This is the third part of my review series of the new Nokia N93i. This time around I was really mostly interested in comparing the photo and video quality of the two devices. Today is somewhat photo-heave, tomorrow I’ll have more video comparisons.
All right, here are the comparison shots. All images were shot with the factory firmware. I have not made any color correction or used any kind of image editing software. Portrait images were rotated to that format in Flickr, not on the computer.
What do you think? Which camera takes the better pictures? Leave your opinion in the comment section!
N93 (above)
N93i (above)
N93 (above)
N93i (above)
N93 (above)
N93i (above)
N93 (above)
N93i (above)
N93 (above)
N93i (above)
I will be buying the N93i by next week.Please,I want to know things about it…If its really tight? Get back to me via email jck_doug@yahoo.com
Superb! I think I prefer the N93i, but only just! The picture noise on the N93 is quite considerable at times, plus the auto-focus is much slower on the N93.
I prefer the N93i for all pictures except for the Books to Review picture. The chalk pictures are the same to me.
On the plant shot, it is clear that both cameras are focusing on different subjects. N93 has chosen to focus on the leaves in the background and N93i has chosen to focus on the foreground leaves .
On the landscape shot with hte trees and the building in the far background. it is interesting to see N93i having red fringing where the overcast sky hits the branches. On the N93, we get purple fringing.
Quality wise, the N93i ’s photos are ready to deploy and share, whereas the N93’s images definitely need work before it can be shared. Both are resolving pretty much similar detail, with the N3 resolving slighting more texture detail where the N93i has opted to smudge it in order to get a less noisy image.
Indeed, the image quality of both these units are remarkably similar, as they share the same optical engine, and photo sensor. N93i just has more software post processing on the image, making it much more appealing in terms of reduced noise. A noise reduction switch would have been a nice addition though, ambe next firmware…
MAzor
It seems that the N93i photos seem brighter…like its metering the light better.
Actually, both look superb, however the N93i just barely edges out the N93 and I mean barely. Is it enough for a present N93 owner like myself to upgrade…hum let me think? The answer is no. And I will even go further to say that interested buyers should choose the N93 over the N93i because I see a substantial price reduction in the near future for the older but just as capable model.
Alex, in your video, you said that the camera mode switching is not refined to the standard of the newer N93i. This was true at one time with the initial software but now the most up to date version 20.8.058 announced and released (at least from Nokia Service centers and where I had mine updated) since early November 2006 has corrected this problem. And specifically the modes spec was updated so that when changing from imaging mode to any other mode with camera still active the user interface returns to idle screen rather than activate the video conferencing screen.
Also your comment about the shutter sound is not completely correct concerning the N93. The shutter sound does indeed become totally silenced in the silent mode. All one has to do is press and hold the pound # key down.
You are doing fabulous work but please before you film a comparison, please check that all the up to date facts are straight.
Thanks to you all for giving me really great feedback!
Xmangerm,
the video review is based on my model of the N93. Nokia USA has not released an update for download here and the only way to update the phone is through a Nokia Service Center. I personally think that the customer service for Nokia phones here in the US is absolutely horrible.
While Marge at the Nokia Flagship Store in Chicago is awesome and incredibly helpful, I do not think that I should have to drive 11 hours to get something as stupid as a firmware update. Essentially, the customer is left on his/her own here in the States.
I can see that you’re writing from overseas, keep in mind that the firmware versions vary according to the region the phone is being sold in. My Nokia N93 shutter does not turn silent when pressing down the # key, as far as I know this only works for European models.
Additionally, my intent is actually not to compare an up-to-date version of the N93 to the N93i. I think that there are people like me (without an update) who might consider upgrading to the N93i. I am aware that the firmware update eliminates a lot of the problems that I address, but -as stated above- it is somewhat unreasonable to drive half a day to get to these updates. I am not downloading the update from the Nokia Europe sites, because it would invalidate my warranty.
So, as you can see, I am aware of the issues that you brought up, researched them months ago, yet still dissatisfied.
Best,
Alex
Hello Alex,
Thank you for responding.
It is unfortunate that Nokia USA has not released an update for download as of yet. And even worse, the lack of service centers in your geographical area is appalling for an 11-hour drive is very unreasonable even for the mighty N93. In contrast, the small city that I live in (about 35,000) there are at least two service centers within a 15 minute “walking distance”.
Nevertheless, since you are drawing worldwide fans of the N93/N93i to your website, it would still be better if you just plainly stated in your video that euro versions have corrected these problems and US versions have not. And with such a strong statement, Nokia USA will likely get off their butts sooner and give at least halfway decent service. Please remember, that through your excellent reviews you are influencing fans and potential buyers worldwide—not just in the US. They need the entire story.
Xmangerm
I prefer N93 way over N93i.
1) landscape photo with N93i has burned highlights, snow is totally white without any details
2) what is the point of the tree photo? To reveal focus problems? Some explanation would have been nice. Bottom line is you really can not compare two such a different photos.
3) chalk board photo has once again burned highlights in N93i photo, the chalk rest is plain white, no details visible. Text lost in the book covers with N93i. Lousy performance.
4) the chalk photo shows pure white chalk, no roundness visible due to once again burned highlights.
= N93i ruins pics by screwing up metering, they look just like from my Canon Ixus from year 2000, not impressed. N93 is way better.
Hey!
I got a new cell phone in Spain too, Sony Ericsson K7501 red, for only 29 euros. Pretty good
It is difficult to catch you. Send me an email in you can.
I’ll be in Madrid from next Tuesday on, for one uyear at least.
I hope to hear news from you soon
I prefer the N93 over the N93i to.
The N93 Pictures are more “realistik” the N93i is too white.
Bekouse i prefer pictures that are more like your eay se it,
and to that the N93i is to bright.
And you can focus close pictures whit the N93 better than anny other phone
whit the optical zoom ( training) .
(sorry for bad eng)
FRIENDS
I DISCUSSED N93I WITH MY NOKIA CARE FRIENDS THEY TOLD ME THAT
THE HIGHEST POSSIBILITY SHOCK ABSORBING PHONE THAT EVER MADE BY NOKIA IS I N93I. n93 have above 50%shock resisitence ability than n93I
FOR N93 CUSTOMERS READ CAREFULLY
*******************************
ONE OF THE NOKIA OFFICIALS REPORTED THAT
NOKIA IS WATCHING “FORM.NOKIA.COM” A FUTURE FIRMWARE UPDATION FOR N93
TAKE THE ADVANTAGE OF IT
HOW?
****
CURRENTLY YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH YOUR NOKIA N93 LIKE
LOW LIGHT SENSEITIVITY
BAD PICTURE EVEN BIG SIZE(WHILE LOW LIGHT)
HOW TO SOLVE?
************
REGISTER YOUR NOKIA N93
AND GO TO FORUM.NOKIA.COM POST YOUR PROBLEM LIKE “LIGHT SENSITIVITY”,APPEAR DOTS IN LOW LIGHT AREAS
AND REQUEST THEM FOR “MAKE A FIRMWARE FOR CAM CORDER”
WARNING
* *
DONT TELL THEM ABOUT SIZE PROBLEM LIKE PICTURE MAYBE SOME TIME MORE THAN 1MB
WHY?
****
YOU KNOW WE NNED BIG RUNWAY FOR A GOOD TAKE OFF , AND LANDING
GOOD PICTURE PROCESSING OUT PUT MUST BE UNCOMPRESSED EX:KODACK,SONY CYBERSHOT,NIKKON
OK?
NEXT YOU MUST DISCUSS
********************
RAM YOU KNOW WE HAVE ONLY 50 MB OF RAM IN NOKIA N93
BUT WE GOT ONLY 24
WHY N93 RAM LIMITED TO24MB?
**************************
ACCORDING TO NOKIA CARE AND NOKIA FINLAND OFFICIALS “THEY NEED RAM OF GRAPHICS PROCESSING”
17 FRAMES PERSECOND WHILE GAMING
EXAMPLE:YOU KNOW WE NEED NVIDIA GFORCE 6600 OR HIGHER FOR “PLAYING NFS CARBON GAME OR FEAR GAME
total ram 50mb free 24 diffrence “26″
WHY WE NEED TOO MUCH RAM?
*************************
MY ANSWER IS GO TO WIKIMAPIA.ORG ?////////// IF WE HAVE AT LEASE 35 MB OF RAM SURE WE CAN BRWSE THRUGH WIKIMAPIA
SO WE DONT NEED GPS PHONES ANY MORE (N95)
ALL YOU WANT TO DO
******************
REGISTER FORUM.NOKIA.COM TODAY AND ASK FOR A FIRMWARE
FOR
1)PICTURE PROCESSING IMPROVEMENT WITH OUT TOUCH ITS SIZE (ITS CORE YOU KNOW)
2)NOKIA RAM BOOSTER( MINIMISE GRAPHICS PERFORMANCE AND BOOST RAM. USER CAN SWITCH BETWEEN RAM BOOSTER MODE & GAMING MODE)
I KNOW OUR IDEA IS GOOD BUT REMEMBER IF YOU CAN DRAW NOKIA ATTENTION TO THIS SUBJECT
YOU CAN SAY I KNOW WHERE I AM THROUGH WIKIMAPIA
ONE MORE TRIC
REGISTER WITH MULTIPLE NAMES
READ AND POST REPLAYS IN DIFFRENT IP ADDRESS
NOKIA ALSO CHECK IP DETAILS
GO AHEAD BY **********nokian93grey@yahoo.com bye……………………..
Hi
I agree the photos are better on the n93i, but are the videos also better? I heard the n93 makes better videos than the n93i. I want to buy one so I need to know which one makes better videso. Please!
Thanks
Aban
I’m from Malaysia. My n93 to date satisfies me. Even though photos are really dim compared to other phones, but the qualities are still great.
My phone comes with a card that says “Register your Nokia N93 today.”
And so it asked me to visit http://www.nokia-asia.com/mynokian93. However that site do not exist. So i was wondering how am i suppose to register my n93? And what advantages do i get from registering?
i am really unbelieveble,that phone are great,but why the flash light aren’t strong?plzz nokia make the flashlight stronger,and that make perfeckly.
Hi Alex,
i like your coparisons very much, thanks.
Could you please do a video comparison between both phones shooting night videos. Please try to compare which one produces more pleasing video picture in low light and please clarify if the N93i has something called “Night Video” mode or not.
Thanks.
Evochamp
Hey Xmangerm, I have just got my hands on N93i. Indeed the changing from still photos to Video is alot more seemless than on my N93. My N93 is running the latest 20.xxx and yes indeed it does change between modes faster, but the N93i does it even faster.
Mazor
Hi! I would like to ask which phone nokia n93 or n93i makes better videos because I was thinking to buy nokia n93i but then I read somewhere that nokia n93 makes better videos than nokia n93i and now I don’t know which phone should I buy.
So please tell me which phone has better video quality.
i couldnt help noticed that my n93 doesnt have that annoying camera application running while im rotating the screen in fix position..and i can take picture in silent mode without the shutter sound interfearing..i guess thats an issue with your firmware..my n93 works EXACTLY the same as n93i as in showed in the video..
I bought the N93i reading your reviews and one thing i tell you about the phone is
1) it keeps shutting off so I have to keep checking whether it’s off or on?
2) the shutter sound in my mode doesn go off even in the silent mode and this is n93i
I live in Dubai and bought the phone here.
Can you help in any way?
Hi! I own an N93 and I have issues taking pictures and shooting videos on low lighted envoirment even using the Night Mode and when I am using the optical zoom in the same darken areas, the image becomes even darker.
I noticed that the N93i takes better pictures even in dark places, but what about the videos? Does the N93i shoot videos better than the N93? The issue about the optical zoom in darken areas is solved? I was thinking of getting the N93i, but I wanna be sure first I don’t have the same problems. Thanks
hi guyz..
can anyone tell me the conclusion whether is N93 or N93i Better ?
coz i realli very interested in getting one and upon seeing all the pro and con from the reviewer and sometimes it evn appears to be opp from different reviewers..
i’m realli in a big doubt. i realli hope u people can give those ppl under the confusion juz like me , an answer that will satisfy us and help us better in choosing which one to buy that will benefit us most. Is it N93 or N93i ?
Thank you for the most help =)
hey.. i’m thinking about buying either the n93i and the newer n95. please advise me on which one is better regarding the coverage here in the US(California) for both phones (like 3G support, the navigation feature of the n95.. stuff like that..)and who takes better video. because obviously, the 5megapixel sensor on the n95 would outperform the 3.2 on the n93i on photos. however, both offer the same resolution and frame rate for video. so i’m kinda torn on that. i want to know which one shoots better video and whether any of these phones offer VIDEO LIGHT or have an accessory for video light. thank you.. please post your response here or email me at geneearl_728@yahoo.com will wait for a response from you. thank you!
Oh N93i set coz i realli very interested in getting one and upon seeing all the pro and con from the reviewer and sometimes it evn appears to be opp from different reviewers..
i’m realli in a big doubt. i realli hope u people can give those ppl under the confusion juz like me , an answer that will satisfy us and help us better in choosing which one to buy that will benefit us most. Is it N93 or N93i ?
own an N93 and I have issues taking pictures and shooting videos on low lighted envoirment even using the Night Mode and when I am using the optical zoom in the same darken areas, the image becomes even darker.
I noticed that the N93i takes better pictures even in dark places, but what about the videos? Does the N93i shoot videos better than the N93? The issue about the optical zoom in darken areas is solved? I was thinking of getting the N93i, but I wanna be sure first I don’t have the same problems. Thanks
Sir
Sent me all things
Possibly the most important change with the design of the N93i is the size and weight difference from its older brother - the N93i sheds size in every direction, including 10mm (0.39″) from the length of the device. The Nokia N93i is also lighter than the N93, weighting in at 163g (5.7oz), down from the N93’s 180g (6.34oz).
Mr.Dodge Strut
Possibly the most important change with the design of the N93i is the size and weight difference from its older brother - the N93i sheds size in every direction, including 10mm (0.39″) from the length of the device. The Nokia N93i is also lighter than the N93, weighting in at 163g (5.7oz), down from the N93’s 180g (6.34oz).
Mr.Dodge Strut - http://www.replacementdoparts.com/dodgestrut.html
N93 is better when it comes to photos and videos but in physical appearance N93i ROCKS!
man i dont gonna buy the nokia n93 the nokia n93i is very much beter then the nokia n93 i beware you people dont buy nokia n93 but by nokia n93i the best phone
hello im again the honor alex i wanna ask you something have the nokia n93i a muvee
Well…I would prefer the nokia n93i…Nokia n93i has a brighter picture…So umm yeah I really want to get this cool phone! Nokia n93i rocks!!
Press 15951 if you think Nokia n93i is better than n93 i think Nokia n93i is better
Nokia n93i rocks man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Press 15951 if you think Nokia n93i is better than n93 I think Nokia n93i is better
Hi..Im one of the N93 owner in Indonesia..I chose N93 than N93i,coz it’s keypad.N93 has a “fat” keypad otherwise N93i’s keypad is flat..But to be honest N93i appearance is absolutely great with it mirror design..
I wanna ask u one thing..I bought my N93 in singapore,but i realised that my N93’s video recorder is really bad in low-light situation,even it can’t record at all,n after i tried to change it to night mode,it became a black n white colour…
i really dissapointed bout it..Even in low-light condition N73’s video recorder is much better than my N93,which people say the ultimate device with dvd movie quality.
Am i able to fix that condition?
PLz give the solution for it to my email address.Thx Xmangerm
wow! im getting the N93i real soon andi think i made a wise choice after watching your reviews and seeing the pictures.
Hi,
N93i videos are superior since there is less digital noise and film looks better overall. However, the original N93 videos appeared to have better colour reproduction, although it was slower and its joystick was harder to use. The N93i, on the other hand, is a fairly delicate phone. The zoom key, and the joystick are especially susceptible to damage if the phone has a fall. I strongly recommend a good leather case, which will make the phone bulge a lot in your pocket.
Overall, this phone was a great purchase, though I do wish telephone calls were louder. I mean, even on the highest volume settings it can be hard to hear someone, and the internal memory is quite limited.
I hope these comments have been helpful.