For a phone that’s clearly in its own class, and being Nokia’s best premium phone so far, I suppose the bigger-than-expected price tag would be well worth it. Remember, you’re not buying technology – but also Nokia’s latest piece of fine art.

This phone is like an expensive gold watch: A cheap digital watch will tell you the time, but not with the same class. If you’re buying this phone solely for its looks, you’ll likely enjoy it. But if you’re in the market for a more affordable device, you’ll find many that work just as well as the pricey 8801 does.

Despite all of our comparisons to the most popular clamshell on the planet, the Nokia 8801 is in a league of its own because of its price tag. The handset’s exquisite design simultaneously brings the buzz back to Nokia while reeking of pretension. We’re assuming potential owners of the 8801 wouldn’t have it any other way.

The difference between both is the RAZR is designed to be a high-end mass model, while the 8800 emphasized uniqueness and prestige. Unfortunately, besides the design, the 8800 does not offer anything more then a regular mid-range phone.

The cell-phone maker’s fashion-forward new model isn’t as user-friendly as the price tag might lead one to expect.