Nokia's long-awaited sequel to the N95 smartphone may have been spotted, according to a leak posted in Mobile-Review's forums. Named simply the N96, the slider includes the extra gaming and media controls of the N81 but also the large LCD and two-way slider of the N95 8GB; it will also have the higher-resolution, 5-megapixel camera of the N95 series complete with Carl Zeiss optics. Unlike the recent N82, however, flash lighting will come from two LEDs rather than a single Xenon bulb.

The N96 pictured in the leak also appears to include an updated version of the Symbian Series 60 OS used by Nokia's higher-end devices that revolves around strip-like icon interface suited to multitasking. No clues are given as to the release of the mystery handset, though the relative completeness of the phone and its software points to a release early next year, which may be announced at the Mobile World Congress in Feburary. Whether the phone will support US networks in its initial form is unknown.