HMD Global unveiled its latest entry-level smartphone and cheapest Nokia smartphone till date, the Nokia 2 at a global event in India yesterday. The price of the Nokia 2 is set at Euro 99 and the exact Indian price will be unveiled sometime before the official sale. The smartphone is not a head-turner when it comes to specifications, however, that's not the reason for the existence of the Nokia 2.
The highlight of the Nokia 2 is not its specifications, of course, which isn't the highlight of any Nokia Android smartphones released till date. As seen with the earlier Nokia devices, HMD Global is relying on the build quality, stock Android as success points and a new point considered by the company with the Nokia 2 is a larger battery.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNtSBE_Y4bM]
At the launch event, HMD touted that there's a huge demand for smartphones in $100 to $150 price range, and the company doesn't have a presence in the segment. With the Nokia 2, HMD is looking to conquer the said price bracket, but will it do so? Here are my initial thoughts on the Nokia 2 after playing with it for a short time.
Design and Display
The biggest strength of the Nokia 2 is its design. Like the earlier Nokia devices, the Nokia 2 also built like a tank, and it looks excellent too. The device comes in three colour options- Pewter Black, Pewter White, and Copper Black. The Copper Black colour option looks better than the other two.
The Nokia 2 has an aluminium frame running over the sides, which is crafted out of 6000 Series aluminium and the back panel is a plastic one. The Nokia 2 also feels compact because it comes with a 5-inch display that fits very well in the hands. The display is decent enough for the said price, and it's an HD panel.
Hardware and Camera
When it comes to hardware, the Nokia 2 disappoints masses out there because it is powered by the entry-level Snapdragon 212 chipset and comes with 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage. Thankfully, internal storage can be expanded with the help of a microSD card.
The Nokia 2 runs pure stock Android 7.1 Nougat with Google Assistant baked in. Also, HMD promised to roll out Android Oreo update to the Nokia 2 very soon. The usage of entry-level chipset means you will not get a great performance from the Nokia 2.
Connectivity and Battery
HMD Global has added all the connectivity options such as 4G LTE, VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, and GPS. The major highlight of the Nokia 2 is its beefy 4100mAh battery, which as per HMD will last for two days.
Conclusion
The Nokia 2 will hit the bullseye with its charming looks and it comes with a massive 4100mAh battery too. That said, the hardware of the Nokia 2 disappoints, but again, HMD's goal is to invite first-time smartphone buyers who're not able to use apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and other apps on their feature phones.
That said, the Nokia 2 is not a cheap affair too. The phone comes with a maximum retail price of Euro 99, which dubs to Rs. 7,500. There are some rumours making rounds on the web saying that the Nokia 2 will retail for Rs. 6,999 in the Indian market. If that's the official price, then the phone will struggle against the likes of Xiaomi Redmi 4, Motorola Moto C Plus, and several other budget phones.
