The Nokia N900 was one of the most innovative smartphones of 2009 and looks like being the benchmark device of 2010. Not only does it pack in some impressive hardware, but the Maemo 5 operating system stuffs it full of user-friendly features. It’s set to go head-to-head with the Google Nexus One – a range-topping Android handset, and if you want to know how they match up then read on…

The guys over at the Nokia Blog have managed to get hold of a Google Nexus One, giving it the opportunity to put them head-to-head. When it comes to the operating system, the Nokia N900 and Google Nexus One are well matched – as both feature newly designed software, and both are finger-friendly, intuitive and perfectly suited to touchscreen use.

Check out our Nokia N900 review

Size-wise, there’s not a lot in it. Looking at the Nokia Blog’s pictures, the Nokia N900 is slightly fatter than the Google Nexus One, but then again it has an excellent QWERTY keypad – the Google Nexus One makes do with a touchscreen display, so is naturally a poorer device when it comes to email use. That said, it should also be a lot easier to slip into your pocket, so it’s more suited to the casual user.

In terms of looks, the Nokia N900 holds its own from the front, with the large screen and chrome edging giving it a quality finish few phones can match. The Google Nexus One looks a lot nicer from other angles though, with more rounded edges and a thinner profile.

The Nokia Blog reports that the Google Nexus One features a more impressive display, with richer and more noticeable colours. Predictably, the website isn’t a big fan of the Google Nexus One’s software keypad, with lots of typing mistakes on the cards. This is where the Nokia N900 really comes into its own, proving the ideal device for text entry.

With a slightly more established operating system, the Google Nexus One offers more applications for download, but it’s only a matter of time before the Nokia N900 catches up, especially once Nokia starts rolling out other Maemo devices.

Which is the better smartphone then? We’d still opt for the Nokia N900, to be honest. Sure, the Google Nexus One looks great and is smaller, but the lure of the Nokia N900’s hardware keyboard is too good to miss, and as an all-rounder it’s still one of the best handsets on the market.

What to see more pics? Head on over to the Nokia Blog to see how they got on.