1) N85 has OLED which makes images look like they would to our eyes.. You can look up more info I am sure you will find heaps.

2) N85 uses 1200mAh battery and they N96 will use a 900mAh which is just terrible decision by whoever designed the N96.

In fact the previous version N95 8GB used the 1200 mAh so I have no idea why they reduced it.

3) In the N96 they have removed the 3D support for games which was available in N95 8GB. I am not really sure about the N85 but I am thinkin if they are releasing it as a gamin mobile they may retain the 3D support.. which would be awesome for all the games.

4) The N85 comes with an in built FM transmitter… which is something I just love cos then you can just stream music from your mobile to you car or stereo system basically anywhere there is an fm radio. “LOVE THIS feature wish more mobiles would implement it”

4b) Faster CPU in N85 compared to N96 can also be seen in many benchmark tests

5) The N85 comes with a sliding camera lens cover like in the older silver N95, which is absolutely necessary for a mobile with such an awesome camera(5mp). Not really sure why they removed this feature from the N95 8GB and the N96.
This is another reason why most people should choose the N85. I mean you have a 5mp camera you want to take clear pics for as long as the mobile lasts. Not just the first 2 months after which the lens is completely filled with dust like my N95 8GB. I was really annoyed about this. So happy to see it back in the N85.

6) This point is not really a comparison, but more to make a point that some of the N96 features are not worth it, I am referring to the DVB tuner in the N96 which is totally useless in Australia as we do not have mobile digital tv.

In case I seemed partial well then ok there are 2 things which may be said to be better about the N96.

1) It has 16Gb memory vs 8Gb card in N85
2) The screen is 2.8 inch vs 2.6 inch in N85

To me just these 2 points cannot convince me to leave the N85 and go for the N96.

To see the bright side the 0.2 inch lesser N85 would conserve lesser power with a better battery(1200mAh).

As for memory we can always plug in the latest 8 or 16 GB memory cards to make up for this feature.

So please guys just wait for the N85 and don’t be impatient and get the N96 which will be released earlier.

I’ve used both (and I’m currently using the N85) I have to say it beats the N96 hands down. The N96 is a poor follow up to the N95, the N85 makes a much better fist of it. It even mimics the N95′s original issue with the slider – where the bearings come loose and the whole front moves when you press buttons with the slider open. Irritating.

n85 music playing quality is awsome, sounds like a professional stereo.

i’ve got both phones here right now and pretty much above comment’s are true, but i doubt a few like the n96 has bad build quality and feel cheap it most certainly does not, the sliding movement on the N96 is much mroe sturdy than that off the N85 and also the N85 on duel slide button’s does not have 4 button light up just 2, also the key’s of the n85 are slightly smaller than them on the N96 which is annoying to some user’s, i disagree and say the N85 feels cheap compared to N96 which is more a solid build.

They both have the same cpu but obviously the n96 has more to handle as we all know,
through media the N96 actually has better sound quality and option’s compared to the N85 which at max volume can sound dissorientated and the N96 has undoubtebly better speaker’s and volume.
the video obviously is won over on the n85 straight away due to the screen but if you are not a fussy on superb quality* some people orefer thepn96 larger screen.
the N85 wipes out the N96 on battery, although nokia stated they dropped it from 1200 to 900 due to the fact that they apparently made it more energy efficient on running it’s OS ( although it’s the same ) and that they made it more efficient in the media areas to make it last, although i disagree as trust me i’ve been using it for some time and the battery is a bi concern on the phone if you do use it for media/games or make a lot of call’s, n85 lasts longer in any way doing any function.

The Camera on the N96 is actually slightly better in function’s and properties than the N85 but still i think the N85 just win’s this over by the screen yet again, as for software/features the N96 does pack more in than the N85 although it does lack a FM transmitter which can be handy on the N85 in many places.

both phones are good a reliable in all way’s and it’s annoying that the N96 does not have certain properties that the N85 does have, but still both phones are good in my oppinion there is not one you can say is best it depends purely on the individual.

some people prefer the phone for it’s look’s aswell as speed and cpu e.t.c= N85
but some people dont mind being patient with their phone but having more availabilty on media, better sound + larger screen, but lack the battery . = n96

in anyway people all got their different view’s and to some people the N96 will be better for their personnel experience on the phone although the N85 to the first user over quick time does seem better i personelly to myself prefer the N96 after spending some time with it, i also am not to keen on the build of the N85 and find it slightly annoying how on the media key’s on duel slide they have 2 bit’s of plastic aboce and below da key’s which creates a horrible look, i just think the N96 is more sturdy and hardcore at first look and it felt it to me, although it still lack’s many thing’s like a camera cover fm transmitter* and scroller and battery but without that i can cope with the screen being LED because its slightly bigger and i like it, and it has a huge more memory capacity which to me is definetly a good + for personnel use mine is at nice 32 gb yes it makes it slow but i can bear it ( certain trick’s u learn with phone to cope easier + use a good explorer on files and diff media player to playback at times many other htins to imp it too although general use can be slow i got patience). main things i suffer on the phone battery as major letdown severly bad nokia need sort it or should suply 2 battery and additional charger unit lmao. and it lack’s lens cover which over time does have bad longterm effect’s on the camer especially if the phone is not kept in a case and is used in a wide variety of workspace or near any dust/compound’s. and through gaming people say the N85 has this 3D accel that the N96 does not now im not sure about this but i cannot find no game that is for the N85 that does not work on the N96 and if somone has come across one please post it or tell me and i will most proberly prove you wrong.

certificates at the rdy hehe

I own an N85, and a friend of mine has an N96 so i’ve had quite a good experience of both phones and i think:

Yes Nokia are insane for making the battery much less powerful on the N96, particuarly under heavy useage this is a kick in the teeth.

The N85 screen is fantastic and produces a very good quality image with the better screen. Although the N96′s isn’t exactly awful either. But N85 worth the change.

The big one for me is build quality, the N85 has buttons that light up on the keypad and on the main menu buttons and the media buttons on the reverse slide so when you close the phone the lights go out and its neat. The N96 for most buttons is just paint or something which looks cheap and tacky… also the N96 is huge.. the big turning point for me was when i thought, “The N85 has pretty much all that the N96 has (and more in areas) but without carrying a brick in your pocket”

The main advantages of having an N96, DVB-H etc etc… aren’t worth the trouble as yet, and even so you can buy the DBH-V adapter for the N85 anyways so it’s not like your missing out!!!! also the 16gb internal memory on the N96 is impressive and a nice thing to have and extra 8bg with a card, but again you just buy a 16gb card for the N85 pop it in, so no real issue there.

Overall both phones are excellent, but for the extra dosh and size the extras aren’t worth it

hope people find this info interesting

whoever said the n85 has only 2 buttons on the dual slide is a complete retard! If took the time to look you would see that the dual slide is just as good as the n96 if not better. you only see two buttons when you r playing a game.