The Nokia G20 won’t win any high
performance prizes. Yet at $279, the mid-range Android
phone from HMD Global represents solid value.
Since
HMD Global revived the Nokia brand, the company has push a
straightforward pitch. It makes less expensive phones with
the essential features but few trimmings.
The real value
lies in a commitment to provide regular operating system
updates and security patches on a scale that other Android
phone makers either can’t or won’t match. It is an
Android One phone like earlier Nokia models.
The Nokia
G20 follows this template. It has a 6.5-inch 720p LCD
display that’s on a par with phones costing more than twice
as much. The main camera has 48 megapixels. There’s a 5
megapixel ultra-wide camera, a 2 megapixel macro camera and
a 2 megapixel depth sensor. On the front there is an 8
megapixel camera.
You’ll get decent pictures. It does an
OK job with low-light conditions. That’s rare for a phone in
this price range.
If photography is important to you, it
may pay to spend more on an advanced phone, although this
will not embarrass you.
At
this price you cant expect the latest features like
wireless charging. It doesnt have the most powerful
processor and it doesnt work with 5G networks. All those
things are available further up the Nokia range.
Another
price compromise is the plastic case. Its not as pretty
as more expensive phones, but it is sturdy enough to take
workplace knocks and blows and carry on working. The plastic
is not slippery. You can grip it to stop it slipping from
your hands.
Also, you get a long battery life. Android
phones rarely run for more than a day of frequent use. HMD
says Nokia G20 users should be able to go three days before
needing a recharge.
There are three years of monthly
security and operating system updates. HMD Global gives New
Zealand customers an extended three year warranty. Which
means you can spread that $279 price over three years.
Nokia G20 review: Big battery, low-price
Android was first posted at
billbennett.co.nz.
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