Nokia 5800 launches - avoids iPhone comparisons

So the iPhone-killing, touchscreen, Nokia 'Tube' 5800 XpressMusic has finally arrived and the big news is - it isn't an iPhone killer. Not according to Nokia anyway. Stuff.tv was the first to get hold of one for a video rundown and, as it reports, Nokia's been at pains to avoid comparisons with Apple's 'Jesus Phone'.

Instead the Finns have pitched the 5800 to Stuff as "a music phone with some cool touchscreen abilities," or, in Nokia's own words: "a mobile device for music that brings innovative new features to the mass market." Read on for more.

So why the modesty? After all, it's touchscreen, runs the capable Series 60 Symbian OS, packs a matching 8GB of storage and has all the same GPS and HSDPA goodies.

Certainly Nokia's been modest with the price. A pocket-friendly 279 Euros, which, after adding the VAT, works out at around £254, SIM-free. That's almost £100 cheaper than O2's £349.99 8GB pay-as-you-go iPhone.

A quick comparison may make you wary of the smaller screen (3.2 vs 3.5in) and chunkier body, but neither of those seem like drawbacks when you consider that the screen has a far higher resolution (640x360 vs 480x320) and the iPhone is noticably wider, so not so jean friendly in comparison after all.

The there's the fact that the 5800 includes voice guidance with its Maps app, trumping the iPhone as a credible sat nav substitute, and the camera's a superior 3.2mp. Add in the Nokia's handwriting recognition, better battery life and its MMS and video recording abilities and it starts to look like a walkover.

Sure, the iPhone has Apple's undeniably desirable design flair and the back up of iTunes but 5800 isn't exactly a dog and will eventually be available with Nokia's 'Comes With Music' service.

Right now, the iPhone does have one big advantage. You can buy one. For all the fanfare, you won't be able to buy an 5800 till early next year in the UK. Come then, though, it'll be gloves off. Ding, ding.

[ Press Release]