Released in late 2009, the Nokia N900 was one of the most ambitious phones Nokia ever built — a slide-out QWERTY handset running a full Linux-based operating system rather than the mobile OS everyone else was using at the time. Looking back at how the phone was received when it launched offers a good window into how far ahead of its time — and how flawed — it really was.
Specs That Genuinely Impressed at Launch
At the time of release, the N900 packed hardware that stood out against its competitors. The phone ran on a 600MHz ARM Cortex-A8 processor with 256 MB of RAM and a 3.5-inch, 800×480 resistive touchscreen — specs that put it in the same conversation as the iPhone 3GS and Palm Pre. Storage was another standout feature, offering up to 48 GB of total data capacity between 32 GB on-board memory and a microSD slot supporting an additional 16 GB.
The camera hardware also punched above its weight for the era, featuring a 5-megapixel sensor with Carl Zeiss optics, a Tessar lens, autofocus, and LED flash, alongside video recording at WVGA resolution.
Maemo: The Real Star of the Show
What set the N900 apart wasn’t really the hardware — it was the operating system. Nokia opted for its Maemo platform, based on Debian Linux, marking the first time the OS appeared on a device with actual phone functionality after previous outings on Nokia’s earlier internet tablets. This was a deliberate departure from Nokia’s aging Symbian-based Series 60 platform, which by 2009 was starting to look dated next to the iPhone and early Android phones.
One reviewer who spent extended hands-on time with the device came away impressed by how future-proofed the hardware felt for running such an ambitious OS, noting there were very few moments where the phone struggled to keep up with demanding use.
Design: Solid, But Bulky
Reviewers were consistently split on how the N900 looked and felt in hand. The device measured 110.9 × 59.8 × 19.5mm and weighed 181g, making it roughly twice as thick as most touchscreen phones on the market at the time. One review didn’t hold back, calling the styling big and brutish compared to Nokia’s other offerings.
That bulk came with a tradeoff, though — the slide-out mechanism and full QWERTY keyboard gave the device a distinctive, almost handheld-gaming-console feel once opened, with a soft-touch plastic back that felt solid and comfortable to hold despite the thickness.
Multimedia: A Genuine Bright Spot
For a phone released in 2009, the N900’s media handling was unusually capable. It could play DivX and XviD video files smoothly without the compatibility headaches that plagued other Nokia smartphones at the time, which one review described as a refreshing change after years of frustration with the format.
Audio quality also held up well in testing, with excellent frequency response and only minor deviations at the highest frequencies, alongside strong noise level and dynamic range readings comparable to the best devices tested at the time.
Where the Camera Fell Short
Despite strong specs on paper, the camera didn’t fully deliver on its promise. One in-depth review found the actual photo output didn’t match what the spec sheet suggested it should be capable of, a gap that showed up clearly when comparing sample images and video against the phone’s on-paper capabilities. The dual LED flash was similarly limited, offering only modest help in low-light conditions rather than a meaningful improvement.
Battery Life: Serviceable, Not Exceptional
The 1320 mAh battery generally lasted about a day and a half under light use, dropping closer to a single day under heavier use, with better endurance over Wi-Fi than cellular data. One reviewer noted that a larger battery would have given the phone more breathing room, while also pointing out a practical tip that still applies to lithium batteries today — charging around the 50% mark rather than waiting for a full drain tends to charge faster and preserve battery health.
The Legacy of the N900
Looking back, the N900 is often remembered less for how it performed in 2009 and more for what it represented — Nokia’s most serious attempt at building a genuinely open, Linux-powered smartphone before the platform was eventually abandoned in favor of Windows Phone. Its combination of strong storage, a real Linux userland, and multimedia flexibility earned it a lasting reputation among enthusiasts, even though its bulky design and rough edges kept it from ever becoming a true mainstream competitor to the iPhone or early Android devices.
Join The Discussion
Did you ever own or use a Nokia N900, and how does it compare to your memories of that era of smartphones? Share your experience with Maemo as an operating system, whether the slide-out keyboard held up to daily use, and if you think Nokia’s decision to eventually move away from Maemo was the right call in hindsight. If you’ve kept an N900 running today, it’d be fascinating to hear how it holds up nearly two decades later.
