The N78 is one of the most recent smartphones released by Nokia, and is an entry-level model in this company's N-series of multimedia-themed smartphones.

At its unveiling, Nokia announced that both European and North American 3G variants of the N78 would be available, and now this has come to pass with the formal U.S. introduction of this device.

About the Nokia N78

The Nokia N78 is one of the first models to will come with an updated Symbian S60 operating system. Called S60 Feature Pack 2, this update adds better device performance, usability enhancements, and security enhancements.

In addition to S60 Feature Pack 2, the N78 features Wi-Fi and 3G for broadband-like wireless data connectivity. Refinements in the operating system also allow these connections to be better utilized in a new feature called Access Point Groups.

Wireless abilities of the N78 are further extended with onboard GPS and A-GPS. The addition of both of these enables geotagging of photos, use of Nokia Maps 2.0, and other location-based software.

Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR and A2DP, and a built-in FM-transmitter compliment the wireless abilities of this handset further.

Backing all of this ability is a relatively large 1200 mAh battery. However, with dimensions of 113 mm (L), 49 mm (W), and 15.1 mm (thick) in a candybar shape, it remains small enough to slip in and out of the hand quickly.

The hardware design is further accented with a front face which "blends" into the background when not lit. The number-pad is composed of three slim lines of plastic, while the dual stereo speakers (top right and bottom left) round out a design created for both entertainment and work settings.

Instead of a 5-way directional pad, the N78 comes with a Navi-Wheel to navigate menus and longer screens. The 320-by-240-pixel screen otherwise dominates the front side of the N78, and offers up to 16 million colors and an ambient light sensor.

This smartphone features a 3.2 megapixel camera with auto focus and Carl Zeiss optical technology. It has a 20x digital zoom with the ability to record MPEG-4 VGA video at 15 fps. A secondary camera is also on-board to facilitate video calling in supported markets.

Pricing and Availability

The Nokia N78 is available now contract-free from Nokia and other wholesale retailers for $580.