The N82 is the latest in Nokia's N-Series range, and the third iteration of a 5MP camera phone from Nokia. The N-Series phones are now challenging each other: there are already two that sport a 5MP camera, and here's a third. The major difference is the form factor; the Carl Zeiss optics, paired with a Xenon flash, put this one a step ahead of the cameras in the N95 and the N95 8GB.
The N82 is meant to be a value phone with loads of features.
The Bundle
Nokia N82
Stereo Headset
Data Cable
Charger
User Manual & Software CD
Specifications
Network: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 / HSDPA 2100
Dimensions: 112 x 50.2 x 17.3 mm
Weight: 114 gm
Screen: 16 million colours; 2.4-inch TFT; 240 x 320
Battery: 1050 mAh; Talktime: 4:10 hours
Layout and Design 
The navigation keys are soft, yet very tactile. The alphanumeric keypad has similar keys to the ones on the N91, which are too thin for quick texting. The face of the phone overall flashes a metallic look.
In between an unshielded microUSB port and a charging port is the memory card slot (with a dust cover) on the left, while the right side of the phone has the volume controls, two camera buttons, and speakers on either end to provide a stereo effect. The top of the phone has the power button and a 3.5 mm earphone jack, so you can connect your choice of headphones instead of having to use the standard headset.
The rear of the phone has the camera and the Xenon flash. There is a slider that opens the lens cover while also activating the camera.
The Camera 
A commendable job! After the many tries at perfecting a camera phone, this one is the best Nokia has managed, and it does well to take it right up to the camera phone king Sony Ericsson. The Carl Zeiss optics with auto-focus does very well indeed. The maximum resolution offered is 2592 x 1944; for videos, it's VGA (640 x 480) at 30fps, and it delivers pretty decent results. The camera offers various modes for still images.
In auto mode, you can notice that the colours are a bit washed out. The image is not too sharp, nor too blurred. It's a result of the image being over-processed -- something you'll see on all Nokia phones.
Landscape Mode, too, sees similar results because of the over-processing.
The portrait image is good; it is much clearer.
In Macro Mode, a bit of blur is noticed on the object being focused if you try to get too close. The phone confirms a focus and gives a green signal to capture, so maintaining the required distance, you get good results, with good colour reproduction and more sharpness.
In Sports Mode, the post-processing of the images is reduced to make possible the option of quickly taking the next shot. There is still a bit of blur in the image. The shutter speed is not as fast as on the K850i. For example, the image above was captured when the car just got into the range of the viewfinder; at a speed of around 50 to 60 kmph, the car was captured on its way out of the viewfinder.
The N82 with its Xenon flash is pretty good at capturing images in the dark. The camera doesn't feature an LED, though, like the one on the SE K850i, which helps while capturing a video in the dark.
Overall, the camera has outdone most Nokia camera phones. You can expect very acceptable results from the N82 -- the best from Nokia, and this is probably the best 5MP camera after the K850i.
The Interface 
The Nokia N82 runs on the latest iteration of the Symbian Series 60 OS i.e. v9.2 release 3.1. The phone has a 332 MHz ARM 11 processor, which keeps the phone quick through its menus. It doesn't take too long to open apps, and switches between them quickly. A motion sensor detects the orientation of the phone and accordingly rotates the screen. Unlike the UI-rotate on the K850i / W910i (restricted to Multimedia), it's unrestricted on the N82. Leaving the Standby Screen, everything else, be it phone applications or installed applications, rotate.
The phone comes pre-loaded with Nokia Maps; the maps are more or less accurate, and you have the option to update them. Turn-by-turn Navigation isn't available; you can use the demo, which will last you only three months, after which you'll have to purchase it.
There is a new app on the N82 called Video Center. It basically groups all the video options under one app -- My Videos (videos captured through camera), Internet Videos, Nokia N-Series Video, and the option to add RSS video feeds. The N82 also supports the N-Gage gaming platform from Nokia. The games have to be downloaded, and in some instances, paid for. The N82 has another new app, Home Media. This app lets you share files over a Wi-Fi network -- something along the lines of sharing files over a LAN. The Search app makes it easy to search for files on the phone as well as over the internet; this app reduces lots of navigation through and to the File Manager.
A bit over to the business apps front: the phone has QuickOffice, which needs an upgrade if you wish to edit files. Adobe PDF and ZIP is provided. There is a barcode reader provided as well, but I don't understand the application of this software in an N-Series phone.
Multimedia
The Multimedia aspect of all the N-Series phones to date has been average; the N82 follows along similar steps. The audio player is the same, with an 8-band equalizer. Audio enhancement options -- like Loudness, Stereo Widening, etc. -- are seen on this N-Series phone as well. Visualization, though, is something not all N-Series phones share; the Visualization uses the entire screen rather than a small window, making it uncomfortable to use.
The audio quality of the N82 depends a lot on the headphones being used; especially since a 3.5mm jack is provided, it's best to use your own (good) set. The provided headset is poor if you want to listen to your music; it's OK for FM, though. The FM tuner is decent, and surprisingly, non-RDS, though it doesn't really matter at this point in India.
Video playback is really good, thanks to the 2.4-inch display. That makes the major difference -- a large screen. RealPlayer remains the default player, with the capability to play most of the mobile formats.
The N82 also has a TV-out through its 3.5mm jack, which is good, because you can display presentations etc. on a large screen. The cable for this comes with the package.
Connectivity
Battery Life
The 1050 mAh battery is a powerhouse, and provides the phone with at least two days of run time. The Xenon flash, Wi-Fi, and GPS, when used, do drain the battery. But if either of the three is used extensively, it still provides a decent battery life of around a day and a half with 2 to 3 hours of talktime.
Our Conclusion
The Nokia N82 sells right now for just Rs 21,000, and comes with a one-year warranty -- a great buy. Talking about the camera again, the N82 has the best 5MP camera on a phone after the Sony Ericsson K850i, but nevertheless, it's way ahead in terms of overall features. The phone just doesn't disappoint at what it's meant to do. Even though it's bulky, it surprises you with its weight -- and not at the cost of build. Just a little complaint about the keypad; otherwise, the phone is a winner.
Considering that the better camera phone, the K850i, sells for around 19K, a drop of around 1 to 1.5K in the price of the N82 will kill the competition!
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