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Finally, the Nokia N86 is here. The most pressing question, however, is will it be worthy of the title “the Nokia N82 successor” when it comes to taking kickass photos with a similar buy-in of camphone photography enthusiasts the world over? If not better, probably as good as? Or will it be worse?

The convenience of having a great camera phone is it’s one less bulk versus carrying another camera if by itself, it could suffice for your general, everyday snapping requirements (depending on what you need one for). What’s a camera review, you ask, without some sample N86 snaps? Right back at you. This one’s the resized but raw version capture of a Porkchop dish taken from Cyma at the EDSA Shangri-La Mall.

Since I’m all for enhancing images so long as it’s not overly done (plus that it should really “enhance” the image and not make it look artsy just for the sake of being artsy), here’s a “better” take on the same Porkchop that’s guaranteed to get you hungry.

I’m hoping to get more photos using the different presets in the N86. I’m still not overly convinced that the Dual LED flash can be a xenon flash substitute primarily (maybe) because I haven’t been using the N86 for night shots just yet. I did try using it to capture video with the Dual LED on and I must say, ooh-la-la, I think I may have some use for this nifty feature some time soon (evil smirk). Some Nokia camphone users (during the time when the N82 became so popular) cried and begged for a camphone that’ll carry light to aid them in capturing videos in the dark and Nokia, with the incorporation of the the Dual LED flash on the N86, did deliver that functionality. Awesomecakes!

For a head to head comparison of shots using the Nokia N82 vs the new Nokia N86, not doing this only because somebody has already done it, here’s what fonearena got for your reference.

For this leg of the stress-test, I’ve taken down 14 things you should know about the N86 versus the Nokia N82 and/or N96:

1. Smaller than the N82: N86 is 103.4 x 51.4 x 16.5mm while the N82 is 112 x 50.2 x 17.3mm
2. Smaller in width and thickness than the N96: The N96 is 103 x 55 x 18mm in dimension (it is, however, somewhat heaver than the N82 and N96: N86 is 149g while the N96 and N82 are 125g and 114g, respectively)
3. Kickstand with features: functional unlike that on the N96
4. AMOLED LCD screen is noticeably brighter than N82’s TFT
5. Same GPRS/WiFi specs as the N96
6. Faster OS than the N82: ARM 11 434 MHz vs the N82’s Dual ARM 11 332 MHz
7. Insert contacts while composing SMS
8. Hardened glass screen is scratch resistant (but not fingerprint/smudge proof)
9. Dual LED flash lets you take videos with light. A feature voyeours could have a field day using hrhrhr
10. FM Transmitter lets you “broadcast” music from your phone to an FM Radio/receiving device (something it shares with the N97 and N85)
11. Wider angle, better low-light, larger sensor, 8 megapixel camera. I have one gripe with the new cam feature: I want the grid feature back!
12. N86 has 8Gb internal storage and 128 MB RAM versus the N96’s 16Gb and the N82’s paltry 100Mb.
13. Better bettery life at 312h (2G)/264h (3G) stand-by and 6h 18min talk time courtesy of the 1200mAh Li-Ion versus the N82’s 225h (2G)/261h (3G) and 4h 20min. Music playtime is estimated at 25h continuous for the N86.
14. N86 has a camera cover just like (but not similar to) the N82

Yesterday, I saw an N86 for sale at Anson’s Makati (in front of Landmark) at PHP27,390. Here’s a little tip: if you have the cash, there’s this online store that sells the N86 (complete package with 1 year Nokia warranty) for PHP21,200.  Disclaimer: I’m not affiliated with this online store but I check it once in a while for great bargains (check out how much she’s selling the new Canon S90 and the new iPods).

I’ll be waiting for the day when the N86 becomes available with Smart’s Retention Package for my post paid plan probably and hopefully by next year ;)