After a long absence from the smartphone market, Nokia is back, and they have a long way to go. With the dominance of Chinese OEMs, they have stiff competition in the mid-range smartphones.
They seem to be on the right track, with the latest launch Nokia 4.2 (priced at ₹10,990), which seems to capture everyone’s attention. So, let’s look at the phone and decide whether this is one of the best budget Smartphone in the market!
Design
Nokia’s phone always has a good design, and this is no exception. Nokia 4.2 is a step above everyone with its smooth glass back design that we see in Nokia’s Premium smartphones. The phone has a new teardrop design that is less distracting than usual. It has a smaller 5.7-inch screen and weighs just 161g that makes the phone feels handy. Other competitors have a much larger phone, but they are heavier than the Nokia 4.2.
Display
This phone is suitable for users who use their phone for social media, videos, and messaging and doesn’t require a very large screen. It can handle colors well but becomes dull due to the lower resolution of 1,250x 720p as compared to other phones in the same region. Nokia 4.2 display is in the same league as the Redmi 7’s display.
Software
Nokia 4.2 comes with a no-frills stock Android interface, and the interface doesn’t look so good in Android 9 as they used to be. This is due to Google experimenting with layout lately. Despite this, the phone feels less cluttered and has less pre-loaded apps compared to a Samsung or a Redmi.
As Nokia 4.2 is a part of Google’s Android One, their users will get priority when it comes to any minor or major Android update, unlike the Redmi phones which receive delayed update.
Performance
Nokia 4.2 is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 439 octa-core chipset. It is packed with 3GG RAM and 32 GB storage with an option to upgrade. This phone is designed for basic tasks, and the specs are accordingly. So, don’t expect this phone to perform at the level of Redmi 7 (Snapdragon 632) or Galaxy M20 (Exynos 7-series 7904).
But this doesn’t mean you will face problem in your normal usage. The phone is more than capable of operating Facebook, YouTube, emails, Spotify quickly and swiftly. It has a decent battery backup, and a single charge usually gets you to the end of the day on modest use. The Galaxy M20 surely beat Nokia in this department whose battery lasts for a day and a half easily.
Camera
The 12-MP main camera and 2-MP depth sensor camera on the back are pretty decent. The Outdoor shots are clear, but lack sharpness and the color seems washed out. Even the low light clicks are blemished due to noise. But all the phones in this budget suffer from these problems.
Verdict
Overall Nokia 4.2 is a well-rounded smartphone that has all the feature you expect in this range. Plus, it has the security of lasting for the next two years with the latest Google updates. This is a good start for Nokia, which is just starting out in this range.
However, if you are looking for something powerful to play PUBG in your smartphone, then you should go for Samsung Galaxy M20 (starts at ₹10,990). If you are looking for something cheaper with a premium design and polished interface, then consider Redmi 7 (₹8,999 for 3GB RAM). Having said this Nokia 4.2 is a good choice, but we are hopeful Nokia will release some gems soon in this series.
-Travelrasoi
