Nokia 808 PureView... One day later

Introduction

The 808 PureView is one heck of a phone. With a 41 Megapixel camera on the rear, Symbian Belle FP1 inside, and a whole load of other significant features, it was most probably one of the most highly anticipated Nokia phones in 2012. So what are the first impressions after a day of usage? Keep on reading for the full details.

Hardware

If you are one of those people who saw a lot of 808 pictures since its official announcement at MWC '12, you'd probably be thinking this phone is a triumph of function over style. It does have a 41 Megapixel camera sensor on its rear after all right? Well, you'll be glad to know that this isn't the case at all. The phone in real life looks a lot better than in pictures. The front is dictated by a slightly curved 4" screen and a black finish on the whole front panel, and just like the N9, all the sensors and front cam are hidden very well thanks to that finish. There are also the 3 buttons found on most symbian handsets, and the phone has the breathing light functionality which informs you if you have a missed call or a new message as well as a low power mode clock on at all times. The sides of the phone are very smartly designed, hiding the real thickness of the phone and fitting the phone nicely in the hands. On the right side, you have the volume rocker with good feedback, the slider lock, and the camera shutter button which is one of the best I've used on a phone, despite its fairly small size. But the star of the show is the rear, with the camera bulge behind a beautiful metallic finish perfectly showing off the monster hidden under. You can immediately feel the camera is a special one. The matte ceramic finish feels premium too, and if you were disappointed in the exclusion of aluminum found on the N8, you shouldn't be. This phone is already a heavy weight champ at 169 grams. Metal would have increased that number, and probably made it uncomfortable to use. 

Important notes on the Hardware

• The phone fits in my jeans' pockets nicely despite its thickness, but I would assume slipping it into skinny jeans might not be the best idea in the world. 
• The phone is heavy. But its not heavy to the point where you can't use it on a daily basis. 
• The screen's pixel density is disappointing. It just can't compete with HD screens. You will have to look at the phone from a close distance to see the pixels though, so it's not a deal breaker. I just wished Nokia would have had a screen with higher ppi. 
• The screen technology is fantastic. No problems what so ever under direct sun light. Colours are punchy and saturated. Clear Black Display technology really works. 
• The 3 buttons on the front are easy to press. Nothing like the 603. 
• The loud speaker is loud and clear. As a matter of fact, I compared it directly with my friend's Samsung Galaxy S3, and it beat it in loudness, hands down, and with almost identical clarity. 
• It lives up to its expectations as the absolute camera king!

Software

It runs on Symbian Belle FP1 ( Nokia Belle if you really want to follow Nokia's new name scheme. ). Its the quickest and smoothest I've ever seen symbian run, but thats not saying much. Its no meego harmattan in terms of smoothness, and no where even close to windows phone, but don't be too quick to call it a major flaw. It has a lot of built in applications that are actually quite handy. Big Screen, DLNA play, Vlingo, Silent Film maker, shazam and Joikuspot to name a few. It also does real time mutlitasking like a champ, has multiple customisable home screens with a lot of built in widgets, and a lot of setting to customise it the way you want. The Nokia Store doesn't have the largest number of apps, but it definitely has a few gems that are needed to make the symbian experience complete.

Important notes on the Software

• Fastest symbian phone. Feature packed to the bones
• Great customisation
• Still not as smooth as Nokia's own meego harmattan
• Camera software is fantastic. Perfect for a phone with a special camera like the 808.
• Not a lot of apps, but few great gems like gravity are ones you use daily and will keep you happy.
• Not enough usage to put a perspective on battery life
• I don't like the symbian keyboard. But you get used to it eventually
• Nokia social is still a joke. 
• Browser still behind all competitors, but usable.

Wrap up

To sum it all up, I really like this phone. I knew what to expect, and so I was pleasantly surprised with some things I didn't expect to like, such as the looks. The camera is fantastic. I'm no cameras expert so I wouldn't write a full review, but trust me on this; from the pictures I've taken so far in all lighting conditions, there is no camera phone even remotely close. It lives up to its expectations. So far, its whipping the floor with the N8.