Compare N8 with Galaxy S II (detail)

Initiation
When my girlfriend in June 2011 their smartphone adopted (incidentally a not so favorable Christmas gift on my part) accidentally into toilet grave, I decided to give her my true N95 8GB and to reward myself with a new smartphone to the matter wrest at least something positive.

So - Reviews checked and compared alternatives.
Apple fell from the outset, no Flash, rudimentary Bluetooth, astronomical prices for poor hardware, iTunes compulsion Apple dictatorship which Apps terms and and and ...
Windooffon 7 just copied called more bad than good and was not to be taken seriously, then did not even copy / paste ... therefore the question arose - and thus Nokia Symbian remain faithful, of whom I have been always very enthusiastic? Or would you rather get a taste for Android?
Well, I was a very satisfied customer Nokia, this is a fantastic smartphone N95 8GB, so there was the N8 already in my cart here on Amazon. However, I really wanted to try something new, and thus I chose just to the Samsung Galaxy S II. The leap from N95 8GB to the Galaxy S II was of course enormous. Display, handling, performance, browsing like on the PC, better GPS and even the camera had a significant improvement - 3 1/2 years technical edge precisely.

Why am I writing in this review?
Well, it was recently re-Christmas and since that time I had toyed with the purchase of a very Nokia N8, I grabbed the opportunity with both hands to give my girlfriend a second chance and smartphone simultaneously to satisfy my own curiosity - I ordered a her N8 for Christmas. (The N95 8GB is now entered into my father's services - reliable as ever ;-))

The first three days I could not put your fingers that thing, my girlfriend used as long as their old 10 euro LG phone because I needed the time to set up. Upon delivery, smartphones are now times only half as much. It was interesting for me to change after six months Galaxy S 2 on an N8. In daily use, especially following things have me here noticed ...

Comparison

1. processing, design and feel
Me personally the N8 has been increasingly addressed by design, as the eternally-looking Android phones. The value is higher than the Galaxy S2, the size is more practical for one-handed operation. The aluminum housing of the N8 is undoubtedly scratch prone than the Galaxy S2, but I use both a Case. Biggest gripe is the changeable without Torx screwdriver battery. However, one can here with several chargers (at work, home, car, travel charger) manage very affordable and convenient. And after two years the battery is just swapped times. 5 Stars

2. Internet / Email
The Internet browsing is on the N8 a little worse than on the Galaxy S2. This is mainly due to the lack of Flash capability of Opera browser I use and some smaller displays. From the performance point of the N8 is the Internet experience also a spark behind the Galaxy S2, in particular the default browser with Flash Lite support. However, I'm waiting here on Symbian Belle, which in the next few weeks (Update: many sources speak of 8 February 2012) will be distributed. In principle, I could live very well with the performance of the browser N8 because Opera Mobile the device makes legs.
The email client can do everything that the Galaxy S2 standard client also can. Apps like ProfiMail can also expand this scope, for my needs, however, is not necessary. 4 stars

3. Apps
I was surprised that I actually do not miss Apps for Symbian ^ 3, which I really also use in everyday life with my Galaxy. On the Galaxy I have now been installed at the 150 Apps. On the N8 to the 40. The important for me include: Palringo (ICQ client), Skype, Fring (for video calling!), S-Banking, DB Navigator, Navigon (Android 50+ EUR, free Nokia), Shazam , DailymeTV, Facebook (N8 Recommendation: fMobi), Twitter (N8 Recommendation: Gravity and Twingo, Galaxy S2: Plume), PDF and Office Reader (N8 Recommendation: Picsel Smart Office, Galaxy S2: Documents to Go and ezPDF Reader), Swype , Accuweather, Whatsapp, flashlight, sports tracker, YouTube Downloader, Dukto (data transfer to the PC via WiFi) ......
In addition, the Nokia Beta Labs on the page some Nokia exclusive apps are being developed that I find really awesome and did not want to miss (Nokia Bubbles, Nokia Situations, Nokia Bots, Nokia Sleeping Screen).
In the mass of the Ovi Store can not compete with the Android Market, of course, but all apps whose unavailability pose a KO criterion for me, for the N8 in very good quality available. If in doubt you can before you buy the Android Market and the Ovi Store look easy times and decide where the preferences are.
The Symbian typical freedom to download apps not only from the store, but from any page, both devices have in common. Plus point for Symbian and Android, Thumbs Down Windows Phone and iOS!
The in-house software Nokia Ovi Suite is the way to worlds better than Samsung's KIES - to my chagrin. Although this kind of data management is obsolete, I know that it's important to know a few - Outlook synchronization with Samsung Kies is a nightmare, and works just fine with the N8. 5 Stars

4. Navigation

Since there is not much to say that has N8 clearly ahead. Cards on the mass storage, no roaming charges, TMC, faster Fix, Advanced Lane Guidance, lifetime updates etc. - ie everything the Galaxy can and much more. The graphics are not quite as chic as in Google Maps, but that's a typical Symbian problems. Got my full Garmin Navi my father for Christmas. 5 Stars

5. Multimedia
Again, scores the N8. Built-in FM Transmitter with crystal clear CD quality (if you value Gold, but also useful in any other radio no Bluetooth car radio!.), HDMI output for holiday movies and photos (app here Recommendation: Nokia Big Screen), USB On the Go much more sophisticated as the Galaxy S2 (read it to join to the N8 each keyboard USB while my Galaxy on all keyboards rumzickte - high power device error message, including a reproducible crash that could not be solved), play any audio and video formats, chic Cover Flow animation in very ordinary music player (retrofit its lack equalizer via eponymous app is), FM and Internet radio. 5 Stars

6. Phone and Organizer
Nokia's best discipline, but both smartphones, the phone function properly. The in-house calendar function is better in Nokia, the Galaxy makes app Jorte calendar a good impression. The keyboard is the Nokia due to the lower screen size a bit smaller, works with Swype but with some practice also wonderful. A small but nice feature is the Nokia alarm clock that works even when switched off. My Galaxy hangs at night switched on the charging station and burns unnecessary power. 5 Stars

7. Camera
For a cell phone camera is beyond doubt. Of course, lacks an optical zoom, but that's about it. The Xenon flash is more convincing than the LED light at the Galaxy, the quality of the photos is really fantastic, we have no other camera more, even for the holidays. The only downside - a xenon flash can not logically be used as a shining light for flashlights App. I recommend the installed photo browser through the App Photo Browser 2.0 to replace, as these strongly with the standard photo browser speeds up a little lame focusing the photos and many other convenience features bring. Disappointing the Galaxy the strong red tint in the middle on completely white surfaces (often criticized on the forums), as the N8 does not have any problems. Really great is the video function, especially the audio recording. When I filmed last year at a festival band Acts with my Galaxy S2, I noticed the autofocus difficulties of the device (it is constantly alternating sharp - focus - sharp - blurred) and especially the bad overdriven audio quality of shots -The could even my N95 8GB better! Certainly I would expect from such a noisy environment not crystal clear quality, but here's the Galaxy really disappointing ('m trying to make do now with the app LGCamera, it could so far not yet tested under similar conditions). With the N8 which is much better, even if only with HD Full HD instead. A hardware camera button I miss the Galaxy now also. 5 Stars

8. Hardware and Connectivity
In terms of hardware, the Galaxy has paid purely technically a big lead. 1.2GHz Dual Core vs 667 MHz single core (supported by a multimedia processor), 1GB Ram vs 256MB RAM, etc. The performance you realize that only partly. The N8 need a bit longer to start apps or complex Flash animation in a browser to play, but that's it. Otherwise, the N8 behaves very performant, stable and reliable. By this I mean especially multitasking, general touch input and work with a wide variety of apps. However, one must also remember that both smart phones are small computers that wish to be cared for here. With 50 pointless apps in the startup, both the N8 and the Galaxy S2 to the lame, pesky snail. For the Galaxy S2, this means: install Boot Manager, kill apps regularly with Task Killer and reboot every day. For the N8 I have with the app Netquin Mobile Security found a small tool that allows you to RAM and phone memory entmüllt touch of a button - for free!
The display is as mentioned a little smaller, also in the resolution, but I am no less enthusiastic than the display of my Galaxy. The colors are saturated, crisp and sharp, the decent angle and, if the readability in sunlight.
I was surprised how long the battery lasted. When Nutzintensität my girlfriend (now and then, however, with UMTS and WLAN permanently online) are the standby three days! As a power user holds the N8 - like all other smart phones - just by a day. However, my Galaxy S2 even in standby holds no longer than a day by what is of course also be due to the 100 unnecessary apps ;-) Positive is also the midnight black theme highlight. By AMOLED technology pull only the pixel stream that really light up also. Because the display is a battery eater, so you can already save a lot of battery life, instead by a quietschbunten background image simply selects only black and best yet greatly reduces the brightness. Works with the Galaxy also wonderful. Since both smartphones are unfortunately only equipped with a mono speaker, take on this point not much. At full volume, however, the Galaxy speaker sounds really tinny a corner.
Incidentally, I have, since I had used the N8, missed a notification LED and the Nokia Sleeping Screen on my Galaxy. Here is all users Galaxyanern the free app NoLED recommended.
In the connectivity, the two opponents do not differ so much. WLAN, UMTS, Bluetooth. That USB and HDMI OnTheGo work better when N8, I had mentioned above. With JoikuSpot app the N8 is a portable Wi-Fi hotspot. 5 Stars

9. Symbian vs Android
The market launch in late 2010 the most criticized by the press point was the Symbian ^ 3 OS. At that time, for me to understand in parts, today this criticism is still outdated. Nokia has kept its word, and despite announcing future re saddle on Windows Phone 7, Symbian improved steadily. By 2016, Symbian will be supported at least, Belle comes in all likelihood still in February 2012, Carla and Donna in the following years.
Every smartphone has a limited shelf life, even my Galaxy S2. Irrespective of the bad update policy of many manufacturers with Android OS (see LG with their Optimus Speed, which more than 12 months of competition lagged), I do not think my Galaxy S 2 to the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update further will be supported, because the Galaxy S 3 is already in the starting blocks. For Iphones not siehts different.
I like the Symbian ^ 3 interface very, because it is a hybrid of the old S60 interface and Android 2.2+. The Belle Update's are then also 6 instead of 3 homescreens and androidtypische pulldown message bar with shortcuts for Bluetooth, WLAN and UMTS, including more intuitive operation. So far, one can very well with the app LeControl manage 1.11 which very well as a homescreen widget accepts the latter function and beyond even more useful as a permanent block provides certain access points.
Even if a Symbian surface should not like, you have the apps SPB Mobile Shell and / or Grid the ability to use an alternative surface which is the Intiutivität and speed of Android Gingerbreads in every way.
Exemplary I find that Symbian every time an Internet connection is set up, ask for the access point, if one does not enter a standard point. Like some nervous or you can find it as complicated, I think it's great! (But unfortunately with the Belle Update away) 5 stars

10 .Price
The N8 with its 270 euros currently the much cheaper device. That's when I shelled out even 550 euros for Galaxy S2's, now it is to have already for 440 euros. The price-performance ratio speaks clearly for the N8.

Conclusion
Although many strengths and weaknesses have already been mentioned, I hope that the review from the point of the comparison with a Galaxy was still helpful.
For me, all in all it is clear that both smartphones are excellent technology, but have different strengths and weaknesses. One must know what one puts in a telephone value easy.
The N8 is the better GPS Navi, the better camera, better the Multimedia Center with impressive connectivity and has for my taste the more noble style.
The Galaxy S2 is a full-fledged Internet Tablet replacement with fantastic browser, seemingly infinite Appangebot and intiutiveren operation.