From the point of ergonomics, the Nokia 5800 smartphone has a very neat balance of weight and dimensions. It might feel a bit too thick (compared to Apple iPhone or HTC Touch Diamond), but that doesn’t stand in the way of comfortable operation at all. The handset feels comfortably in the hand, the soft-touch coating on the back is really nice and isn’t as easily soiled as the back panel of iPhone. As far as the quality of materials and assembly is concerned, we recommend glimpsing through this article: smape.com/en/articles/test/Nokia_5800_Tube_vs_Apple_iPhone_3G-comp.html

Touchscreen controls were never successful in replacing the conventional mechanical buttons while preserving the same level of operation comfort, especially for typing. The typing speed with the virtual keyboard of 5800 is roughly twice lower than with the conventional keyboard of E61i (which is probably the best among all mobile keyboards) and a time and a half lower than with the keyboard of E71, a compromise solution. As for the physical dimensions, the situation on this front is much better. We prepared an exhaustive overview featuring comparisons with a variety of other models to find out whether the Tube is a real…

So we went on a brief expedition, collecting all the phones from people around the office and took some pictures to give you a chance for visual appreciation. We didn’t include iPhone since there’s already a corresponding article available on our site.

Nokia 5800 compared to Samsung D900

Nokia 5800 compared to Samsung i8510 iNNOV8

Nokia 5800 compared to Nokia E71

Nokia 5800 compared to Philips Xenium X800

Nokia 5800 compared to Motorola ROKR EM30

Nokia 5800 compared to E-TEN glofiish X900

Nokia 5800 compared to Nokia N78

Nokia 5800 compared to Nokia N95

The real-life difference is marginal, despite the availability of a 3.2’’ screen. For instance, even the Samsung i8510 slider is bulkier in a closed state. The only touchscreen model that outruns Tube in this aspect is the miniature Philips Xenium X800, but the thickness is still the same in either case. Apple iPhone is much thinner, but wider and longer as well, being less comfortable to hold in the hand. The only Windows Mobile gadget to challenge 5800 in terms of size is E-TEN’s Diamond, glofiish X900 being too bulky. Here come a bunch of pictures serving better than words:

As mentioned before, the first touchscreen S60 smartphone does poorly on the fashion side, but is extremely handy, various features coming in plenty (which results in the side effect of a 1.5 cm thickness)

The conclusion is banal: the Tube is a weak player on the fashion field, all focused on the practical side. If you’re after good looks, pick the iPhone without hesitation. Should you happen to be looking after a good functionality, Tube is your choice; its level of functionality cannot be challenged by Apple’s brainchild. The former offers an optimal balance between price, functionality and ergonomics. If you are on a limited budget but want to get a touchscreen smartphone, try picking the Tube (provided that you don’t mind the design and assembly).