IPhone 3GS vs Nokia N900

From WikiVS, the open comparison website

iPhone 3GS		Nokia N900
	VS
http://www.apple.com/iphone/iphone-3gs		http://maemo.nokia.com/n900

The iPhone 3GS and Nokia N900 are high-end smartphones that benefit from performant hardware and graphics acceleration. The iPhone 3GS is the third iteration of the iPhone, while the N900 is a phone-enabled branch of the N800 series, which was an internet tablet series, not a mobile phone series. The two phones are strikingly similar in their hardware specs, while completely different regarding software.

Contents 1 Software 1.1 Operating System 1.2 Multi-tasking 1.3 Multilingual Support 1.4 3rd Party Applications 2 Hardware 3 Dimensions

[edit] Software

The software for the iPhone and N900 are incompatible with each other. Although the processors are the same for both phones, the software platform running the phones are completely different, both architecturally and in design.

[edit] Operating System

The iPhone 3GS runs the proprietary iPhone OS developed by Apple. The N900 runs the Maemo v5, which is a Linux-based Operating System that is mostly open-sourced.

[edit] Multi-tasking

The N900 has a distinct advantage over the iPhone in that the Maemo 5 OS supports running multiple programs at the same time. This allows the N900 to behave more like a traditional PC and might provide for more creative interoperations between programs in the future.

[edit] Multilingual Support

Both the iPhone and the N900 have multilingual support. Both can display Unicode characters and input CJK via input methods. The iPhone comes with Japanese, Korean, and Chinese inputs by default, while the N900 will need to install the input method packages separately. The N900 has potential to support more than just CJK languages since its platform is open sourced.

[edit] 3rd Party Applications

The iPhone 3GS and N900 both have SDKs to enable developers to develop applications against the phone. The N900 has the distinct advantage in that the Maemo OS itself is open to community development and enhancement. Applications for the N900 can be installed however you like, while the iPhone must install all its apps through the App Store. There are no restrictions for how you develop and sell an application for the N900, while iPhone applications can only be distributed by compliance with Apple's App Store policies and pricing.

[edit] Hardware

The iPhone 3GS and the N900 both sport high-end mobile hardware and are comparable, if not identical, in many specs:

Spec	iPhone 3GS	N900
Processor	OMAP 3430 (600 MHz)	OMAP 3430 (600 MHz)
RAM	256 MB	256 MB
Internal Storage	16/32 GB	32 GB
Battery	1219 mA	1320 mA (Replaceable)
Screen Size	3.5" (88.9 mm)	3.5" (88.9 mm)
Screen Resolution	480 x 320	800 x 480
Touchscreen	Capacitive	Resistive
Bluetooth	Yes (2.1 Profile)	Yes (2.1 Profile)
GPS	Yes, Assisted	Yes, Assisted
WIFI	802.11b/g	802.11b/g
GSM/EDGE	850/900/1800/1900 MHz	850/900/1800/1900 MHz
UMTS/WCDMA/HSPA	850/1900/2100 MHz	900/1700/2100 MHz
Accelerometer	Yes	Yes
Camera	Yes (3 Megapixels)	Yes (5 Megapixels)
Flash	No	Yes (dual-LED)
Video Recording	640×480 @ 30 FPS	640x480 @ >30 FPS 848×480 @ 25 FPS
Graphics Processor	PowerVR SGX SGX535 +	PowerVR SGX SGX530
FM Transmitter	No	Yes
FM Receiver	No	Yes
Multi-touch screen	Yes	No
Screen Usage	Finger Only	Finger & Stylus (Includes Stylus)
QWERTY Keyboard	No	Yes
MicroSD Card Slot	No	Yes
Video Out	Yes	Yes (Includes Cable)

[edit] Dimensions

The N900 is slightly bulkier than the iPhone due to the presence of a full QWERTY keyboard:

Dimension	iPhone 3GS	N900
Height	115.5 mm	110.9 mm
Width	62.1 mm	59.8 mm
Thickness	12.3 mm	19.55 mm
Weight	135 g	161 g