So, my brand new N85 has a wobbly slide mechanism
I was going to gather some initial impressions of the Nokia N85 I received yesterday, but the first impression – besides noticing how sleek and good looking the N85 is – kind of stopped me cold: The N85 unit I have purchased has a wobbly slider.
The wobbliness appears to be very similar to that which plagued initial shipments of the original N95 (as I recall it). I will provide some more details further down, but first I would like to ask anyone reading this, what should I do about it?
Because I really do not know – I am stunned. Until I received the N85 I was convinced Nokia would make absolutely-100%-beyond-any-doubt sure not to release another handset with a wobbly slider. Given the history of the original N95’s wobbly slider - and the general criticism of Nseries sliders – there is just no way awareness of the problem has not made it to the right people inside Nokia. That the problem persists can only be chalked up to either extreme arrogance or negligence on Nokia’s part. I can see it no other way – I mean, the problem was fixed in later shipments of the original N95 so there must be information about how to deal with it inside Nokia’s organization.
But I do not know. My gut reaction is to return the N85 and get my money back. Wait for Nokia to address the problem as they did with the original N95, and then get another, more mature unit – or simply get some other phone now, like the Samsung i8510 Innov8.
So, that is option #1: Return the N85 and claim a refund.
On the other hand, Nokia did address the problem with the original N95. I had mine repaired (slider was replaced) under the warranty – I still have it and it is a much trusted, cherished and all-time favorite of mine.
So option #2: Keep the N85 and hope to have it repaired as soon as Nokia comes up with better slide mechanisms.
What do you think? What would you do? Do you own a N85 and does its slider wobble?
Here is a little more information about the wobbly slider.
First, I have taken some time to decide if I should post this, but I have decided it is not me being overly picky or anal retentive – others have taken notice of the problem too. Symbian Freak posted about it; here is a discussion in the All About Symbian forum, and here is another forum discussion.
The wobbliness is most significant, if the slider is closed, or if it is opened to reveal the multimedia keys. If the slider is opened to reveal the numerical keypad, it actually slides firmly into place.
When the slider is closed and I hold the handset in my hand, it feels as if the upper part of the handset (the display) is not firmly fixed to the lower part – it sort of dangles. Also if I tap the lower right side of the handset – in the vicinity of the red hang-up key - with the slider closed, there is a click-clack sound as the upper and lower part connects.
When the slider is opened to reveal the multimedia keys, the upper part (display) rocks back and forth along the diagonal – similar to a table with uneven legs. Again with a click-clack sound being audible.
It is difficult to capture this problem on video, but in the Mobile Review forum, I came across a link to a YouTube video that makes an attempt:
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November 1st, 2008 at 12:03
Chris,
Early adopter curse strikes again.
I felt as fussy when my 6220 first turned up and wondered whether I was right to be concerned about too much travel in the external trim.
The question is easily answered. Would you expect Apple to put an iPhone into the marketplace which demonstrated a similar lack of quality control as far as the hardware was concerned - software is always another matter because that can be rectified through patches. I’m not a Mac fanboy but can’t fault their comittment to superior hardware design.
My advice would be to swop it over for another in the hope that you’ve just been unlucky with one of the rogue ones and its replacement will hit the sweet spot - consumer protection laws being equal. I’m assuming that this is not a universal problem at the moment and reports exist of delighted new owners out there on the web.
If the replacement is faulty it’s the gods’ way of teling you to hold off and come back later or give the Samsung i8510 a whirl. My daughter has the Samsing Tocco and I have to say the build quality on that model is at least as good if not better than the iPhone.
Keep smiling.
November 6th, 2008 at 22:39
Hello there,
I have had my N85 since last Fri and it was send from Singapore, I suspect it was made in China however the wobbly mechanism on mine thus far is absent. Sorry to hear that the slide nightmare is repeating again. My N95-3 had the same problem, had to be replaced. I love the N85 its an amazing phone besides stupid USB port location and fingerprint magnet it rocks INMO, hope you can sort it out best, rad.
November 7th, 2008 at 00:38
Hi Patrick and radical24,
I decided to do as Partick suggested: I returned the N85 a few days ago. Just tonight I received confirmation from the place where I bought it, that they are giving me a full refund.
I decided, I simply would not bother with another wobbly slider. I was sort of ok to do so with the N95-1 because it was such an incredible phone when it came out, but things are different with the N85. IMHO the N85 is an incremental improvement on the N95-1, so it is not like I am dying to get my hands on never-seen new features.
Still, I was disappointed that I had to return it - I really think it is a cool phone, to both look at and handle. Also, I should really have liked to try out the OLED display.
I think I will wait until it can be had cheaply in a physical shop where I can make sure the slider is 100% OK before taking it home with me. For now, I have sort of set my sights on the Samsung i8510 INNOV8. It has been getting pretty nice reviews at both GSMArena, All About Symbian and MobileBurn. Without having actually tried it, I think it actually looks more like the real heir to the original N95.
My only problem is that the INNOV8 is currently only available at some rather shady-looking, online retailers here in Denmark. I am suspecting some of these have actually parallel imported units from the UK. I have to check this out more thoroughly, before actually making a purchase…stay tuned…
November 8th, 2008 at 18:11
Why do i have to Sufer all The time. I bought Nokia N95 When it was released in India…..And within 1 day My phone stopped working…….Thank god They replaced it…..
But now when i Bought nokia n85 , I din even realize this problem before reading your article..:|
November 16th, 2008 at 11:36
i just bought my N85 last night and experiencing the same problem too. ill try to go back to the store later after work and asked them to replace my N85. i will update you guys later.