The N-Gage QD is the follow-up to Nokia's original gaming cell phone that debuted last autumn to decidedly mixed reviews. The new version of the gaming cell phone still packs many of the basic features of its predecessor; it's a GSM (850/1900) smart phone using the same Symbian 6.0 OS found on many other Nokia units and with Bluetooth connectivity. But the company has overhauled the N-Gage's design to offer improved usability. And this model will be easier--and cheaper--to purchase. You can buy it with an unlocked SIM in retail stores for $179 on June 29 or from a carrier with a locked SIM and service for less.
Upside: Like its predecessor, the Nokia N-Gage QD's focus on gaming is evident from its horizontal layout, its color screen, and its thumbpad controls. But the company took special care to fix some of the glaring flaws found on the original. For example, rather than having to remove the battery first, you can now slip game cards into a dedicated external slot. Furthermore, the phone can be held flat against your face when making calls, instead of the perpendicular positioning that prompted so much ridicule the first time 'round. The QD is also 20 percent smaller than the original N-Gage, with a more affordable debut price.
Downside: The unit's display, while brighter, is not as spacious as that of the Game Boy Advance SP. Additionally, at $30 to $35 each, N-Gage games (sold on interchangeable MMC media) are more expensive and comprise a much more limited selection compared to those available for the Game Boy Advance. And while the N-Gage QD is GPRS-ready, it doesn't support the higher-speed EDGE data network. Although Nokia is touting its N-Gage Arena for future titles, multiplayer support currently remains limited to face-to-face encounters via Bluetooth.
Outlook: The Nokia N-Gage QD appears to have corrected many of the flaws of its predecessor, but only time will tell whether the redesigned model can win over hard-to-please gamers already ogling future portable products from Nintendo and Sony.
Upside: Like its predecessor, the Nokia N-Gage QD's focus on gaming is evident from its horizontal layout, its color screen, and its thumbpad controls. But the company took special care to fix some of the glaring flaws found on the original. For example, rather than having to remove the battery first, you can now slip game cards into a dedicated external slot. Furthermore, the phone can be held flat against your face when making calls, instead of the perpendicular positioning that prompted so much ridicule the first time 'round. The QD is also 20 percent smaller than the original N-Gage, with a more affordable debut price.
Downside: The unit's display, while brighter, is not as spacious as that of the Game Boy Advance SP. Additionally, at $30 to $35 each, N-Gage games (sold on interchangeable MMC media) are more expensive and comprise a much more limited selection compared to those available for the Game Boy Advance. And while the N-Gage QD is GPRS-ready, it doesn't support the higher-speed EDGE data network. Although Nokia is touting its N-Gage Arena for future titles, multiplayer support currently remains limited to face-to-face encounters via Bluetooth.
Outlook: The Nokia N-Gage QD appears to have corrected many of the flaws of its predecessor, but only time will tell whether the redesigned model can win over hard-to-please gamers already ogling future portable products from Nintendo and Sony.