If we were to pick the most outstanding points from a long list of this gadget’s strengths, we would point at the screen and software platform. The latter, despite all the continuity of tradition and friendliness towards the users of previous models, carries a number of major changes aimed at a better integration with popular social network websites. The screen has an amazing sensitivity and picture quality. It has a 3.2’’ diagonal, a 640x360 resolution and a 16 million color palette. The touch interface is optimized for finger operation, but is still 100% stylus-friendly.

But the biggest strength of 5800 is actually found outside the handset’s casing. The price is the key. It is so low compared to the pack of features you get with a 5800 that it makes an adequate excuse for its rugged design. The quality of materials and assembly is average, - if not mediocre, - and stands no challenge against iPhone.

There has been a good deal gossip alleging our bias against Nokia (financially stimulated by Apple). The irony of the situation is that the majority of our lab staff hate iPhone, viewing it as an unhandy and overpriced gadget with a crippled functionality, and stay true to our personal E71’s (we happened to get a bunch and since became very devoted to them). The Tube easily defeats iPhone on the front of functionality, but stands no competition when it comes to design and quality of assembly.

A real life experience is always better than looking at pictures, so we have drawn our final judgment not until we had a chance to have a touch of either device holding it in our own hands. Unanimously Apple iPhone 3G was credited with very impressive, luxuriously looking appearance. This has nothing to do with personal taste: this impression primarily arises from the high quality of assembly and the use of expensive materials. Nokia 5800 Tube can’t offer anything comparable in this aspect, fading into the background once the Tube enters the spotlight. Okay, you get your soft-touch back panel right, and it isn’t as easily soiled as the glossy back of iPhone, but that's just all about it and you won't get anything better on this front; this soft-touch coating can hardly be praised for its quality, the soft-touch stylus top quickly grew a worn spot where on which the coating simply started peeling off.

Another example of obvious economy is the thin, cheap plastic protecting the screen and the area around it – it’s very vulnerable to physical damage and stands no comparison with the solid glass of iPhone. The glossy edges get scratched over time, but iPhone (3G and classical version alike) has sturdy metal instead, so it doesn’t bear a similar weakness. We could go to great lengths expanding the list, but hope the points above are convincing enough. According to its price, Tube sports a plain design and apparently wouldn’t pass for a fashion gadget, a fact that opens up a wide gap separating the target audiences of the two products. Apple’s iPhone is all about style and looks, and 5800 is mostly concerned with usability. We don’t mean that 5800 is a real failure if judged by its looks and assembly quality. In fact it looks quite nice, but there exist a number of way more impressively looking solution. The difference strikes you only when you hold the two samples in your hands one against the other.

Here comes a series of photos showcasing the two gadgets in their full grace. It should be kept in mind that we examined the second edition of iPhone given the 3G suffix and a different composition of materials. The original iPhone had a full-metal back panel that was less exposed to grease marks. The solid feel of iPhone comes at the price of not being able to remove the back panel and reach the battery manually (since the back and front parts are literally welded together). A series of upcoming articles will dwell further on these points, so stay tuned.

Let’s mention that our opinion is based only on the first-hand experience we got from the currently available samples. Our copy of 5800 is a pre-sale build while the iPhone thing is a retail copy. There are high chances that Nokia will take care of the quality issues on time and the final version of the handset will sport a sturdier body. Don’t expect any groundbreaking changes though: the announced price already excuses all the weaknesses. The Tube is going to have a good run for its money, but there’s little chance it will be able to challenge iPhone on its native field.

Is there any sense in drawing comparisons between Nokia 5800 (Tube) and Apple Phone 3G? There might be something to it, but a drastically different positioning of the two products stands in the way. Sharing a small but distinct pool of common features, the two models differ on multiple points. The Finns took an attempt to deliver a strike in multiple directions, targeting at the same time iPhone, Windows Mobile, Samsung’s touchscreen gadgets, some of LG’s native land, as well as the Walkman series of music phones by Sony Ericsson. Tube is a very firm-standing product with a good outlook for further developments around this platform, but don’t go too far with your hopes – revolutions aren’t as frequent as you would want to believe. Miracles never happen. The 5800 model is neither a revolution nor a miracle.