Positive
- 16GB of integrated memory (as opposed to 8GB for N95 8GB), plus further extensibility via microSD memory card
- 2.8 inch display with 16 million colours (same as N95 8GB, versus 2.6" display for original N95)
- Camera flash is a dual-LED in the N96 while it is only a single LED in the N95
- New audio DSP for improved audio quality and longer playback time
- New version of Nokia Video Centre
- Longer music playback time (14 hrs) and video playback time (5 hrs)
- Windows Media WMV9 video codec is added
- Hardware acceleration for video codecs for H.264 and WMV (as well as MPEG4 as before)
- Location tagging (geotagging) of pictures, using the integrated GPS
- Mobile TV DVB-H receiver is built into N96
- New release of Nokia Experience Software
- Maps 2.0 with satellite images, upgrade to pedestrian mode and voice-guided car navigation
- Internet Radio pre-installed
- Home Media Solution (sync with DLNA / UPnP devices over WLAN)
- Online sharing of pictures with plugins for Flickr, Ovi Share and other services (Can be added on N95 with newer version of Share Online Application)
- Maps 2.0 with satellite images, upgrade to pedestrian mode and voice-guided car navigation
- S60 3rd Edition is upgraded from Feature Pack 1 to Feature Pack 2
- Symbian OS is upgraded from version 9.2 to 9.3
- The Java ME engine is upgraded from MIDP 2.0 to MIDP 2.1
- User data is preserved when upgrading firmware (This feature is also present on the N95-2 as v21 installs UDP base files)
- Symbian OS is upgraded from version 9.2 to 9.3
- The FM radio is upgraded with RDS
- Limited graphics acceleration (only for internal apps)
- N96 is a dual-band HSDPA (900 and 2100 MHz) while N95 was a single band (2100)
- MicroSD memory card slot (as in original N95, while N95 8GB has no card slot)
- No need to open the slide for optimal GPS reception
- New design
- Landscape-oriented design (landscape oriented speakers, connectors and buttons located optimally for landscape use)
- Flip-out kickstand
- Media keys available in all modes (even when slide is closed, for background control of music)
- Media keys on short side can transform into gaming keys
- Lockswitch (enables quick lock / unlock of keypad)
- Thinner and lighter than N95 8GB
- Landscape-oriented design (landscape oriented speakers, connectors and buttons located optimally for landscape use)
- N-Gage included. About 5 games preloaded and one free game coupon (varies by country).
Negative
- CPU downgraded to ARM9 264MHz for N96 (N95 have Dual 332Mhz ARM11 based CPU)
- Same battery as original N95 (950 mAh), but the N96 reportedly has a much better battery life using the same battery (Nokia N95 8GB has 1200 mAh)
- No infra-red port on N96
- No Hardware 3D graphics accelerator for N96
- Built-in support for VoIP telephony (and thus cheap Internet Calling) removed from N96 (N95 has Nokia VoIP 2.1)
- Digital zoom is only x10 on N96, while it's x20 on N95 8GB
- Camera Lens in the N96 is 2.8/5.2, and in the N95 2.8/5.6 (N95 have more apperture)