Nokia N97: The Ambitious Touchscreen Smartphone with a Sliding Keyboard
Remember the Nokia N97? This ambitious smartphone hit the market in June 2009, aiming to shake up the mobile world. It combined a large 3.5-inch touchscreen with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, giving you the best of both worlds.
The N97 packed 32GB of internal storage, a 5-megapixel camera, and ran on Nokia’s Symbian operating system. It was Nokia’s second touchscreen phone after the 5800 XpressMusic, showing the company’s push into the emerging smartphone market.
You might recall the N97’s unique design. When you slid out the keyboard, the screen tilted up at a 40-degree angle. This made it easier to type and view content at the same time. While it had some quirks, the N97 represented Nokia’s bold attempt to compete in the rapidly changing mobile landscape of the late 2000s.
Evolution of Nokia Smartphones
Nokia’s journey into touchscreen smartphones began before the N97. The company experimented with different designs as it adapted to changing mobile technology trends.
Before the N97: Nokia’s Early Touch Devices
Nokia’s first touch-enabled phone was the 7710 in 2004. It had a wide screen and stylus input. In 2006, Nokia released the N800 Internet Tablet with a touchscreen and web browsing.
The 5800 XpressMusic came out in 2008. It was Nokia’s first full touchscreen phone for the mass market. It ran Symbian OS and had a resistive touchscreen you could use with a stylus or finger.
These early devices helped Nokia learn about touch interfaces. The company gathered feedback to improve future models.
Developing the N97 Concept
Nokia wanted to combine a large touchscreen with a physical keyboard in the N97. They aimed to please both touchscreen fans and those who preferred typing on buttons.
The sliding design let Nokia fit a full QWERTY keyboard without making the phone too thick. They added a tilting screen so you could use it like a mini-laptop.
Nokia packed the N97 with features like GPS, a 5MP camera, and 32GB of storage. They hoped these high-end specs would compete with the iPhone and other smartphones.
The N97 marked a big step in Nokia’s smartphone evolution. It showed the company was willing to try new designs to stay relevant in the changing mobile market.
Design and Features of the Nokia N97
The Nokia N97 combined a large touchscreen with a sliding QWERTY keyboard. It ran on Symbian OS and offered multimedia features like a 5-megapixel camera and music playback.
Touchscreen Meets Sliding Keyboard
You’ll find a 3.5-inch touchscreen display on the N97. It’s resistive, so you can use it with a stylus or your finger. When you need to type, just slide the screen up to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard.
The keyboard is tilted at an angle for easy typing. This design lets you prop the phone up on a table to watch videos hands-free.
The N97’s body is mostly plastic with some metal parts. It feels solid in your hand, though it’s a bit thick compared to other phones of its time.
Operating System and User Interface
The N97 runs on Symbian v9.4, also called S60 5th Edition. This was Nokia’s first touchscreen-optimized version of Symbian.
You can customize the home screen with widgets for quick access to apps and info. The interface uses a mix of touch controls and physical buttons.
The phone comes with basic apps like a web browser, email, and navigation. You can download more apps from the Nokia Ovi Store, but the selection is limited compared to newer app stores.
Multimedia Capabilities
You get a 5-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics on the N97. It can record video too, though not in HD quality.
The phone has 32GB of built-in storage for your music, photos, and videos. You can add even more space with a microSD card.
There’s a standard 3.5mm headphone jack, so you can use your favorite headphones. The N97 also supports FM radio if you want to tune in to local stations.
For sharing media, the N97 includes TV-out functionality. This lets you connect it to a TV to show photos or videos on a bigger screen.
Reception and Impact on Mobile Industry
The Nokia N97 sparked mixed reactions from critics and consumers. Its launch marked a pivotal moment for Nokia as the company tried to compete in the rapidly changing smartphone landscape.
Critical Reception and Sales
The N97 got some praise for its large storage capacity and sliding keyboard design. You could store up to 48 GB of data on it, which was a lot for phones back then. Some people liked the physical keyboard for typing long messages.
But many reviews were not so positive. The touchscreen felt less responsive compared to other phones. The software was seen as clunky and outdated. Battery life and overall performance disappointed many users too.
Sales numbers for the N97 fell short of Nokia’s hopes. While exact figures aren’t clear, it didn’t become the hit product Nokia wanted.
Nokia’s Position in the Smartphone Market Post-N97
The N97’s lukewarm reception hurt Nokia’s standing in the smartphone world. You could see the company struggling to keep up with faster-moving rivals like Apple and emerging Android phone makers.
Nokia’s market share started to slip after the N97 launch. The company seemed to lose its edge in innovation that had made it a leader before.
This phone marked a turning point. Nokia began to realize it needed big changes to stay competitive. The N97 pushed the company to rethink its smartphone strategy completely.
Legacy of the Nokia N97
The Nokia N97 left its mark on smartphone history. It tried to blend a touchscreen with a physical keyboard in a unique way. This design choice influenced later phones.
Influence on Modern Smartphone Design
The N97’s sliding keyboard inspired other manufacturers. You might see its impact in today’s phones with foldable screens or attachable keyboards.
The N97’s large touchscreen was ahead of its time. It paved the way for the big displays you now use every day.
Nokia’s attempt to mix touch and physical inputs taught valuable lessons. Phone makers learned what works and what doesn’t in smartphone design.
The N97’s focus on multimedia and internet features set a trend. Now, these are standard in all smartphones you use.
While the N97 had flaws, it pushed boundaries. Its bold design choices encouraged innovation in the smartphone world you know today.