The world of top-end cellphones is a brutally competitive one ? with the now well-established dominant breeds, the iPhone and Blackberry, set in place, phones have an incredibly high level of expectation on them.

No longer is a phone just 'something I make phones calls with' or 'a convenient messaging tool' ? phones are about so much more. Even things like web browsing and integrated email are old news ? phones are handheld personal assistants, unlimited sources of entertainment (music and videos) and fashion accessories.

So the question is how does Nokia's new N86 measure up?

Nokia, perhaps more than any other brand, invokes huge loyalty from a number of users around the world. When Nokia 'calls', people answer.

Responding to the challenge being laid down by their competitors, the N86 tries to tick all the boxes. According to the Finnish designers themselves, the latest N-Series product includes everything people have come to expect from top quality phones but, at the same time, possesses the ability to function as a full-size digital camera.

Before we get to the camera though, let's talk the basics.

The phone is heavy ? not offensively so but it is certainly something you notice. It isn't a small phone but then again it would be silly for it to be any smaller than it is given that it is designed to showcase top-quality images and video. With that in mind, it has a very clever dual-end slider design and a large OLED technology screen.

The keypad seems a little small at first but actually suits the phone very well and is not a problem while the widescreen option is also a cool little feature, especially when it comes to watching a movie on the phone.

For those interested in music and battery life, the Nokia N86 can play up to 25 hours of your favourite songs (also available for download from the Nokia Music store) on one charge.

In terms of functionality, I'll admit, it took a while to get the hang of. There are a lot of options and while the simplicity of the 'homepage' is nice, once you get inside, there is a lot to work through.

Nokia is of course legendary for being 'easy to use' and the N86 really is ? it just takes a couple days to get to grips with it all.

The email setup and internet is incredibly simple ? which is obviously nice ? and the integrated GPS system makes it the perfect phone to accompany you on a road trip. GPS is a feature some modern phones seem to be overlooking ? I have no idea why ? but the N86's OVI software does the trick very well.

When judging this phone though, the one point Nokia really want you to focus on is the camera. An 8MP resolution ? it gives you plenty of scope to edit the pictures and also produces a fine quality for printing directly onto 8x10 photos.

By phone standards the pictures are very, very good. To be fair, it probably isn't 'as good as a digital camera' just yet, so hold on to your current one for a while longer, but for general every day photos the N86 does pretty well.

So now you are asking what this all amounts to? Is it a good phone? Should I rush out and get it for Christmas or do I pass on by it?

The bottom line is that the Nokia N86 is a great camera phone ? its camera functions are exactly what you would find on your basic digital camera and, for what it is intended to capture, it is fantastic.

Facebook, Twitter and email, all essential now, are always right at your fingertips and, while I admit it took me a while to master, once you do, you really do appreciate the N86.

A top-end phone with a top-end price, the N86 has plenty to offer and I for one was certainly not pleased to part with mine come the return deadline.