Android smartphones with a price tag of less than a hundred euros, are often little. That is not very strange, but it is all the better that the recently released Nokia 1 leaves a better impression. This budget phone works fine and has the latest software on board.
Nokia 1
Price € 90,-Colors Blue and red
OS Android 8.1 (Go edition)
Screen 4.5 inch LCD (854 x 480)
Processor 1.1GHz quad-core (MediaTek)
RAM 1GB
Storage 8GB (expandable with memory card)
Battery 2150mAh
Camera 5 megapixels
(rear), 2 megapixel (front)
Connectivity 4G (LTE), Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi, GPS
Format 13.3 x 6.7 x 0.9cm
Weight 131 grams
Website www.nokia.com 7 Score 70
- Pros
- Affordable
- Works properly
- Excellent battery life
- Latest Android version
- Negatives
- Bad cameras
- Low-resolution display
- Charging the battery takes four hours
The Nokia 1 is the cheapest and least powerful model in the smartphone series from manufacturer HMD Global, which is licensed under the Nokia brand name. With a suggested retail price of 90 euros, the Nokia 1 is a true budget device, which you immediately see in the plastic design. The screen is small (4.5 inches), the screen edges are large and there is an old micro-USB port. Unlike many dirt-cheap phones, the Nokia 1 is solidly built and scores points with its removable battery. We are also pleased with the fact that you can put two SIM cards and a micro SD card in the phone. The latter is recommended, because only half of the 8GB storage memory is available.
With the smartphone's price point in mind, the display is fine. The LCD with IPS technology shows nice colors, although the sharpness (854 x 480 pixels) takes some getting used to. The screen scratches quickly, so a screen protector is recommended.
Entry-level hardware
To arrive at a sales price of 90 euros, Nokia has put absolute budget hardware in the Nokia 1. Think of an entry-level processor from MediaTek, 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage memory. That doesn't bode well, we hear you think. Still, the phone runs a lot smoother than expected, which is due to the installed Android Go software. The operating system, based on Android 8.1 Oreo, is designed for cheap phones and is much lighter than the normal Android version. For example, stripped-down Go versions of Google apps have been put on the phone. Although the performance of the Nokia 1 is not comparable to that of a phone of 249 euros, the device can handle all known apps just fine. As long as you have some patience. Unfortunately, Nokia has not yet announced how long and how often the smartphone will be updated.
It is nice that the battery of the Nokia 1 lasts a long day without worry. The phone also supports 4G internet. The cameras shoot downright mediocre photos and videos, which is a shame but somewhat understandable.
Conclusion
Although good smartphones are becoming more affordable, there is still plenty of demand for dirt-cheap phones for a festival or for an older user. The Nokia 1 is an affordable model that works well and is equipped with the latest Android version. If you want to spend less than a hundred euros on an (extra) smartphone, the Nokia 1 is a good buy.
