Today, it is not enough that your cell phone function as a phone. The various features and capabilities are the deciding factors in many consumer minds. The Nokia N79 is very similar to the Nokia N97. But where they do differ, the difference may be significant. Which phone is best for you? Well, that depends on what you want your cell phone to be able to do. Let's take quick look at the key features and capabilities.



A picture is worth a thousand words and both phones speak loud and clear. 5 mega pixels and Carl Zeiss optics make the picture taking capabilities quite good. LED flash and built in auto-focus ensure that you will get the picture you want regardless of which phone you use. Additionally, each phone is capable of capturing video at 30 frames per second.

The entertainment features are also quite good in these Nokia models. Both can function as MP3 players, stereo FM radios and can play downloadable Java games. Only the N97 has a built in video player. Watch MPEG4 or WMV clips right on your N97.

The display screen is quite different and can be deciding factor for some consumers. The N79 measures 2.4 inches while the N97 is 3.5 inches. Add in the fact the only the N97 has touchscreen functionality and many consumers will begin to have a strong preference based on how they prefer to interact with their phone.

Size matters. Many prefer a smaller, lighter phone and at only 97 grams, the N79 fits the bill. The N97 weighs in at 150 grams. But there is a reason the N97 is so much larger. The N97 comes with a full QWERTY keyboard.

The messaging options with each phone are similar. SMS, MMS, email and Instant Messaging are included with both phones. The Nokia N97 has the additional feature of Push Email. This means that the N97 is constantly updating the inbox so you know immediately when someone sends a new email. This can be very important if you need to be in constant contact with friends, family and business associates.

Memory and data capabilities are becoming increasingly important factors in the purchasing decision. The phone books of each are quite large and allow a significant amount of data to be entered on each record. The ability to transmit data with each phone is nearly unlimited. While neither phone has an infrared port, both are equipped with Bluetooth, GPRS, HSCSD, EDGE, 3G, WLAN and a USB port. These phones only begin to differ when looking at the memory. While both are equipped with a micro SD slot, the Nokia N79 is limited to 8GB while the N97 can access a 16GB micro SD card. The difference in internal memory is even more significant. The N79 has 83MB while the N97 has a whopping 32GB.

Finally, battery life. Talk time on the N79 maxes out at 5.5 hours. The N97 maxes out at 6.67 hours. While both have very respectable talk times, for many consumers, this is the most important feature of a cell phone.