with the engine and features of a Morris Minor?! Its a disappointing phone, there are numerous others available which are far superior, K750i, 6230i, W800i, E720 etc...
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Reviewed by RAMBO from USA on 16th Oct 2005
If James Bond needed a cell phone this will be the one. It has everything a pro needs. THANKS NOKIA!!! If all your phones were made like this, people will never be out of touch.
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Reviewed by Lewis from England on 15th Oct 2005
400 quid but look at it that is the bets in the world better than the FAT/WIDE Motorola V3 and the V6 well done nokia best phone ever
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Reviewed by Billy from UK on 13th Oct 2005
Today eyeglasses and wristwatches are more than simply functional; they are items of jewellery too. Normally a pricey watch has fewer functions than say a bulky plastic techno model. A designer spectacle frame does not attempt to offer the same protection as for example a pair of safety goggles. Would it be fair to compare a Ferrari with a Focus in terms of boot size and fuel economy? I think it is unfair to compare this phone in terms of technology when it was clearly designed for a totally separate market. As a phone it most certainly is functional, but the combination between superior design, materials and manufacturing techniques makes it very desirable. Excluding phones like the Vertu, this phone is completely in it's own class. I'm disappointed that the phone is equipped with a radio, mp3 player and camera. I'm delighted that the phone does not offer memory expansion or access to iTunes. For those of you who disagree, please do not use this phone in public as I'm afraid you will damage its image for the rest of us. Thank goodness it's so expensive!
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Reviewed by Ali from Uk on 11th Oct 2005
Hell of a expensive phone, but those who want style with all modern functions should go for it,a must have phone , will stay leader in the market for a long period of time because of its niche market (just like 8910i)
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Reviewed by william moore from england on 11th Oct 2005
take the looks away , and you wouldn't be able to give it away.. That's a fact. I felt guilty for selling mine on e-bay for telling them how superfitial it really is.
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Reviewed by lyndon from wales on 11th Oct 2005
The phone looks a million dollars!!! and after having one entering a 12 month contract i feel nautous that i have to keep it for that long.... to list a few bad points., the volume fluxtuates in the middle of calls and is very poor quality with mp3 ,. Then there's the battery life, if you talk for more than 30 mins you have to charge it,. it's like being back in the 90's .. THIS IS CERTANLY NO PHONE OF THE FUTURE. (i'd take the 6230i or 3230 any day over it)
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Reviewed by Ryan from england on 10th Oct 2005
as soon as i got this phone i fell in love, the people who moan about the weight must have known it wasn't the usual plastic phone but a quality, solid, beutiful looking phone. Camera ok but it is a business phone and they don't sell the camera as an amazing feature. Battery power is fine if you follow the instructions in the manual and do the initial 3 full charges, can't beleive how many stupid people there are if they can't read simple instructions. all in all money well spent and can't wait to see nokia's next upgrade to this. can they get any better?
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Reviewed by Karlyne from UK on 7th Oct 2005
Unfortunately after always having had Nokia phones and being impressed by quality this phone has seriously let me down. I am now on phone number 3: No.1 didn't even work when it came out of it's box - loudspeaker was hissing and couldn't hear anything. No.2 worked for about a week then started to switch off mid call or mid text even though there were 3 bars showing on the battery power, started to lose signal for no reason and had to be switched on/off 3!! times to get signal back. No.3 - diabolical battery power - have to charge each battery twice a day and then you still get no more than 3 average lenght calls out of it. Am now changing to either SE K750i or SE W800i. A shame though as I really like Nokia and on looks, feel and standard features (as long as you don't expect to much fancy stuff) this phone beats any on the market........would out class any other phone even more if it was actually working reliably.
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Reviewed by clara from australia on 4th Oct 2005
I totally regret buying this phone. The nokia 8800 is all looks and no substance. Incredibly annoying features are: complete lack of battery life, inability to hear anything half the time (constantly feels as though the volume needs to be turned up), and the WORST ring tones - people look like they want to shoot you when your phone rings - AFTER they die laughing at the ring tone. Also, the alarm is melodic and puts you to sleep rather than waking up. All-in-all, missing some fundamental features.
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Reviewed by Will from United Kingdom on 3rd Oct 2005
The selling point here most definitely is luxury and exclusivity. I like Stainless Steel and fell in love with the phone because of that. Wonderful display, good stable bluetooth and more functions that I'm interested to use (basically all I want is to make calls and send the occasional text, and it's great for that: good reception and voice quality). I also use it to connect to the Internet with my iPaq. Battery life is pathetic but I just pop it in the beautiful charger-dock every night. I'll start using the second supplied battery when the first one packs up: that should give me many years on the standard supplied set. The keys are a bit fidgety but if you are not a teenager (text-ager) it's fine. In Europe it also comes with a standard 24 month warranty. If you don't drop the phone it should stay in mint condition for years thanks to the stainless steel covers and the glass screen. However I'm a bit worried about dropping the phone (the inevitable) because I suspect it will shatter like a china plate. None the less all in all I love this phone it's everything I was looking forward to. It looks great, feels good to hold and is a pleasure to use.
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Reviewed by Tyson from Australia on 2nd Oct 2005
this phone is all class...stop complaining about the battery, you have 2. Nokia says all nokia phones have infra-red but i cant seem to find it in the phone. would be easier to use usb to put music on. i need help putting mp3 on :p
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Reviewed by Stephen from uk on 26th Sep 2005
Paid a lot of money for the nokia 8800 first one i got went a bit mad within days every time somebody phoned it it turned off took it back and got another the next day that was fine but they said the glass was scratch resistant but it is not thats ok cos it is a cool phone a bit heavy i droped it from my shirt pocket and it landed face down cracked the glass thank god i have insurance took it to the phone shop they said it will be sent for repair and i have not heard a thing since that was two weeks ago
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Reviewed by Spoons from UK on 21st Sep 2005
Great phone ... terrible battery!
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Reviewed by bazza from UK on 19th Sep 2005
Nice Phone - useless battery life. Anyone with problems regarding volume control in either hearing or handsfree - When your on a call - use the Cursor pad,pressing the right arrow key to increase earpiece volume - Voila - sorted !!
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Reviewed by paul from uk on 14th Sep 2005
Unless you're gonna use this as a second phone for social occasions I strongly advise you not to get it. Yes it looks really cool and flashy and expensive but certain aspects of the phone or not up to usual nokia standards. For a start you cannot use a usb cable with this phone for fast transfer of mp3 files, it only comes with a mono headset so both radio and mp3 player are mono playback (to listen to the mp3 player in stereo you have to get a stereo bluetooth headset), memory for mp3 is restriced to 48mb from the 64mb available, GPRS class 8 is not acceptable for a 2005 top end phone (it should really be class 10), camera quality isnt very good and the 0.5mp is just an advertising gimmick since it's no better than a regular vga camera, and last but not least, battery life is appalling and doesnt last more than 2 days of minimal usage. To be fair though it does have good points and that is the screen is of amazing quality, bluetooth works really well and the stainless steel cover really is stainless steel. You can't ask for a more solid phone than this if you dont mind certain features being sacrificed.
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Reviewed by Robert G from UK on 12th Sep 2005
It's now a cliché but this phone does look and feel great, however there are a number of problems with Nokia's premium handset. Firstly the battery life is absolutely horrendous, it can't go a day without sitting in it's delightful cradle, and that's under 'normal' usage. Secondly the alarm, sounds very new age and trendy but useless at actually waking you up. Thirdly the speaker volume seems quite low even at max (either that or I'm going deaf). To sum it up if I wasn't such a snob I'd have kept my D500 which did everything better (bar looking as good....)
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Reviewed by Nidas from London on 10th Sep 2005
Perfect =]]
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Reviewed by Mark from Switzerland on 5th Sep 2005
A few simple points should be made here. 1. This phone is not supposed to do anything other than look great, make calls and send texts. It does these. 2. If build quality has been a problem to begin with then that needs to be flagged up and nokia must fix this (mine was fine) 3. I think most people will find that appart from the odd bad experience this phone will hold up considerably better than others - esp. the k750i. This because it is made of metal and also does not try to do too much. A further note - I have had a nokia that broke and so did the replacements, I have had one that still works amazingly. I have had a k700i that whose navigation stick broke (and so did everyone else's who had the phone)and the space key broke as well. The k750i has similar disign flaws. Get this phone, brave the initial problems if you have them, put up with the battery life (use the charger and the second battery) and then in a years time you will know why you bothered. Some phone's are like £2.50 white wine, others mature into vintage champagne.
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Reviewed by KAKS from UK on 5th Sep 2005
GREAT PHONE. PHONE FOR THE PPL WITH STYLE (AND MONEY)! DOES ALL THE STUFF A PHONE IS FOR!! JUST GET IT
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Reviewed by Sid Ward from UK on 31st Aug 2005
It's a nice phone.
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Reviewed by Michael from England on 30th Aug 2005
Blah Blah Blah Looks good and thats where the story ends! Volume is a nightmare and as for the ringtones....don't get me started! All I want is ring ring! Is that too much to ask? Instead I get some grammy award winning fella who might have gone down a storm 100 years ago. These have got to be the worst preloaded ringtones on any phone. Does anybody know how I can get ring ring back please???!!!
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Reviewed by martintol from holland on 28th Aug 2005
ok, blah blah blah phone is beautiful but that's what you all already know :) I hear much garbage about the battery life, this is what you should do: READ THE MANUAL Charge it directly out the box (don't turn it on, I know it's difficult!) charge the spare too. Then use it till you get the charging warning, then use the spare till you got the same message. After 3 of these procedure cycles you battery will reach it's maximum capacity, mine is 3 days a charge (total 72h standby, 90 minutes talktime, 30 minutes bluetooth) If you use it directly out the box you will sacked with a low capacity battery which you have to charge everyday !!! ALSO TURN OFF THE BLUETOOTH IF YOU DON'T USE IT OR YOU CAN LEAVE IT ON (for BT headset) BUT THEN TURN OFF "DISCOVERY"
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Reviewed by darren garnham from england on 27th Aug 2005
had the phone for two weeks had loads of phones all types all makes and found the nokia 8800 to be stylish and easy to use the phone is fantastic. battery only a problem if you are always on the phone 24/7 hence the reason for two batteries. in short style and functionality is what you get.
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Reviewed by Neil from Finland on 24th Aug 2005
I agree with Joseph from Australia regarding some of the detractors' statements about lack of features. The Nokia 8800 is a beautiful piece of craftsmanship, aimed at the high end consumer section. That is it's raison d'etre, not really as a technology showcase, there are other Nokia phones that fill that requirement. So the Nokia 8800 is essentially a fashion statement, and by incorporting the basic phone and PIMs functions such as Contacts, Calendar, etc., it provides the functionality most used by most mobile users. One must also remember the Nokia 8800's compact footprint which has implications for how much technology can be squeezed into a very neat package. A big plus is that at last the 8 series has a scratch resistant tempered glass display cover. Glass displays should always have been in the 8 series anyway for the price level. My only gripe is the battery life, heavy use drains it fast. Not a problem if it's sitting in the desk charger most of the day, but can be a nuisance when carrying the phone around all day away from charging possibilities. Other than that, very very nice.
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Reviewed by Ledge from UK on 23rd Aug 2005
I'm going to start by agreeing with most of the other reviewers, yes the battery life is junk, but it comes with an extra battery which is very easy to slot in and out. And yes the charger has a high pitch whine, but you can move it further from your ear. The keys are a bit fiddley, hey grow a finger nail. It's such a pretty phone you end up polishing it everytime you see a fingerprint, hopefully I'll grow out off that. I like many upgraded from my loved 8910i, and after selling it on ebay I miss it somewhat (sad i know). On the positive side..it's very rugged, the weight makes it feel very nice like a real Rolex compared to a fake. The screen is bright and the signal is always strong (on o2 anyway). It is also the best phone I have had for Bluetooth connections. One of the best things is the comments from friends and strangers alike WOW, but i had that with my 8910i too. If only Nokia had kept the 8910i format this would deserve 5 stars. Maybe next year.
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Reviewed by biggestfan from UK on 22nd Aug 2005
Had to come to the defence. For all the critics I have a few works... Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini. These like this phone are all brilliant machines that have flaws: limited seats; tight bottom row of keys, unbelievable fuel consumption; poor battery life, huge price tags. But who in their right mind can really criticise these cars.. Just like this phone. It has flaws but it does just what's it's there for and looks great. The desk charger sound is annoying though. I'm behind Nokia 100% on this one...
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Reviewed by Louise from England on 21st Aug 2005
Looks great but fails miserably on the practicalities! Have sent mine back to Nokia after only a day because of a problem with the sound. The ring tones and all other sound output have a constant hissing noise in the background. Couldn't understand what was being said on any video recordings I made. Also the keypad is much too small and the bottom row far too close to the edge of the phone. But it does look the dog's ********!!!
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Reviewed by Marco from Netherlands on 21st Aug 2005
this is just a really great design for a phone, and yes it has it's faults (so do all phones), and you won't buy this for the techy extras. I already own a mega pix digi cam, and don't listen to music on the road, if I did I would by a Ipod :) it has all the functions you need for a phone with the added bonus of a sleek and perfect design, there will be a better battery in the long run for sure. now as Nokia has started a new trend, it won't take long for the others to follow, and we'll probably see a Philippe Starck phone in the future.
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Reviewed by Mike from England on 21st Aug 2005
The nokia 8800 is a very heavy phone.Nokia thought that by using stainless steel they would make a better looking phone and shiny phone,but they're wrong!!!!!I am going for the SE K750i(much,much better)
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Reviewed by the boss from australia on 20th Aug 2005
i read the review on 8910i which i owned it before, and most of the review was saying that the phone is cool and amazing exterior and bla bla bla.....not so much concern about the features, and the price of the phone is equally as much as 8800, infact it was more expensive compared to 8800 when it launched. why can't people accept the fact that 8800 is also build base on the good look for the nokia 8000 series family? some of the review about the keypad is hard to press and the battery life is short, i am fully agree with it, but this phone is still one of the head turner on the move.
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Reviewed by Akira from England on 20th Aug 2005
Before I start this was the phone I had been waiting for. Going from 8910 to 8910i, then to the V3 and now the 8800. First off, it's definately the best and most stylish phone out there, definately a head turner. I won't go on about what's already been written. Now the problems - Battery life - As stated, poor poor poor!! Features - doesn't bother me, bog standard! Voice clarity - ok, as mentioned, it can be difficult to hear someone on the other line. But here's the worst thing, I am on my third 8800!! The first one had loose buttons which clicked like the button had cracked. Second phone, fine for a week, then almost every other call, I could only hear someone on the other line by using loadspeaker or handsfree, not by holding it against my ear (like you do!!) Had to wait 3 weeks to get another exchange. Again, fine for first 2 weeks, now I think I've come across more!! About 1 in 8 calls, same as before where the other person picks up but I can't hear anything, not even on load speaker or handsfree this tiime either!! ARRGGGHHHH!!!! If anyone else has had this problem, please please please put a posting on!! Thanks!!
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Reviewed by Why me? from UK on 19th Aug 2005
Why one star? Well, you cannot give -3, can you? What happened is that I bought it after having 8910i, hoping Nokia have learnt and put something else on a pone apart from his amazing looks, but not, not only it has very poor features (as the 8910i), this time they went further making the worst battery life I have ever experienced. Cannot wait to sell it before everyone finds out about it... Thanks Nokia.
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Reviewed by Oscar from UK on 19th Aug 2005
A quite big disappointment for this perfect designed mobile... The good point is its looks, obviously, but it is like going out with a gorgeous blonde who is always sleeping... with the poorest battery life I have ever experienced who cares about design?? One day, maximum 2 if you don't use it... ridiculous!
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Reviewed by Emmanuel from England on 19th Aug 2005
the phone is sooooooooo nice its a must have but its a bit heavy.
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Reviewed by Andrew from UK on 17th Aug 2005
Im not gonna lie to you, when I first had this phone in my hands it felt and looked amazing. Powerfull. I was really quite excited, as most of you reading this can imagine. I was genuinely pleased that I had upgraded it from my Nokia 6630. But once I turned it on to try and use it, it all went downhill. I mean real downhill. Fast. The buttons are impossible to navigate when writing texts, the menu screen looks cheap, like the old 6230. Pressing the 0, * and # buttons are like trying to fit a cube into a circle space. Just don't feel right. Its features were poor. I had this amazing, awe-inspiring machine, but in the end it had no substance. No soul. Using it felt empty. I gave it a go for a day, and by the end I couldn't stand this phone anymore. I'm not denying its looks, but to warrant its £600 price tag?? I don't think so. If you want to impress people, buy this phone. You will do well. If you want a phone that won't frustrate you to every inch of your body, then please consider something else. Something more practical. Like the Nokia 6680, which is now what I have opted for. Or at least wait untill Nokia bring out a 8800i version.
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Reviewed by Kilian from UK on 16th Aug 2005
The Charger has one problem: The blue light emits a high pitch tone. It is so high that many cannot hear it, but for me it was fairly loud. It sounds like an old broken television on standby.
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Reviewed by biggestfan from uk on 8th Aug 2005
Now I don't think anyone expects a mobile to be perfect... But I must say without a shadow of a doubt this is as close as you're gonna get right now. Nokia finally manged to fine tune all those useless functions the competition try to pack in and just give us what we need. Yeah the battery life is a bit poor but who cares, have you seen it.... Well done Nokia, 3 cheers!!
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Reviewed by Amor from Portugal on 6th Aug 2005
What´s the point of having a so called state o the art phone when the battery only resists a day or two the most! I´m not a museum to show off the phone I actually use it to make some calls, and that´s it because during the day I use a Nokia 9500 *****. Since I wanted a phone for night STYLE (calls plus msg) I bought a Motorola V3 Black ***** that can make the job for much BETTER price, great style and the battery life is a little better. If you want a phone for style and can run the extra mile to be on TOP go for the VERTU series, otherwise Motorola V3 Black is a very nice choice.
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Reviewed by Lucky from UK on 5th Aug 2005
The phone is really amazing and it is really nice phone i have ever seen or launched by NOKIA .. and guys if u really wanna go for Nokia then i say " go for this phone " NICE PHONE EVER BY NOKIA
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Reviewed by samantha from uk on 5th Aug 2005
Good looks but the camera is poor dosent worth it
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Reviewed by kingofmybedroom from UK on 5th Aug 2005
Just perfect! League of it’s own! Ppl have criticised the volume but I find it laud enough. No side keys for volume control, but there is one JUST PRESS LEFT/RIGHT KEY WHEN TALKING! And it has a feature called audio enhancer as well. Looks… Well, don’t get me started… gorgeous! Battery life is not the greatest but you get a spare one which can be charged at the same time as the phone. And it’s tiny! Just put it in your small jean pocket and you’ll never notice it. You can even keep it in your wallet! The best thing tho is the feel and touch! Once you use this phone for a few days you’ll never look at other phones in the same way. They just look and feel like cheap toys! And as far as V3 is concerned, it’s just ugly. The top bit is shorter than the chunky bottom part. It looks deformed. 8800 is the best phone to have come out in a long time and I can’t really see anything taking it’s place in the near future!
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Reviewed by Joseph from Australia on 5th Aug 2005
I've read everyone else's review of 8800. I must say that of all the negative points, theres really only two that could warrant being brought up in the first place. 1 - The battery life isn't good at all. At the rate I use my phone I'm lucky if it lasts maybe 80% of the day. I do use my phone quite a bit though. Nokia do give you a second battery and I've heard that there maybe a longer life battery coming out in the not too distant future. 2 - There are times when its a little difficult to hear your conversation. Generally its ok though. Everyone else who said that it was and is a dud, or that the K750i or V3 is better are just fooling themselves. Obviously these people didn't do their homework. This phone like all the other nokias that fall into the premium catergory was never intended to be the most advanced. It was designed to make a statement and nothing else. It generally does all the basic things well, so what more could you ask for? If you are someone who can spare the cash and you like the nicer looking things in life, then I recommend you buy one. If you're someone who wants a camera that takes wonderful photo like pictures or you need more memory, or you may not like the way the keys are a little difficult to function - Then get something else. I'm old fashioned. If you need a phone - Then buy a phone. If you need a camera - Don't buy a phone. I hope everyones catching my drift here. Everyone knows that Ferraris are extremely expensive automobiles. But if you're after a comfortable ride with seat warmers and all the other creature comforts, then you wouldn't buy one. For me.... This is a class above the rest phone. The only real dissapointment is the battery issue.
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Reviewed by partyboy from england on 5th Aug 2005
I have had the nokia 8800 phone for a week now and i am waiting for delivery of a new one tomorrow. Let me explain.... Upon first sight, touch feel and everything is right about this phone, it feels like a proper bit of kit in your hand and looks great. All of the funtions provided are excellent and including the software enable you to have full pc sync. It IS a great phone it just let down by one MAJOR problem if this first unit is anything to go by. The loudspeaker has knackered in this one and hisses but i think that could just be a 1 off but the battey.... oh the battery........... It lasts about 2 minutes. Give it any form of abuse i.e a little bluetooth maybe?? and listening to any music or radio or actually using any of the higher power consuming applciations suddenly the battery cant take it and it shuts down. They give you two batteries for a reason because if you plan to use your phone you'll have to have one constantly on charge and you'll have to be constantly taking the back of your phone, replacing the cover. They should have though of this. What i think will probably happen is Nokia may bring a Li-poly battery out when and if they do an 8800I or a revised model. In the meantime wouldnt it be great if another company started manufacturing them?? Now isnt that a great idea. Someone please make a better battery. Please. Its the only thing we 8800 owners need right now and were getting pretty desperate.
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Reviewed by Karim from USA on 2nd Aug 2005
if you are beyond the plastic, past the camera and video giggles of the school yard and are into using the 'phone',can appreciate form shape and design then the super responsive, durable, and elegant Nokia 8800 is an object 4 you. I have one and i design them for the other side!!!!!
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Reviewed by Moham from UK on 30th Jul 2005
The next generation - ultimate D's B's phone - slick looks, impressive features, highly recommended if you can afford it - will definately hold its value - u just can't go wrong !!!
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Reviewed by Tod from Germany on 27th Jul 2005
Well its cool to have this.. got it at a killer price... but still Moto razr beats it... Looks cool though but motor is still better..
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Reviewed by Dennis from UK on 27th Jul 2005
Brilliant phone, stunning looks and sleek design pretty much summarises the phone. The choice of materials and quality of build is very high and it will attract looks and envy from people around you. The screen resolution is fantastic and the phone features have everything that I need for business use (and more). I personally think that the quality of the camera is good - if I wanted a quality camera I wouldn't buy a phone! The only down side is the battery time which could be better (I hope that Nokia is listening to this). Although two batteries are provided in the box, I rarely walk around town with an extra battery in my pocket. Overall this is a great buy. A bit pricey but the quality is superior to most phones I have had and it is the best designed phone on the market.
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Reviewed by Suzi from UK on 24th Jul 2005
Fantastic phone, camera and all the features work really well. As others have said, the buttons could be spaced a bit better but not a major problem. However, the major problem is, and the only reason not to buy this phone, is the amazing lack of volume when speaking when someone - the reason for having a phone in the first place. Basically, read this and try having a conversation on the phone before purchasing it! If you have experienced anything similar with your 8800 let me know at soozielazenby@hotmail.com
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Reviewed by elle from oz on 23rd Jul 2005
useless, doesnt deserve a star. good marketing ploy by nokia is all. nothing special at all
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Reviewed by Azer from UK on 22nd Jul 2005
A master piece of a design. Imacculate, eye catching and sublime. The best phone on the market.
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Reviewed by Alex from UK on 22nd Jul 2005
http://www.symplification.com/n8800/review :P
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Reviewed by Hui from London, UK on 20th Jul 2005
The phone is amazing! And the price is amazingly expensive! It has all the features, radio, mp3, camera ... you name it. Particularly solid design, absolutely rocks! That's the phone you can get the most WOWs anywhere! Only downsides are the battery life and unexpandable memory. But I believe you still can showoff even when the battery is gone! Anyway, the best phone I have ever seen!
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Reviewed by Neil from UK on 16th Jul 2005
If you want a stylish, well made phone this is the one to get. If you want a feature packed, high spec camera than get the K750i or the W800i. The 8800 does the basics well enough, but man, you have got to love the looks!
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Reviewed by Kari from Finland on 13th Jul 2005
The best phone on the market, battery life could be longer. Simply amazing design.
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Reviewed by Gary from UK on 12th Jul 2005
If you want the most stylish phone around at the moment, and one that is going to turn every head then the Nokia 8800 is most definitely it! It looks and feels absolutely superb, but it does have issues. Firstly, some of the keys are a little fiddly to use (the bottom row and up on the d-pad in particular). Secondly the battery life does seem to be about 2 days max, for average use. Ultimately, if you want a phone for features then buy a Sony Ericsson K750, but if you want a phone that you feel proud to own then there is nothing like the Nokia 8800.
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Reviewed by IMRAN from UK on 12th Jul 2005
BEST PHONE EVER......DURABLE, STYLISH, LOTS OF FEATURES...A SOUND PURCHASE.
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Reviewed by Alistaie from UK on 12th Jul 2005
Good build quality, had it a week and when I touch other phones you really see the difference. Has lots of features that Carphonewarehouse said it didn't (think they were trying to sell me an Erricson). Only bad side is the battery only just lasts a day (you get two), buttons on keys are very small and limited memory. I would buy it again.
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Reviewed by Sati from uk on 9th Jul 2005
awesome
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Reviewed by louise from wales on 8th Jul 2005
not that great was expecting an outstanding phone not worth the £100 deposite then the extra £150 on the £30 a month tariff camera is poor and it is too heavy sony ercisson k750i beats it by miles really disappointed much better phones out there the only good thing about it is the look even though the keypad isn't that nice.
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Nokia 8800 Links