The N97 Mini's audio performance is really pleasing to the ears. The supplied earphones are better quality than you normally get with a mobile (or iPod) - they're in-ear buds which come with alternative silicon gels to ensure a snug fit.
Music sounds rich and detailed through them, with a well-balanced frequency range including a heavy but well defined bass presence. The phone has a 3.5mm headphone jack socket on top, should you wish to try out your own headphones, though the in-box set are pretty good for a standard set of ear-gear.
The N97 Mini cuts one of the features from the N97's music functionality though - there's no FM transmitter on this model to play tracks back on nearby radios.
On top of your sideloaded tracks, Nokia offers a facility to buy tunes over the air from its Nokia Music Store portal, with an app in the music folder directing you there. An easy to tune and operate FM radio with RDS is featured too.
A familiar S60 Podcasting function adds to the listening package. It enables users to search for, subscribe to and listen to podcasts from the handset. A Podcast option is also included in the Music Library categories.
As mentioned earlier, the N97 Mini has a selection of online media apps pre-loaded into its Applications folder, giving access to services including YouTube and CNN Video's news service. Mobile network video services will also be supported on suitably configured handsets from operators.