09 Dec
Blog

Nokia T20 Tablet Review: Plenty of Peaks and Valleys

You can play Call of Duty: Mobile on Nokia t20 tablet.

"The Nokia T20 tablet is a decent tablet that is better than a Fire tablet and cheaper than an iPad, but that's all it offers."

advantages

  • Nice design with nice color

  • Good price

  • Decent performance

  • The Google TV hub is pretty awesome

disadvantage

  • Poor network connectivity and battery life

  • Screen is not bright enough.

  • Volume is not loud enough

The Android tablet market is largely dominated by iPads and Amazon Fire tablets, but the Nokia T20 is worth considering. If you're looking for a tablet that's cheaper than an iPad but more useful than an Amazon Fire, the Nokia T20 is a good budget option with just a few minor pitfalls.

One of the (only) advantages of using an Android tablet (as opposed to a Fire) is access to Google services and the App Store. Gmail, Maps and Drive are central to my workflow. And while most Android apps aren't ideal for the tablet form factor, the Play Store is a much better app ecosystem than Amazon's App Store. Also, Google recently launched Android 12L, which is designed for tablets and is foldable, indicating Google's interest in form factor support. So now could be a good time to jump on the Android tablet bandwagon.

Overall, the Nokia T20 does a pretty good job as a media streamer and can even turn into a productivity machine. Let's dive in.

Design and display

The Nokia t20 tablet is too big to hold with one hand.

The Nokia T20 tablet has a glass and aluminum construction so you won't confuse it with a budget device. The deep ocean colorway on the back is a pleasant shade of blue. It gives the tablet an overall classic and subtle look that you would want from a coffee table tablet. One disadvantage is that the display is not bright enough for outdoor use. Otherwise, it's a sharp 10.4-inch diagonal with a resolution of 1200 x 2000, resulting in an odd aspect ratio of 5: 3. That puts it somewhere between 16: 9, which is great for watching movies, and 2: 3, which is great for productivity.

This tablet does a pretty good job as a media streamer and can even turn a case into a productivity machine.

The aspect ratio means that the tablet is awkward to hold to read in the Kindle app. It's too wide and too big to hold with one hand in any orientation. So you can either hold the tablet with both hands or place it on a table to watch movies or TV. Speaking of watching movies, most have black bars at the top and bottom, but they're not distracting as letterboxing is also common on TVs.

The Nokia t20 is easy to hold and carry.

In landscape mode you will find the power button in the upper left corner. The volume rocker is at the top in the same corner. You can expand the 32 or 64 GB internal storage with a microSD slot on the top right. Stereo speakers on both sides deliver good sound that isn't quite as loud as I'd like. There is a headphone jack in a strange place in the rounded corner of the tablet. I didn't expect to find it there, so much so that I didn't even notice it for the first week. Finally, there is a single USB-C port on the right for charging and data.

The power button is placed a bit inconveniently because I accidentally switched off the tablet while playing or only held the tablet with two hands. That gets really annoying when playing or reading. Combined with the weight, this means this tablet excels when you can put the tablet on a stand and watch a video, or when you plug in a wireless keyboard for easy typing. That's exactly how I wrote this review.

Performance, battery and camera

The Nokia t20 has a great blue color scheme.

In this section, I'm going to highlight the ups and downs of this tablet. What is important here is the price. While the price tag isn't all that cheap with a Fire tablet, it's very cheap even when compared to a base model of the iPad. But this low price comes with some compromises.

To be honest, the performance and battery are not great. While the tablet can run games like Call of Duty: Mobile pretty well, the game loads very slowly. Apps tend to lag on launch and even if you switch back to them while multitasking.

Network connectivity isn't great either. The tablet sometimes had problems playing or resuming a video stream on my mesh home WiFi. I was testing it on either my iPad or Lenovo Tab 13 Yoga when this happened. Both had no problem playing the same content at the same time. Add to this the performance lag, and that doesn't mean good things for hardware.

The battery is an 8,200 mAh battery that lasts for about one to one and a half days. When you stream or play videos, the battery chews through pretty quickly. After 30 minutes of streaming Netflix at 75% brightness and playing Call of Duty: Mobile, the battery was 80%. In contrast, most phones can do both activities along with 30 minutes of navigation and have more in the tank.

A good pill usually gives you a solid two days. This is not enough, so remember to plug it in at night.

The battery life isn't bad, but it's not the best either. I often found myself picking up the tablet in the morning only to find the battery at almost 25%. A good pill usually gives you a solid two days. This is not enough, so remember to plug it in at night.

As for the cameras, there are two. On the front, you get a 5 mega-pixel shooter that is clear and great for video calls and the like. On the back there is an 8MP shooter that is suitable for scanning documents or QR codes. These are the only acceptable uses for a tablet camera, by the way. Please don't be the person holding up your slate to record a concert.

software

The Google TV interface is one of the best things about the software.

The software on the Nokia T20 is pretty close to a standard Google experience. That's a good thing, too, because there isn't a lot of additional bloatware that takes up space. I activated the gesture navigation right away because that's how I roll. Unfortunately, on a tablet, it takes several seconds to display multitasking when using gesture navigation. It takes so long that I often have to remind myself that I'm actually doing it right. Having seen this phenomenon on other tablets, I can assume this is an Android thing, not a Google thing. That doesn't make it any less of a nuisance.

A nice part of the software is also a Google component. The Google TV hub is pretty awesome. It's a combination of the different services that you've signed up for and can curate the content for you, which you can watch from Amazon Prime, Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and others. While I certainly miss the Google News feed, this is an acceptable replacement, especially given the nature of Android tablets. They are primarily content consumer machines.

As mentioned earlier, you can use the tablet as a productivity machine, but there is no software here to make it possible like there is on the Lenovo Tab 11 Plus. Also, it doesn't mean you should be doing something just because you can do something on this tablet.

A nice part of the software is also a Google component. The Google TV hub is pretty awesome.

Other aspects of the software are singing the same chorus they have been singing for years. Android apps are not optimized for a tablet screen. Hopefully Android 12L (when it comes to this tablet) will fix this problem. But for now, you can only expect regular Android apps that cover a larger area. That is not Nokia's fault, however; this is google's fault and it is high time google fixed it. What would Nokia's fault be if this tablet never saw Android 12L. Nokia isn't exactly known for its software updates, and while Nokia promises three years of security updates, I wouldn't be holding my breath for OS updates.

Price and availability

The Nokia T20 tablet is available in the US for $ 249 from Nokia.com or. available Amazon. In the UK, prices start at £ 199. The main difference between the US version of the tablet and the global version is in the LTE connectivity. The US tablet doesn't have that; global publishing does.

Our opinion

The Nokia t20 tablet fits easily into a backpack.

Overall, this is a nice coffee table tablet that is good for content consuming and some gaming. It lives in that strange space between being more useful than an Amazon Fire tablet and less expensive than an iPad. It's a stunning tablet that can give you a good screen for watching movies and, in a pinch, can even help you get productive work done.

While it's good for the price, if you really want a great tablet, spend about $ 100 more and get a 9th generation iPad. If all you want is a tablet for movies and a game or two, get an Amazon Fire. But if you want something that bridges the gap and lets you use Google services that can't be overrated, then this is a good tablet that won't break the bank. Just don't expect a great app experience or software updates.

Is there a better alternative?

Naturally. Probably the best Android tablet you can buy is the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7. The best tablet you can buy overall is the iPad Pro. However, if you want to stay in the under $ 500 category, check out the iPad Mini. This is one area that Apple has blocked the field and the Nokia T20 doesn't change that fact. It's not a terrible tablet, but it's not really good either.

How long it will take?

The aluminum construction makes a robust impression. Provided there is no accidental spillage or drop, the hardware should last a long time. However, we cannot make any guarantees about software updates, and history is not on Nokia’s side. Nokia promises three years of security updates, so that's it. What we can promise is that you will get your money's worth with this tablet over its entire service life.

Should you buy it?

No. But that's the answer we give you for almost every Android tablet we look at. Google just isn't there yet, but there is hope on the horizon. If Google is serious about Android 12L, that can change the conversation. Android is a wonderful operating system on phones, but the experience doesn't translate well to bigger screens, and it's a shame it took foldable phones to finally make this clear to Google.

Editor's recommendations



02 Nov
Blog

Nokia G50 Review: Buy For The Battery and Software, Not 5G

The Nokia G50 in blue.

“The 5G connection of the Nokia G50 is not a reason to buy, just a decent advantage for the future. Instead, the battery life and the software make it worthwhile to search. "

advantages

  • Long battery life

  • Strong build quality

  • Straightforward, reliable software

  • Guaranteed software updates

  • 5G for the future

disadvantage

  • Screen with 60 Hz refresh rate

  • Low resolution screen

  • Big and heavy

The $ 300 Nokia G50 might hit the headlines because it includes 5G priced at $ 300, but no matter what the wireless industry wants you to be, there is no real reason to get this phone or any other phone right now to buy. Instead, you should still look at all of the common suspects – software, battery, screen, and camera – before making a decision.

With the G50 in my daily use for over a week, I've found it wins in two of these four categories, which means 5G is enough to make it a buy recommendation. But you still need to be aware of its one major disadvantage.

draft

The Nokia G50 is a very large cell phone. The 6.82-inch screen is massive, the case is almost 9 mm thick and 174 mm high (the Galaxy S21 Ultra is 10 mm shorter by comparison), and it weighs 220 grams. Small pockets will bother you, but never one Bag get lost. There is absolutely nothing subtle about it and it is completely unsuitable for one-handed use.

Nokia G50 seen from behind.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The back is made of plastic and has a moderate grip. On the right side there is a fingerprint sensor in the power key, on the left side there is a Google Assistant button. It's in just the right place to hit all the time and is a hateful addition as it can't be switched to something more people might find helpful. You can turn it off completely, but that way it feels like a wasted opportunity.

On the back, the design is as usual for Nokia with a round camera module, simple branding and an ocean blue color, another in a range of Nokia colors inspired by the Nordic environment. It catches the light in an attractive way and is not covered with fingerprints. There is a 3.5mm headphone jack on the top of the phone, and charging on the opposite end is through a USB Type-C port.

Nokia G50 fingerprint sensor.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

For the past week the G50 has been in and out of pockets and bags, roughly tossed in my car's door pocket and generally not handled with kid gloves. There is something about the sizeable frame and gigantic size that encourages this type of treatment, and the good thing is that the G50 looks exactly the same as it did when it was unboxed. It's not a rugged phone, but there is a distinct sturdiness here, and while the design makes it difficult to distinguish from many other newer Nokia phones, it is still attractive in a simple way.

screen

Oh dear, the screen is where the G50 really loses points. It's 6.82 inches, which is gigantic, but the 1560-by-720-pixel resolution definitely isn't. It's an IPS LCD panel so there is no always-on display available, there are some serious bezels, the 450 nits maximum brightness is only acceptable but the worst part is that it is a 60Hz refresh rate -Panel acts.

Nokia G50 screen.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Be it the low resolution that matches its large size, or that my eyes are very used to a 90Hz or 120Hz refresh rate screen, scrolling on the G50 is often an uncomfortable, fuzzy mess. The G50 could be used to sell phones with higher refresh rate screens because the difference between them is so great that even the most ardent “I don't get the excitement” denier will quickly be convinced that 90Hz or higher is the only way are.

Almost as bad is the weak automatic brightness, which is far too slow to react in sunny outdoor conditions, and it is often faster to actually adjust the brightness manually. It has to be at maximum brightness to be seen anyway. Does that mean it's a video disaster? No, it's not that bad. The viewing angles are good, but you quickly lose some of the color, which is vivid and beautiful when viewed directly. It's all a lot better than you'd expect. I can even live with the clear and loud single speaker on the bottom of the phone.

However, the fuzzy blur of the 60Hz refresh rate is tough on your eyes, makes everything from Twitter to Google Discover uncomfortable to use, and is by far the worst part of the Nokia G50's screen. Too bad, otherwise it's fine for a cell phone at this price point.

power

Nokia is pushing the G50 as an affordable 5G phone, and in fact, I got a 5G signal delivered here by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 processor and modem. You get Sub6 5G but not mmWave. 5G is nice to have, but not essential for everyday use, and I would rather have a screen with a higher refresh rate, for example.

Games on Nokia G50.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The Snapdragon 480 is a decent performer, but it's never what you'd call really fast. Apps open and screens switch at a calm, but never frustrating, pace. You can play Asphalt 9: Legends, but it never feels pale, fast, just acceptable. The G50 has 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, and the good news is that there is a microSD card slot to add up to 512GB to that total. The call quality is really good and I haven't had any problems with network, WiFi or Bluetooth connections.

camera

It's standard in the round module on the back of the G50, with a 48-megapixel main camera, a 5-MP wide-angle camera, and a 2-MP depth camera. The results are consistent with similar camera setups on other phones as well, with the main camera producing pretty, colorful, and divisible (with some editing) images. I like this.

Nokia G50 camera module.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The wide angle is less successful. It takes photos that are too dark and details are lost in the shade, especially on cloudy days. I wouldn't use it in situations where the results are important to me. The depth camera helps with portraits that have acceptable edge detection, but also suffer from problems in low light. There are several portrait selfie modes that will add an unusual background to your shots, but because of their incredibly artificial appearance, they are not very successful.

If the 48MP / 5MP / 2MP camera combination hasn't already given it away, the Nokia G50's camera doesn't stand out from the competition, but it does its job, provided you don't expect too much outside of the main camera.

Software and battery

The Nokia G50 has Android 11 installed with no special user interface, which means it is similar to the software experience of a Google Pixel, and all the better. The Snapdragon 480 chip is brave enough that the software never feels clumsy, it runs all of the apps I installed, received notifications with no issues, and was a trusted partner during my time on the phone.

Charging the Nokia G50.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Friendly software like the one installed on the G50 makes a world of difference to ownership. The phone may not have flagship hardware, but the software is better than some other phones that have more enviable specs. It's logical and easy to use right from the start, and a highlight of the G50.

It is similar with the battery. The 5,000 mAh cell in the G50 certainly adds to the size and weight of the phone, but since the phone can last two to three days without a charge, it probably won't matter to everyone. If you want a long battery life, the G50 is worth it. It also consumes electricity in standby mode. When the phone wasn't used a lot outside of messages and a few photos, it barely used 20% of its power, despite switching between 4G and 5G connections all day.

If you want a long battery life, the G50 is worth it

Unfortunately, it doesn't have a very fast charge – just 18W fast charge and no wireless charging – and it takes at least an hour and 45 minutes to charge.

Price and availability

The Nokia G50 can be purchased via Nokia's own online shop in the US for $ 300 or in the UK for £ 200.

Our opinion

The wireless industry wants you to think 5G is a reason to buy a smartphone, but it isn't. At least it isn't yet. Better to think of it as a feature that can help you hold the phone longer, and instead look at features that are now improving ownership every day, such as: For example, the screen and camera when you decide to buy a new phone. The G50 is not outstanding in either area, but offers reasonable performance for the price and convinces with its great software and long battery life.

Is there a better alternative?

In the US, check out the Moto G Stylus (2021) or Moto G Power (2021), which costs between $ 250 and $ 300, the OnePlus Nord N200 5G with a 90Hz screen, or the US $ 280 Dollar Samsung Galaxy A32 5G. But if you spend 400 US dollars, you can get the Google Pixel 5a with its excellent camera and even better software or the currently reduced OnePlus 8 with Snapdragon 865 chip and 90 Hz screen.

Don't confuse the G50 with the recently announced Nokia G300, which will be released over the Tracfone and Straight Talk networks. It only costs $ 200 but has a smaller screen and lower spec camera.

In the UK, the Realme 8 5G has a 90 Hz screen, a large battery, and a good camera for the same price as the Nokia G50, as does the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 5G. If you can expand your budget to £ 300 the OnePlus Nord 2 CE 5G is great value, or for £ 400 you can get the OnePlus Nord 2 5G or the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G.

How long it will take?

There is good news for the software as it will receive major version updates for two years and security updates for three years. While 5G isn't a reason to buy the G50 on its own, its presence can make a difference as you own it as the network becomes more accessible and useful. The G50 doesn't cost a lot of money, but it can realistically be used for three years.

It doesn't have a water resistance rating and it's not a rugged phone by design. A case would be a good idea, although the phone feels like it needs to be handled a little harsh on its own.

Should you buy it?

Yes, the software, battery life, and build quality, plus a decent but simple camera are the reasons to buy. The 5G will only help you last longer.

Editor's recommendations



10 Sep
Blog

Nokia XR20 Review: A Beautiful Beast of a Phone

Back of the Nokia XR20.

Nokia XR20 put to the test: a beautiful beast built to last

RRP $ 550.00

“Don't let its looks fool you, the Nokia XR20 is a rugged phone through and through. It doesn't have the specifications to rival most other mainstream phones, but its value comes with impressive longevity. "

advantages

  • Attractive but robust body

  • Software updates for 3 years

  • Extended warranty (depending on location)

  • Wireless charging

disadvantage

  • Bad camera

  • Mediocre performance

  • Screen with 60 Hz refresh rate

Hard doesn't have to be ugly anymore, now that HMD Global has unveiled the Nokia XR20 smartphone, which it says can "take anything life throws on it and look great doing it". That's a pretty bold claim when rugged phones usually look like they're tucked away in a clunky, rarely very attractive case.

But does this mean that the XR20 is a rugged phone for everyone, whether or not you spend time in situations where a lesser phone would be pulverized in a matter of moments or not?

draft

The Nokia XR20 effectively straddles the world of rugged phones and clunkier mainstream models by avoiding protruding bumpers and bevel cuts on the back to symbolize ruggedness. It also has a subtle blue tint instead of a black or yellow color scheme that just screams "danger"! While it's obviously not a mainstream phone like the OnePlus Nord 2, it doesn't just look at home when it's dusty and haphazardly tossed in the booth of a heavy device.

The Nokia XR20 in the color Ultra Blue, seen from the rear.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Just look at some details. For example, I like the exposed aluminum metal case on the side of the phone and the simple X pattern on the camera module. But despite those pretty visuals, Nokia hasn't forgotten what the phone is really about by including a cutout for a strap, a textured polymer back for added support, and a programmable emergency button.

One-handed operation is practically impossible with small hands.

It's a chunky beast with a thickness of 10.64 mm and 248 grams. A slim plastic case covers the phone, effectively looks like an ergonomic, sturdy case on a slimmer phone and gives it the "military specification" MIL-STD-810H- Certification and an IP68 rating. This means that it has withstood falls from a height of 1.8 meters and up to an hour's water depth to a depth of 1.5 meters, as well as withstanding dust and much more. It has Gorilla Glass Victus above the screen.

It is a very wide phone and one-handed operation is practically impossible with small hands, but it is comfortable and natural to hold as it has no protrusions or protective sections on the body. There's a subtle raised lip around the screen to protect it when it's face down, but it's not so extreme that you feel it every time you swipe through the menus.

Unusually for a phone test, I deliberately dropped the XR20 and also put it in the water. It still works as you'd expect after various dunkings and drops from waist height onto a variety of surfaces from grass to gravel. However, the hard plastic shell has already had some abrasion, suggesting that while it looks pretty now, it may not last as long if it is really abused. That's the price you pay for the XR20 to look vaguely normal. I like the confidence of being able to quickly scrub it off with mild soapy water.

The Nokia XR20 is not a catwalk model, but it is not just made for the construction site. It definitely wants to cross into both worlds, but once we get into the rest of the phone it becomes clear that while the beauty is all disguised, it is only superficial. It's not a criticism, just don't mistake it for something it isn't. If I was a surfer, weekend hiker, or someone who worked in environments that were generally not electronics focused, it really fit the bill. Not really as a primary phone, but certainly as a second “lifestyle-friendly” phone.

camera

The camera module may look like it contains three or four camera lenses, but in reality it has two, with the other two spots being occupied by two flashes – a dual-tone LED and a single LED. There is an 8-megapixel selfie camera in a hole punch in the top center of the screen.

Nokia XR20 camera module.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The dual 48 MP main rear camera and 13 MP wide-angle camera mean the XR20 will never be a camera superstar, and in fact, it can't compete with phones that are built for camera performance. Color balance, white balance, and dynamic range are ubiquitous, and rarely do two photos have the same tone. The inconsistency continues when you switch to wide angle.

It may be called Zeiss, but the Nokia XR20's capabilities don't do it justice. It's not worth judging too harshly because Nokia really doesn't sell the phone as a top camera performer, and the photos it takes are mostly acceptable in decent lighting, but really good ones if you're interested at all Taking pictures and having some creative fun with a camera, this is not the phone for you.

power

The Nokia XR20 has many buttons. The Google Assistant button on the left side of the case is big and easy to find, which also means you'll definitely press it by mistake. There is a programmable button on the top of the phone that can be set to perform a single action like turning on the flashlight or dialing an emergency contact after a long press. It is almost flush with the body so it is unlikely that you will accidentally do this.

Fingerprint sensor of the Nokia XR20.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The fingerprint sensor is located inside the power key and is in the middle on the right side of the case. Annoyingly, I find that when I pick up the phone, my finger naturally presses the volume button above it, which doesn't help because the tiny sensor is flush and has no texture to help locate it. It's reliable when you find it, and a quick face unlock system is there as a backup.

It has enough power for general tasks.

A Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 processor with either 4 GB or 6 GB of RAM makes the XR20 a mid-range mobile phone. It has enough power for general tasks, and I have had no problems browsing, social networking, swiping through Google Discover, and editing photos. The main difference to more powerful phones lies in the overall speed of performing tasks such as starting the phone and starting apps or playing games. In these cases the XR20 responds a little slower. It's not annoying in most situations, but it can be if you're multitasking or just want to get things done quickly.

You will also notice the underperformance in watching videos and games where there are sometimes some stuttering when watching 1080p movies. The 6.67-inch LCD screen with an aspect ratio of 20: 9 and 1080 x 2400 has large bezels and unfortunately only a refresh rate of 60 Hz. The screen sits "under" the bezel, which makes the design look a bit antiquated. The brightness of 550 cd / m² doesn't sound like much, but it is easy to read in sunlight.

Nokia XR20 screen.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Looking at Carfection's Ferrari Portofino M test results in good viewing angles and a pleasant color palette. It's a good screen for a mid-range phone, but it's not very modern and many mainstream phones have the more desirable higher refresh rate. There are two speakers, but the stereo separation is minimal, with most of the volume – of which there is plenty – coming from the speaker on the bottom of the phone. The mobile phone plays Asphalt 9: Legends relatively smoothly and does not get hot. The overall weight of the Nokia XR20 means it's not exactly the ideal video or gaming partner, and the Snapdragon 480 lacks the guts to impress.

Battery, software and connectivity

Android One is neatly designed and laid out in the same way as it is on a Google Pixel phone, so it's very easy to use and I haven't encountered any reliability issues. HMD Global promises three years of phone version updates and four years of security updates, which is excellent. It has 5G, assuming you have coverage near you and NFC for Google Pay, plus a 3.5mm headphone jack, but the Wi-Fi connection struggles to maintain a weak signal compared to other phones.

Emergency button on the top of the Nokia XR20.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Google Assistant button on Nokia XR20.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Charging port for the Nokia XR20.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The 4,630 mAh battery is very powerful and offers two days of run time even when you're playing games, watching videos, or making a few calls. It's great to see that 15 watt wireless charging is included, as is wired charging 18 W Quick Charge 4.0. However, it does not come with a charger, so actual charging speeds will depend on the charger you ultimately use.

Price and availability

The Nokia XR20 is priced at $ 550 and is available for pre-order now from B&H Photo and is likely to be available in other outlets as well. In the UK, the XR20 is available now and costs £ 399 / $ 552 or £ 449 / $ 621 for the 6GB / 128GB model. It is available in either Ultra Blue, as seen in our photos, or Granite Gray.

Our opinion

An uninspiring camera, a 60Hz refresh screen, and a Snapdragon 480 processor are a recipe for a phone that costs $ 250, but the Nokia XR20 costs $ 550. Though it looks better than most rugged phones, at its core it's still a rugged phone – and a good one at it – and you pay for the tech and certification that go into it, rather than a camera and processor-centric spec list .

The XR20 will almost certainly outlast phones that cost half the price and still look decent when you take it around town.

The story often ends here, which means that ruggedness is really the only reason to buy, but that's not exactly the case with the XR20. It's not just the body that makes it last – there is real longevity elsewhere as well. HMD Global promises three years of Android version updates and four years of security updates. It's also backed by a three-year warranty if purchased in the UK or Europe, complete with a one-year free screen replacement warranty. The US warranty details vary, and HMD Global states it comes with a two-year extended warranty.

Combine that with the rugged case, Gorilla Glass Victus, and IP68 water resistance, and you have a phone that will last through 2024 and beyond. The performance might not offer much value, but the updates and warranty do a far better job. As a second phone when things get muddy or rocky, the XR20 will almost certainly outlast phones that cost half the price and still look decent when you take it around town.

Is there a better alternative?

The ruggedness of the Nokia XR20 sets it apart from the Cat S61 and Cat S62 Pro, which both cost more but have Flir's thermal imaging technology and a far more traditional rugged design. The Cat S48c is older but is available at a much lower price, as is the current Motorola Defy.

If you're looking to spend around $ 500 on a phone without the rugged design, we recommend the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G. It's waterproof and made of plastic, so it should be moderately durable, but the screen and camera are superior to the Nokia XR20.

How long it will take?

As mentioned above, the Nokia XR20 Android software will be updated for three years and the security updates will continue for another year after that. The warranty period varies depending on where you buy the phone, but it may be covered for up to three years. That means you should be able to securely own and use the phone until at least 2024. Plus, it has 5G so you can take advantage of the fastest connection speeds too.

Should you buy it?

Yes, but only if “tough treatment” is at the top of your wish list.

Editor's recommendations



09 Apr
Blog

Nokia 5.4 Review: Resist the Temptation

hmd global nokia 5 4 hand review screen

“The Nokia 5.4 hasn't improved on its predecessor, but the price has gone up and there have been a few other issues. It's not the phone to buy. "

  • The build quality is excellent

  • Camera is sufficient

  • Poor quality screen

  • Mediocre performance

  • Android 11 not installed

The $ 249 price tag associated with the HMD Global Nokia 5.4 makes it jump off flagship smartphones that cost $ 1,000 or more during this time. But take a closer look and it's actually $ 50 more than the Nokia 5.3 it is replacing. Now that it's more expensive, it has to prove it's worth the extra by improving the specs of the old model and fixing some of the issues it had too.

In reality, the Nokia 5.4 isn't all that different from the Nokia 5.3, and that's not good news. Let's go into that in more detail.

design

From the back, the Nokia 5.4 looks very similar to the Nokia 5.3 and many other Nokia phones. There's a circular camera module on top, a fingerprint sensor underneath, and on my test model, a lovely blue color scheme called Polar Night that looks great in the right light. The phone is made of plastic and can get quite greasy with fingerprints. While it should prove to be quite tough, it is not waterproof.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

At 181 grams it is not very heavy and the body is modestly large, but quite broad. I can almost use it with one hand, but my thumb barely extends across the other side of the screen. However, swipe entry is possible. In addition to the usual volume rocker and the on / off switch, Nokia has placed a Google Assistant button on the left side of the device. While it can be disabled if you don't want to use it (or keep pressing on it like I did), there is no way to reconfigure it. It's unhappy and the button feels like a waste of space.

I've kept coming back to the question of desirability because the Nokia 5.4 is basically the same (from the back) as the 5.3, and that was released around this time last year. It's not ugly at all and I really like the Polar Night color, but it would have been nice if it wasn't just a facsimile of the last one. From a materials and design perspective, the extra $ 50 you'll be spending isn't apparent here, and the recycled design makes it a little dated.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

No, this is not the newest iPhone. Since you're not spending $ 1,000, design may not influence your purchasing decision. However, for a workhorse or a first phone for someone young, it's a pretty and very solidly built phone.

screen

You won't get a better screen with the extra $ 50 either. It measures 6.39 inches, so it is slightly smaller than the Nokia 5.3, but has a resolution of 1560 x 720 pixels with the same pixel density. However, with a maximum of 400 nits, it is even less bright than the Nokia 5.3. It's very dark and it's really suffering from it. It is a waste of time to look at it in sunlight or generally outside at almost any angle except the front. It can also be turned off.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

In the real world, this means that taking photos is cumbersome because you cannot see the viewfinder. When used for Google Maps in the car, a hint of sunlight means the contents of the screen go away and notification notifications on the lock screen are essentially invisible. The screen is at its maximum brightness all the time, but you will be forgiven for thinking it was on the lowest setting.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Brightness is not an issue indoors, but the poor viewing angle of the screen is emphasized. It's right with the Nokia 5.4 or nothing. Video performance is disappointing, with washed out colors and a lack of vibrancy. The only good news is that the teardrop cutout for the 5.3's selfie camera has been replaced with a hole punch in the top left of the screen. This is a far better design choice and makes the phone look more modern from the front.

That small point aside, the Nokia 5.4 has one of the worst screens I've used on a smartphone in a while.

camera

Now we come to one of the areas where you will find a specification difference that may have resulted in a higher price. The main camera is 48 megapixels, up from 16 MP in the old version, but there is still a 5 MP ultra-wide camera and a pair of 2 MP depth and macro cameras. The 48-megapixel camera has a higher number of megapixels, but it still has the same aperture of f / 1.8.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

It's not bad at all, provided you ignore the macro camera, which, as always, is useless. The main camera takes pretty photos in good conditions, but it can lack color and pop, especially when lighting is poor. The wide-angle camera injects more color, but it lacks some dynamic range, which leads to more shadows. Portrait mode is decent too, with edge detection accurate enough to be used, and night mode brightens things up, provided it's not too dark.

Overall, it's a step up from the Nokia 5.3, and given the price of the phone, your daily casual shots won't disappoint. However, the Pixel 4a's excellent camera cannot be questioned.

Battery and performance

The Nokia 5.4 uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 processor and has either 4 GB or 6 GB of RAM and an internal storage capacity of 64 GB or 128 GB. My test model has 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage. The battery has a capacity of 4,000 mAh. Frustratingly, the phone has Android 10 and not Android 11 on board, despite being an Android One phone. Many will consider purchasing the Nokia 5.4 in the hopes of timely software updates, so this is cause for concern. It really should be installed from the start with Android 11.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The performance is not great. The entire operating system is slow as some apps take several hits too long to open and even keystroke detection suffers from frustrating pauses. Playing Asphalt 9: Legends shows some slowdown and low frame rate as expected, but it runs well enough to play. I found the Wi-Fi range to be pretty short, the connection unstable at times, and constant issues with WhatsApp video calls dropping out. The fingerprint sensor on the back is easy to locate with your finger, but it is finicky and does not respond well to wet or very dry fingertips. There's also a face unlock that's more reliable but a little slow.

hmd global nokia 5 4 rating gamesAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

hmd global nokia 5 4 review appsAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

hmd global nokia 5 4 check fingerprintAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

The battery life depends on your activities. It takes two days with basic use, but play lots of games and take photos and it quickly drops to just over a day. There is no wireless charging and no simple 10W wired charging. While I may have been indulged in high-end phones lately, the Nokia 5.4 quickly became frustrating for me due to its clumsy performance when used for everyday activities.

Price and availability

The Nokia 5.4 costs US $ 249 without a contract in the Nokia online shop or on Amazon. It costs £ 159 in the UK and is available through the same outlets. Both prices refer to the 4 GB / 64 GB model.

Our opinion

Looking back at how I felt about the Nokia 5.3, it was easier to forgive the phone's drawbacks because of its low price in the US and that it was more than a year ago when I was using it. It's much harder to forgive that a year later the Nokia 5.4 had essentially the same issues – poor performance and a bad screen. That it costs more and is still running Android 10 makes it worse. HMD Global has revamped its smartphone lineup for early 2021, and the disappointing Nokia 5.4 shows that a revamp was needed.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes. If you want to own a Nokia phone, wait and see how the new Nokia G10 and G20 phones from HMD Global work. They are slated to be released in the next few months, and prices are similar to 5.4. Now if you need a phone, consider spending a little more on the Google Pixel 4a for $ 350 or the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G for $ 399. Both have better performance, screens and cameras.

Alternatively, check out the Motorola Moto G Play for $ 170 or the Moto G Power for $ 250, depending on whether you want a big screen and long battery life, or whether you want to spend as little as possible on a new phone want. The Moto G Power is a better buy when $ 250 is your limit.

How long it will take?

The Nokia 5.4 is not waterproof, but the plastic shell should be durable and moderately protective in the event of a small fall. Android One should guarantee software updates. However, since Android 11 is not yet available on the phone, you should wait for future versions to arrive. The phone will almost certainly outlast your patience in handling its problems.

Should you buy one?

No, while the Nokia 5.4 is cheap, the phone's drawbacks will still be frustrating.

Editor's recommendations




13 Nov
Blog

Nokia 8 V 5G UW Review: Phone Is Just Too Expensive

Nokia 8 V UW

"The Nokia 8 V UW is a solid proposition but is beaten by tough competition for the same price or less."

  • Great camera

  • Long lasting battery

  • Solid display

  • Retired Software

  • Too expensive

  • No water resistance

  • 60Hz display

Right now, 5G is all the rage. With networks claiming "nationwide" coverage and phone companies putting "5G" in the name of every new phone, it makes sense that you think this is a big deal. One day it will be, but for now, you face a decision: should you get a 5G compatible phone now, although it won't be really revolutionary for you, or should you wait until 5G really matters?

Nokia thinks you should do the former. The company recently unveiled the Nokia 8.3 5G, its first 5G-enabled version. With the new Nokia 8 V 5G UW, this device goes one step further. (Yes, it's a mouthful.)

The new device is the first carrier-focused phone from HMD Global, whose name "Ver" stands for Verizon. The rest of the name is pretty standard – aside from the fact that the UW stands for "Ultra-Broadband". Right, this phone supports Verizon's 5G mmWave network.

Other than that, however, the phone is no different from the original Nokia 8.3. It even costs the same at $ 699. Here are my thoughts after a few days on the phone. Note: As the phone is so similar to the standard Nokia 8.3, we are not doing a full review. You can read our full review of the Nokia 8.3 here.

The good

The Nokia 8.3 V 5G UW is a relatively large phone with a 6.81-inch display and 1080p resolution. It's not the highest resolution, but it supports HDR always on, gets nice and bright, and is definitely sharp enough for most uses.

There are relatively thin bezels all around the display, although the chin at the bottom is quite large for a 2020 device.

The rest of the design is modern but doesn't stand out as much aside from the big old round camera on the back. There's a fingerprint reader to the side, which is fast and responsive, and there's a headphone jack at the bottom that's easy to see. There is a hole punch cutout in the top left of the display.

Nokia 8v 5g uw rating 7

nokia 8 v 5g uw review 1

The phone comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor, plus 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. It's powerful enough for most tasks, and while it's not quite as nimble as an 8-series processor, the vast majority of users won't notice a difference.

The power is supplied by a 4,500 mAh battery, with which you can easily work for a whole day. Many people can work for two days. The phone comes with Android 10 and gets Android 11. Unfortunately, updates beyond Android 11 are not displayed, which is a major disadvantage compared to the competition.

The overall software experience is pretty low-key, but the Verizon-ness undo this a bit. Immediately after setting up your phone, there will be four Verizon apps on the home screen that you need to deal with. You cannot delete them either. So the most you can do is do it in your app drawer.

The camera is a four lens camera and is great. There are four sensors on the back, including a 64-megapixel main sensor, a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, a 2-megapixel macro camera, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. The photos are vivid and bright, with lots of detail most of the time, especially in low light. I would have loved to see a telephoto lens instead of a macro sensor, and the macro sensor isn't great, but those are really the only complaints that need to be made about the camera.

The bad

I've really only focused on the good things about this phone so far, but there are some bad things too – and those bad things essentially mean that you should avoid the phone entirely.

Let's talk about 5G very quickly. There are two types to watch out for: Sub-6, which can travel long distances but doesn't necessarily get that fast, and mmWave, which is very fast but can't travel distances or penetrate obstacles. This phone supports both, especially on Verizon. But you really shouldn't care – Verizon's mmWave is pretty much irrelevant right now, and while you can get widespread Sub-6 connectivity, it's not that fast yet and won't change much in how you use a phone. In my area, Verizon's Sub-6 5G is available and relatively fast, but not much faster than a good LTE connection.

Then there's the price – and it's the real killer. At $ 700, the phone is a little tough to sell. Sure, there are good things and the camera is great, but you could buy a Google Pixel 4a 5G instead, which is significantly $ 200 less than this device and has better software support, a camera that is at least as good as no better , the same processor and more. MmWave isn't supported, but that shouldn't matter – and if you're really into mmWave, you can get the Verizon variant of the Pixel 4a 5G, which is $ 600. That's still $ 100 less than the Nokia 8 V UW.

Our opinion

The Nokia 8 V 5G UW is by no means a bad phone. It's relatively powerful, with a nice big screen, great camera, and pared-back software experience. But the price is just not right. Nokia and Verizon are charging a premium for 5G, and it's not worth it to venture into just yet.

The only way this phone makes sense is when (or more likely when) Verizon decides to give it a huge discount as part of the latest vacation or add-a-line promotion. It wouldn't be surprising if the Nokia 8 V UW was available for around $ 450 in a few months if added to a financing plan, and at that point it's dramatically more enticing.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes. If you're looking to save some cash, you'll get a better experience with the Google Pixel 4a 5G, which costs $ 200 less for the unlocked model or $ 100 less for the Verizon mmWave model. However, buy the unlocked model – you won't have to worry about mmWave for a few more years and it will still work flawlessly with Verizon.

If you don't mind spending $ 700 and are simply looking for the best phone you can get, then go for the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, which has a better processor, great camera, and price. Or you can get the new iPhone 12 Mini, which is more powerful than any Android phone currently on the market and comes in a nice pocket size.

How long it will take?

The Nokia 8 V 5G UW should be updated for two years, so only one major software update is guaranteed. It's also not waterproof, so do your best to keep it out of water.

Should you buy one?

No, you should look into that Galaxy S20 FE, Pixel 4a 5G, or iPhone 12 Mini instead.

Editor's recommendations




22 Sep
Blog

Nokia 8.3 Review: A PureView Camera in all but Name

Nokia 8 3 rating 83 back

"A wonderful camera and long-lasting battery make the Nokia 8.3 desirable, and the Android One software updates and 5G make it a safe future purchase."

  • Excellent main and ultra-wide cameras

  • Big, attractive screen

  • Android One software

  • Long battery life

  • No water resistance

  • Screen with a refresh rate of 60 Hz

  • Weak zoom and macro photos

There was a time when Nokia ruled the phone camera world, but Huawei, Apple, and Samsung have all come along and have been better known for amazing cameras ever since. However, with the Nokia 8.3, it has made some significant strides with the help of longtime partner Zeiss, to the point where I think the phone has earned the famous PureView name traditionally used for its top performing camera-centric phones.

What's even better is that the phone is less than $ 1,000 and still comes with the technology you'll need for the future, as well as guaranteed software updates for a few years to come. The Nokia 8.3 is one of the best competitively priced phones in 2020.

design

You know what you're doing with the latest Nokia designs, as they tend to follow a similar trend: a top-center-mounted camera module, a chin bezel under the screen, and colors inspired by Nordic roots. The Nokia 8.3 doesn't scream for its looks, doesn't surprise you with eye-catching folding screens, and doesn't put much emphasis on keeping the weight or thickness of the hardware down. The 8.3 is therefore a modern Nokia phone through and through.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

It weighs 220 grams, is 8.9 mm thick and 78.5 mm wide, making it a hefty piece of a phone in the hand at least when compared to the OnePlus 8 and iPhone 11. The side-mounted fingerprint sensor is ergonomically a good choice, prevents you from juggling a heavy phone while locating a sensor in the display, and it's accurate and responsive. The color Polar Night is deep blue, almost black in places, until you bring it into the light when azure stripes catch your eye. It's classy and stylish and prevents the otherwise normal phone from getting boring.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Bad parts? I really don't like the Nokia logo on the lower bezel. I don't like the Google Assistant hardware button because I accidentally hit the stupid thing. Thanks to the flat screen and glossy back, the phone glides over most surfaces as if on wheels. Even so, it feels a little pointless in the design of the Nokia 8.3 if it is definitely not ugly and the workmanship and materials used are excellent.

camera

Here's what you need to know: The Nokia 8.3's camera is brilliant. No restriction is required either. It would be a brilliant smartphone camera if it were on the back of a phone that also costs a lot more. It bears the name PureView on the spec sheet, but it really deserves to have it in the official name as its talents are readily available and it consistently takes great photos in most conditions, unlike the often disappointing Nokia 9 PureView from Early last year.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

It has a 64-megapixel main sensor, a 12-megapixel sensor with an ultra-wide-angle lens, and a pair of 2-megapixel sensors for depth and macro tasks. It's not that impressive on paper, but the results are breathtaking. Photos are saturated with rich colors and filled with razor-sharp details. They cause an emotional blow. By that I mean, nothing gets too saturated or over enhanced, which allows the photo to speak for itself without, however, losing the visual pop necessary to make images instantly shareable.

HMD Global's ongoing partnership with Zeiss is undoubtedly having an impact on performance, and the success here reminds me of how Huawei and Leica really came together to produce the superb Huawei P10. It is also easy to use. You have a wide angle and a standard view as well as a night mode and that's all you should be bothered with. Selfies are great especially when you use the Zeiss fine-tuned filter modes that give your photos a really cool look. Although they are software controlled, the bokeh mode offers good edge detection.

Is it perfect? ​​No, but the disadvantages don't outweigh the positives. There's no zoom, the 2MP macro mode is junk, and the camera often struggles with focus when taking close-ups. Annoyingly, the app stays in portrait mode if you return to the app after closing instead of going back to the default photo mode by default, and sometimes there was unattractive halo and lens flare.

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Dig deeper and night mode will be very effective provided it's not very dark. It shows a lot more texture and detail, just like the night mode used to do on Huawei phones like the P20 Pro. The portrait mode improved with Zeiss creates a very strong bokeh effect. However, this can be adjusted after you take the photo. There is also a manual pro video mode editing suite that can add anamorphic lens effects to your videos. When you record your video and expect it to happen later, it can look effective. If you don't, it just looks artificial.

The Nokia 8.3 has the ease of use of the Google Pixel 4a for shooting and recording, and takes photos that will make you want to get creative and experiment with it more.

screen

It is a 6.81 inch IPS LCD screen with a 20: 9 aspect ratio and Nokia PureDisplay technology on the front of the phone. PureDisplay enables HDR always on, adaptive brightness, and improved color accuracy and sharpness. I found the adaptive brightness to be poor though, especially when the brightness was turned down in bright sunlight so I couldn't see the screen at all.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Watching videos is wonderful, with some enhanced colors and contrasts with the PureDisplay on or a more natural palette that is closer to how the iPhone 11 Pro looks when the device is off. The individual loudspeaker is acceptable, but not enthusiastic about its sound. If you want, there is a 3.5 mm headphone jack on the case for wired headphones.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

While the screen is colorful and pretty, it lacks a refresh rate of 90 Hz or higher, which is highly expected at this price point. I notice this immediately after coming from a device with a higher refresh rate – scrolling just isn't that smooth on the Nokia – but obviously if you haven't had the feature before, the switch obviously won't be that annoying. However, it's a feature that's available on several competing phones and almost all of the flagship phones. It improves the display and reduces fatigue so that it is overlooked here.

Performance and software

The Snapdragon 765G processor from Qualcomm controls the Nokia 8.3 with 6 GB or 8 GB of RAM and 64 GB or 128 GB of internal memory, depending on the model. There's also a MicroSD card slot to add to that number.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The Nokia 5.3 has 5G, although I don't live in an area with coverage so I couldn't test this feature. To get a little more technical, the Nokia 8.3 supports more 5G bands than any other 5G phone currently available, and supports 5G systems from NSA (not standalone) and SA (standalone). So, with 5G becoming more widespread, the phone can easily connect to the network. The 4G reception is strong and the call quality is really excellent. Oddly enough, on video calls, you can't turn the volume below a certain point, making it impossible to mute the sound completely.

Here are the benchmark results:

3DMark Sling Shot Extreme: 3.006 (volcano)

Geekbench 5: 1,523 multi-core / 559 single core

Compared to the LG Velvet, the OnePlus Nord and the Motorola Edge, which have the same processor, the Nokia improves the 3DMark value, but it cannot keep up with the Geekbench 5 value either. It cannot match the results obtained by the OnePlus 8, which has a Snapdragon 856 processor and more RAM. However, it's fun to play and I didn't experience any performance issues or excessive heat while playing Asphalt 9: Legends.

Another triumph with the Nokia 8.3 is the use of Google's Android One software. It's essentially the same experience as on a Pixel phone, with a clean, crisp, logical, and consistent design, and solid reliability when it comes to running apps and getting your daily chores done. It takes some tweaking to make it better, from the adaptive brightness to the oddly inconsistent volume control, but otherwise it allows for a comfortable, stress-free mobile life.

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Yes, I said life, because a big plus here is that Android One will have major system updates for the next two years and security updates for the next three years, all of which will arrive on time. You shouldn't have to think about software updates when choosing a phone, but these are very important. HMD Global's decision to use Android One means you don't have to worry.

Battery and security

A fingerprint sensor is built into the power button on the side of the phone. For me as a right-hander it is ergonomically comfortable and has also proven to be accurate and largely reliable. The phone is powered by a massive 4,500 mAh battery, and over the course of my first few days it easily turned out to have the guts to last two full days of moderate to heavy use. There is an 18W charging block in the box, but the phone does not support wireless charging.

Price and availability

The Nokia 8.3 pre-order date is September 22nd in the UK and Europe. It will ship from October 8th. It will be shipped to the US in the near future. It costs £ 499 in the UK and € 599 in Europe. There are no official US pricing at the time of writing, but the UK price is converted to $ 640. The phone is available on the Nokia website.

Our opinion

Thanks to its great camera, the Nokia 8.3 stands alongside several budget smartphone hits at competitive prices like the Pixel 4a (or most importantly the upcoming Pixel 4a 5G), while the long battery life and clean software make life easier now and in the future. With the addition of 5G, something continued to grow. This is what we expect from Nokia: A durable smartphone with a great camera that is not characterized by its design, but emphasizes value, workmanship and general suitability for everyday use.

Is there a better alternative?

The midrange smartphone market is one of the most diverse and competitive, so there are many alternatives that need to be considered. The $ 599 LG Velvet is more attractive, but the camera is inconsistent, while the $ 500 Motorola Edge also looks good, but the software doesn't update anywhere near as long as the 8.3. The OnePlus Nord is an option for anyone in the UK, where it costs just £ 379 and delivers much of what makes the Nokia 8.3 successful, including the great screen and performance.

The better alternatives are the $ 349 Google Pixel 4a, which has the same perks as the Nokia 8.3 at a cheaper price point and just misses out on 5G – although the larger Pixel 4a 5G, announced on Sept. 30, will fix the problem will that. Or spend $ 699 on the OnePlus 8 with its prettier design, good software, 5G, and more powerful processor.

How long it will take?

It will take 3 years or more depending on your requirements. The software updates are crucial for longevity, as is the broad 5G support. However, the phone is not waterproof or rugged so you need to be careful with it. This is unfortunate as LG manages to give the Velvet both IP68 and military toughness for a similar price.

Should you buy one?

Yes. The competition is fierce, but if a solid camera, good software, and minimalist hardware are more important than a high refresh rate screen, the Nokia 8.3 is a good buy.

Editor's recommendations




10 Jul
Blog

Nokia 5.3 Review: $199 Really Can Buy You a Good Smartphone

hmd global nokia 5 3 Review backhand

Nokia 5.3 test: $ 199 can really buy a great smartphone

"The Nokia 5.3 offers everyday performance and future-proof software at an affordable price."

  • Two days of battery life

  • Large screen size

  • Two years of software updates

  • NFC for Google Pay

  • Camera disappointed

  • The screen lacks brightness

High-performance smartphones that cost $ 400 can do everything that many people expect from a cell phone, but what about phones that cost half as much? The Nokia 5.3 from HMD Global only costs $ 199 or £ 149. After a week on the phone, however, I can safely say that you won't cut the quality and performance of a more expensive model in half – in most regions. at least.

The Nokia 5.3 will surprise you with its functions, its software and its general capabilities as an everyday smartphone. No, the camera and screen aren't the best models, but you shouldn't expect them to be. If you buy the Nokia 5.3 and know what it can and can't do, you get one of the best smartphone values ​​I've seen in a while.

design

The back of the Nokia 5.3 is made of a plastic composite that is easy to grip but has no pleasant texture. It also has some flex and curves around the side to hit the plastic frame, which then leads into the 6.55-inch screen. The phone is 8.5 mm thick and weighs only 185 grams. It feels good in the hand but is wide, so owners with small hands may find it uncomfortable.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

In addition to the volume rocker and the SIM compartment, there are two other buttons on the housing of the Nokia 5.3. The power switch is an obvious necessity and is located under the volume rocker. A notification light is built in that is bright and eye-catching. It pulsates when there are messages waiting for you on the phone. This is useful when there is no screen and the positioning is unusual and noticeable.

The second button feels superfluous. It's on the opposite side and calls Google Assistant. I often accidentally pressed it when I picked up the phone or juggled with one hand. This is annoying, because unlocking the phone adds several extra steps, or taking extra seconds to cancel at other times. There's a way to turn the button off, but there's no way to reconfigure it for something more useful. Nokia has added a 3.5mm headphone jack and a single speaker at the bottom. It has a lot of volume but no bass, which results in a hard and thin sound.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

On the back is a quad sensor camera module that protrudes very easily from the body and is attached over a fingerprint sensor. The design is no different from many other phones in recent years, including the OnePlus 7T and the Poco F2 Pro, and is harmlessly attractive.

This phone doesn't look like it will cost $ 199, and that's the big advantage here. You don't get an ugly phone that screams "cheap" when you take off or look at it, but a reserved and balanced design. I suggest that you buy the Nokia 5.3 in either cyan or sand instead of the boring charcoal color of my test model to make the phone more attractive.

screen

The 6.5-inch IPS LCD screen on the front shows where money was saved. The resolution is 1,600 x 720 pixels, which means that YouTube videos are played with a maximum of 720p. While this is perfectly acceptable for a phone at this price, I have found that it suffers from a lack of brightness. I had to crank up the brightness most of the time, and even then it is difficult to see in bright sunlight. The automatic brightness function is also annoyingly random and rarely settles on a single level before fluctuating again and never at the right point.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

With the selfie camera at the top of the screen there is a drop notch and at the bottom a small chin bezel with Nokia logo. Assuming the maximum brightness and the intrusive night light function that reduces the blue light (it affects the colors too much, especially when scrolling), the screen is suitable for everyday use. Just don't expect it to be a media powerhouse.

However, you can expect it to be satisfactory. The low resolution means that details are missing, but I found the screen to have a very cool color palette by default. It cries out for more brightness, and some videos may lack life and vibrancy. However, this is not the real aim of the phone, and the Nokia 5.3 works well for casual viewing. I also like that the screen is huge, so you don't feel that the low price has led to other visual compromises outside of resolution.

camera

Even phones that cost $ 199 now have four lens camera sensors, but they shouldn't. The main camera of the Nokia 5.3 has 13 megapixels and an aperture of 1: 1.8. There is also a 5-megapixel ultra-wide sensor, a 2-megapixel depth sensor and a 2-megapixel macro lens. The selfie camera in the teardrop notch has 8 megapixels.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

It's functional, but not inspiring. As with the screen, expectations have to be mitigated because it is inconsistent and rarely took a photo that I want to share without editing. Neither the wide-angle nor the standard lenses provide the right lighting every time, either over- or underexposed, and the dynamic range also varies greatly between the two. Macro shots are as overwhelming as you would expect from a 2 megapixel sensor.

There is a night mode, but the shots are only slightly better than those without, and also a portrait mode. Edge detection is decent, but you have to wait for the camera to process the shots. When you switch to the selfie camera, the results often look washed out in bright conditions. However, the results are acceptable indoors.

If you combine all of this with slow software, the Nokia 5.3's camera is a letdown. This is a cheap phone and it will never take the best in terms of the camera, but there should still be a standard that needs to be maintained. Fast software and constant performance are required at all costs. I would rather have a camera with a lens that takes good photos than a camera with four lenses that takes mediocre photos.

Software and performance

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 processor with 3 GB, 4 GB or 6 GB RAM supplies the Nokia 5.3 with power. My rating phone is 4 GB and can handle tasks like social networking apps, messaging and calls with ease. If you do something more intense, including using YouTube, speed can suffer. Switching from landscape to portrait mode takes a few seconds, for example, and quitting performance-hungry game apps leads to a longer pause while the phone sorts itself out.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The benchmark tests are as follows:

Geekbench 5: 308 single core / 1312 multi core

3DMark Sling Shot Extreme: 1129 (volcano)

It's the same chip used in the Motorola Moto G8, Moto G Fast, and G Power, and the results are similar. Do you think you cannot play on Nokia 5.3? Think again No, it's not a ROG Phone 2, but I played Asphalt 9 Legends happily enough. Sure, it's not the smoothest experience, but it never develops into a situation that makes it unplayable. 1945 and playing Hill Climb Racer was fine too.

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The Nokia 5.3 is an Android One phone. This means that the software is similar to Google Pixel phones, with no special user interface, additional apps, or other changes to Google's basic Android style. Android One also ensures regular and timely software updates. The phone receives Android 11 when it arrives and will be updated for the next two years in total. This is a serious selling point and ensures that your cheap smartphone purchase will not be out of date in the near future.

Aside from a few performance stutters, it runs very smoothly, and I think it's good that it has a dark mode and also comes with NFC for Google Pay. Again, this is another big advantage since some competing devices don't have this feature at all.

Battery and security

The 4,000 mAh battery in combination with the low resolution screen and the mid-range processor gave me great hopes for the battery life of the Nokia 5.3. In reality, it was nothing better than most other phones, regardless of the specification. I mostly tested the Nokia at home and therefore connected to Wi-Fi most of the time.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

For me, average usage includes social media, some photos, some video and voice calls, and news and a little bit of games. The Nokia lasted almost two full days, but only if the second day is less intense than the first. Video puts additional strain on the battery. The charging process takes place only via cable, and here too there is no quick charging.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Security is exactly what you want: a simple but secure fingerprint sensor on the back of the phone and a face unlock, both of which are fast and largely reliable. However, the rear fingerprint sensor didn't work well with wet fingers. It has a handy feature that swipes down to pull down the notification shadow on the screen.

Price, guarantee and availability

The Nokia 5.3 can be purchased in the US for $ 199 from Amazon. In the UK, it costs £ 149 and is available in Nokia's own online shop, Amazon and Argos.

The device is warranted for two years in the United Kingdom, but only for one year in the United States.

Our opinion

When reading this review, you run the risk of believing that the Nokia 5.3 is not worth buying. As with any phone, I've pointed out the drawbacks, but it's important to put them in context. The Nokia 5.3 costs $ 199, it does everything a smartphone could want, and it does some things quite well. You can find much better phones, but at the same time the Nokia 5.3 can easily handle what most people need a phone for.

It's refreshing to see that at $ 199 you buy an attractive, modern smartphone that plays top games, runs all your apps, and has enough power and battery to be a reliable companion for everyday life. Just be prepared for the fact that it doesn't have the excellent photography or display quality that you would expect from a model over $ 700.

Is there a better alternative?

For $ 199? The options are limited. Take a look at the Motorola Moto G Power for $ 249 or the Motorola Moto G Fast for $ 199 if you want similar alternatives. However, to really buy a better phone, you have to spend a lot more. We recommend the Apple iPhone SE for $ 399, the Poco F2 Pro for $ 500, or the OnePlus 8 for $ 600. Google has set the Pixel 3a. However, if you find another one, it is a solid buy.

How long it will take?

The Nokia 5.3 is not waterproof, but the composite back is scratch-resistant. Thanks to the Android One platform, HMD Global also promises software updates for the next two years. This is a significant advantage over the Motorola alternatives. Provided you don't expect your own phone to change use, Nokia 5.3 easily holds the entire two-year guaranteed software update period.

Should you buy it

Yes. Don't let the negatives catch you and instead rejoice that you can buy a powerful everyday smartphone for $ 199.

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