Beauty is only skin deep, they say, but in the Nokia N9's case form and function go hand in hand in a package that's as eye-catching as it is capable. Here we zoom in on our five favourite design features.

Nokia N9 MeeGo smartphone with 3.9-inch screen launched

Let's be honest: who among us expected the Nokia N9 to look as fantastic as it does? That's not to sell the Nokia design team short, of course. But in our many discussions and debates about specifications and operating systems, we inadvertently built a picture of a handset that would be functional – spectacularly functional, perhaps – but not explicitly an object of desire.

How wrong we were, because the end product looks simply spectacular. And the best part is it's not design for design's sake – the bold design decisions that make the Nokia N9 so appealing on the eye are entirely consistent with broader themes that define it on the inside too. What do we mean by that? Read on as we explain...

The simplicity of swipe

Nokia introduced the Nokia N9 with the catchphrase: “all it takes is a swipe”, and it's a philosophy that speaks as much about this beautiful handset's design as it does about the all-touch interface on board. Focusing on this unified, single interface ideology has allowed to replicate that on the outside with a unified, single design approach that is aesthetically clean and elegantly simple. There are no physical buttons getting in the way, and the screen melts into the chassis to make a visual impression we're still happy to return for repeat doses of.

Curves in all the right places

The tendency these days is for smartphones to be getting larger because of increasing screen sizes, but thinner because of ever-advancing electronics under the surface. Many high-end handsets look gangly as a result, and feel fragile and awkward in the hand. Not so the Nokia N9. The subtly curved glass display blends into the sides of the chassis, while a similarly curved rear helps the Nokia N9 sit comfortably in the hand. The overall effect is of a handset that's well proportioned, made up from elements designed to be used together.

Polycarbonate construction

Nokia's choice of a polycarbonate unibody chassis delivers not only better overall reception, but makes for a phone that feels solid and sturdy in the hand, with all the internal components attached to a single shell around them. The fact that the polycarbonate is coloured before the unibody is pressed means any knocks or scrapes the Nokia N9 picks up won't reveal any uncoloured surface underneath, as there's no paint to scrape off in the first place. The matte finish, meanwhile, not only suits the bold design but makes for a more tactile surface too.

Spectacular 3.9-inch screen

What's the perfect size for a smartphone display? The jury may still be out, but the Nokia N9 must be pretty close to the sweet spot, delivering plenty of high-res display real estate without compromising either the overall aesthetic appeal or your ability to actually get it into your pocket. The already-impressive AMOLED screen tech is accentuated still further by the fact that there's no air between the display panel and the sturdy Gorilla Glass above, leaving icons that look like they're floating on the surface of the screen.

Front Facing VGA camera position

It's a design step that may attract as much controversy as it does compliments, but the placement of the front-facing VGA camera on the bottom-right of the Nokia N9's face – rather than on above the screen, as is the norm – makes more sense the more you think about it. After all, your eyes are towards the top of your face, so it makes more sense for your line of sight to be focused above the camera position than below it.

Overall, we think the Nokia N9 makes a strong case for being the best-looking smartphone Nokia has ever made. Do you agree? Is there a single design highlight that has made a particular impact on you? Feel free to share in the Comments below!