Nokia’s new entry-level repairable cellphone
Nokia’s emphasis during the last couple of years has been on affordability fairly than chasing down the most recent and biggest with flagship telephones. It is an method that has garnered some success, with different producers placing every little thing in to excessive and mid-range units, Nokia has taken a sizeable chunk from the underside of the market.
The Nokia G sequence is not fairly probably the most reasonably priced, however priced at below £150/€200, it is a system that is going to be extra extensively out there to those that are much less prepared to half with some huge cash to safe the most recent system.
Many of the consideration, nonetheless, will probably be on how straightforward it’s to restore, because the Nokia G22 launches with the intention you could restore it your self, designed to be opened by the person for primary servicing.
Nokia G22
First impressions
Nokia’s reasonably priced G22 arrives with the promise of straightforward repairs by way of a partnership with iFixit. However longevity promise is barely let down by solely 2 years of OS updates. It is a funds cellphone with funds {hardware}, however there is a massive higher and huge show for the cash.
- Simple to restore
- Giant show
- Large battery
- Software program assist not nice
- Finances {hardware}
Design and construct
- 165 x 76.19 x 8.48mm, 196.23g
- Recycled plastic rear
- Designed for restore
- IP52 safety
The Nokia G22 follows Nokia’s current designs, completed in plastics and providing two colors for the rear, Lagoon Blue or Meteor Gray. There are flat sides, once more completed in plastics, in a contrasting color, whereas the general rear is shiny.
It feels fairly safe within the hand, however the rear cowl does choose up fingerprints, so will want an everyday wipe to maintain it wanting good. The design is not massively thrilling, however on the reasonably priced finish of the market you are after a stable system and might’t anticipate the most recent supplies or finishes.
The design of the inside, nonetheless, is maybe extra essential than the design of the outside. As this cellphone has been designed for repairability, Nokia has eliminated limitations to make it simpler to open. However this is not like telephones from a number of years in the past with a detachable again, you will nonetheless want instruments to get inside and make these adjustments. Nonetheless, when you do get inside, altering the battery, USB-C charging port or show ought to be straightforward sufficient, with components available from iFixit.
Nokia
The cellphone has an IP52 safety ranking so it should endure the odd splash of water and we’re informed by Nokia that this safety stays intact in the event you open it as much as make repairs – assuming, in fact, that you just observe the directions.
The flattened sides do lend this cellphone a contemporary look and regardless of the large body there’s loads of grip.
Show and {hardware}
- 6.5in, 1600 x 720 pixels, 90Hz
- Unisoc T606, 4GB RAM, 64/128GB storage + microSD
- 5050mAh battery, 20W charging
Sitting on the reasonably priced finish of the spectrum, it is no shock to seek out that the Nokia G22 is supplied with specs that match its value. There is a decent-sized show at 6.5-inches, boosted by a 90Hz refresh price, nevertheless it’s not massively vivid and with an HD+ decision – 1600 x 720 pixels, it would not match the element of shows in telephones which might be just a bit costlier.
It is also a fairly dated design on the subject of the show, with a large bezel and waterdrop notch on the prime housing the front-facing digital camera. It is protected with Gorilla Glass 3 to aim to maintain some scratches at bay and it appears affordable at this value level.
Turning to the {hardware} it is a comparable story. There is a funds Unisoc Tiger T606 chipset, which might be corresponding to one thing just like the Snapdragon 660. It is primarily based on older 12nm tech and has eight cores, however can be partnered with 4GB RAM – though 2GB vRAM can be used – so do not have excessive expectations for efficiency: it is a cellphone designed to be reasonably priced and that is mirrored on this {hardware}.
On the constructive entrance there’s assist for microSD so you possibly can cheaply and simply broaden the storage above and past the 64 or 128GB internally – as much as 2TB. There’s additionally a 3.5mm headphone socket alongside the USB-C, so it is higher linked than some flagship units in that sense.
What may show to be this cellphone’s strongest level is the battery: there is a massive 5050mAh cell, with assist for 20W charging. That is not massively quick, nevertheless it’s higher than nothing – and that massive capability battery on this {hardware} could effectively final you 3 days. That is what Nokia says and so long as you do not spend your time attempting to push the {hardware} to play the most recent video games, that can most likely maintain true.
Cameras
- Important: 50MP, f/1.8, AF
- Macro: 2MP
- Depth: 2MP
- Entrance: 8MP, f/2.0, FF
There’s solely actually one digital camera on the rear of the Nokia G22, and that is the 50-megapixel important digital camera. It is a typical digital camera discovered on entry-level units, though it affords a variety of modes, together with portrait and night time capturing. We are saying there’s solely actually one digital camera, as a result of Nokia has adopted a path typical of funds telephones and put three lenses on the again.
This may make it seem like there’s an thrilling triple digital camera association on the rear of this cellphone, however the second and third cameras usually aren’t price bothering with. There is a macro digital camera, which we have not examined to any nice extent on this system, however we all know from different funds telephones that these low-cost secondary lenses usually do not actually provide you with respectable images and are simply there to make the cellphone look higher.
The identical logic may be utilized to the depth sensor: no flagship cellphone has a depth sensor as a result of they are not wanted. Once more, it is a makeweight, designed to make the cellphone look extra spectacular and might be one thing you possibly can immediately dismiss.
The entrance digital camera is 8-megapixels and glued focus. This additionally affords portrait mode (however with none form of depth sensor which maybe proves the purpose made above). We have not examined the entrance digital camera to any nice diploma, however early check pictures counsel it is typical of units on this place.
Software program
- Android 12
- Two OS updates, 3 years safety updates
The Nokia G22 launches on Android 12, and people conversant in Android versioning will know that we’re already effectively into Android 13’s lifecycle, so it is launching on outdated software program. Moreover, Nokia is promising two OS updates, which is able to take it to Android 14. Past this there will probably be no updates.
This is not an incredible start line for software program on this system, as a result of Android 14 is already in growth and can probably launch in summer time 2023, rolling onto Pixel units at the moment. That signifies that Nokia is a way behind the curve – and it is by no means going to get past software program that was introduced in 2023.
For safety replace you will go one higher, as a result of there are 3-years, so that you cellphone will no less than be supported till 2026. It is a barely complicated place on condition that Nokia pitches this cellphone as repairable, which means the {hardware} could lengthy outlast the software program assist supplied by the corporate.
As for the software program, it is near inventory Android, solely with some preinstalled apps – together with LinkedIn, Netflix, ExpressVPN, GoPro Quik, Spotify and Reserving.com. You may end up wanting a few of this bloatware, however no less than there is no duplication of providers – it is Google apps all the best way.
First impressions
The Nokia G22’s attraction principally comes from the thought of straightforward repairability – and having witnessed this cellphone being cracked open for a battery change, it appears like that is going to be one thing that is straightforward to do. It is maybe unusual then that the software program aspect would not match this concept of getting your system final so long as attainable.
As an reasonably priced smartphone, the {hardware} is becoming to the value, though with reductions and gross sales you may discover some offers on units drifting in direction of this value. We have not had an opportunity to totally check the efficiency, however first impressions counsel that it may be a typical Android expertise at this value level.
The Nokia G22 will probably be out there from 8 March 2023.
