Nokia 5.1, 3.1 and 2.1 hands-on review

29 May 2018
It's been less than two years since HMD Global was founded. Yet the Finland-based company already has an almost fairytale-like success story unfolding around it. Even though the company still refers to itself as a "start-up", it mace out of a funding round earlier this month, with a $100 million in fresh investments and an impressive valuation of a cool billion dollars.

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  • Grand Neo User
  • tDQ
  • 31 May 2018

Homersan, 30 May 2018Don't really understand all the bashing of these phones... ... moreYeah, Samsung Galaxy Grand Neo is truly horrible. I've been using this phone, and while it was fine in 2015 till 2016 or so it certainly isn't in 2018! Honestly, if you have this Samsung phone, just pick any phone with 2GB RAM and 16GB storage and it would be an upgrade already.

    AnonD-122899, 31 May 2018Well, I do agree that Nokia does a better jobs with updates... moreI'm one of the people before that doesn't care of updates, but having this feature is as important as today's generation is more risky on diving the online world.
    I'm no Facebook or Instagram user since I only watch YouTube videos and read reviews. Facebook users don't care updating their phones because they're addicted on liking and uploading photos their and risking their datas more than Googles.

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      • AnonD-122899
      • QXP
      • 31 May 2018

      Geric.770, 30 May 2018Xiaomi is good, but Nokia is better when talking about secu... moreWell, I do agree that Nokia does a better jobs with updates. But realistically, do average consumers care about updates and security? If the look and feel of the phones can't capture their attentions, what's there to talk about updates and security if they don't even consider buying from Nokia? Take Samsung for example, do they update their phones on time? Nope but yet Samsung is the top Android maker! Nokia is just wasting resources on making all these 0.1 phones.

        • D
        • AnonD-122899
        • QXP
        • 31 May 2018

        Anonymous, 30 May 2018Nokia had a great first year in the market. Maybe it's not ... moreNowadays, offering premium build quality and design is no longer a big deal, but features are. Xiaomi offers premium build quality phones too - like the A1 I'm using. Also it is running on Android One. What Nokia releases are just "another group of budgeted phones" to the masses. And none of them stand out sadly.

          • Q
          • Qwerty2018
          • sEE
          • 31 May 2018

          sadh, 30 May 2018Have you seen it in person? Damn, i saw a girl holding a p... more"And that phone is a beauty!"
          U r confused, dude...
          It's the girl that is beautiful, not the phone!

          "Have you seen it in person?"
          OFC, Nokia sold it officially in my country, and u know what?
          People who came to the store are the ones curious enough to get a hands-on of the phone, and after satisfying their curiosity they get out of the store without even asking sales girl anything!

          Well, certainly, there is time where people buy a cell phone for its looks, BUT in the era where ALL PHONE looks like a brick (especially the one with 18:9 display), only ignorant and fans are the one who still do it.

          I myself, if had US$159 to spare, would go buy Realme 1 without thinking, because, for the asking money, Oppo sure give an excellent SoC, despite omitting the FPS like what Nokia did.
          Or, I would get an Asus M1 pro, as it ticks all the ticks people mostly sought, like:
          -) Metal body
          -) FPS
          -) SD636, the #2 most excellent SoC choice for its price (the #1 is Helio P60 in Realme 1)
          -) FHD (1080p) screen
          -) 3gb RAM for the cheapest option
          -) 5000 mAh battery capacity, GIGANTIC enough for people who mainly used their phone for social messaging
          -) PURE Vanilla Android OS for those who prefer plain-looking, less-usable OS

          But then, the next thing fans will say is "Nokia give timely update, faster update, and 2 years software support" or "Nokia build is like a tank" crap, r8?

            • R
            • Raky
            • 0uZ
            • 31 May 2018

            I guess it could be ok devices for a price, but I did not read nothing after I sow it is MTK powered.
            After few Xiaomi's MTK devices, I know I won't be buying something similar ever again.

              • s
              • sadh
              • tDP
              • 30 May 2018

              Anonymous, 30 May 2018they just need to work a little harder on the design.......Have you seen it in person?
              Damn, i saw a girl holding a phone yesterday and could easily notice her phone is Nokia 3. And that phone is a beauty!
              *****
              The Nokia phones are surely not for people who prefer spec and battery over anything. But seriously, there are people out there, prefer cheap phone to keep for 2-3years, and Nokia is trying to fill this area. And i am surprised that turns out there are many people using Nokia android.

                Kiyasuriin, 30 May 2018As developer. This is the first certifates I look for when ... moreMy uses for the device:
                Galaxy S9: Daily Driver
                IPhone X: Work phone, somtimes driver in case S9 is not available (charging. Usually)
                Meizu Pro 7: replacing my iPod Touch 6G, (and it's doing a LOT better job than my iPod frankly. Thank you Meizu!)
                SenTouch T1: my PDA. Meeting arrangements, scheduler, reminder, gaming.
                Galaxy Note FE: Osu!, Taiko, CatchTheFruits, drawing.

                  Anonymous, 30 May 2018Have you MediaTek complainers forgot about this: “MediaT... moreAs developer. This is the first certifates I look for when working on a mediatek phone. (My softwares show me in green or red if it exists or not)
                  As a person. Except for the 83% of annual missing monthly updates, horrible GENERAL management of updates, and the measly, not to mention feeble GPUs they use for their processors. And past famousness of seriously horrible battery drainage. (Got a LOT better 2016 onwards) I do enjoy having a mediatek phone because
                  1. The recent SoCs when in a rooted phone are a lot more flexible in terms of power saving.
                  2. Easily tweakable to power too.
                  3. The Core Pilot (tm) is doing their job well.
                  4. Having the X30 on my MP7 (Meizu Pro 7) the feeling is amazing when you use these A73 to power. And A35 is extremely power saving.
                  I personally "bash" mediatek just because of updates. I can manage with a weak GPU (using Pro 7 as an iPod anyway) but security and updates are crucial.

                    Seriously!?
                    I appreciate the move to SD425. But why not double storage to 16 GB on the way??? >_>

                      • ?
                      • Anonymous
                      • pdH
                      • 30 May 2018

                      MG7, 30 May 2018Anyone knows if helio p18 is manufactured using 16nm or 12n... morehttps://www.mediatek.com/products/smartphones/mt6755-helio-p18

                        • j
                        • joy
                        • KS7
                        • 30 May 2018

                        love Nokia but not these lineup with crappy specs and ridiculous asking price which is nowhere near a chinese competitors.
                        charging 70% for hardware rest is for the brand name called Nokia, cant survive like this in mid lineup.

                          • M
                          • Mikey
                          • NKH
                          • 30 May 2018

                          Sheyla, 30 May 2018I'm agree, the hardware of these phones is so confusing, an... moreAre they really overcharging for the phone? Sure seems like Nokia is listening to the masses and delivering what they average customer wants. They're willing to spend a premium that can be 30-40% higher by the specs. But they expect that phone to last twice as long, making it a cost savings in the end.

                          Let's also face the fact that we as phone enthusiasts are in the minority. We care about every single frame we can crank out of the latest game, or how fast it opens our apps, ungodly amounts of storage, software updates to the absolutely latest version of Android, and cameras that vastly outpace our skills as photographers. None of which matters to the majority of consumers. Does it make phone calls? Does it get text messages? Can it play Candy Crush? Can it take good enough pictures of the cat for Facebook? Can it store those pictures of aforementioned cat? Does it look "cool" or "cute"? If all of those things are checked yes, and it doesn't have to be replaced every 6-12 months it will sell.

                          Their sales have definitely proven that.

                            • Q
                            • Qwerty2018
                            • sEE
                            • 30 May 2018

                            Homersan, 30 May 2018Don't really understand all the bashing of these phones... ... more"there is soooo much cheap crap out there, even from big brands..."

                            You nailed it, dude...
                            MOST of new Nokia's devices also part of the "cheap crap from big brands" you mentioned...

                            I mean, come on, how rich are you to call a US$219 crap (Nokia 5.1) with ONLY 2gb RAM a "quality budget phone"?
                            Mind you, the price tag mentioned here IS for the lowest version (2gb RAM/16gb ROM) one, which is ABSURDLY OVERPRICED, which means ANYONE still buying this is FULL-FLEDGED ignorant or sheep.
                            (...It will be available globally from July "starting" at €189/$219"...)

                            how about 3.1?
                            For US$159 (the lowest version), to ONLY get 2gb RAM/16gb ROM, 720p screen, plastic back cover, crappy old MT6750, and NO fingerprint scanner?
                            Better get 2017 mid-range devices, or better yet 2016 flagship ones with few more bucks.

                            For 2.1, I don't have to mention anything as it is BEYOND RIP-OFF.
                            Android GO devices price tag should not be more than US$70, as ALL the components are VERY CHEAP & LOW-END.
                            1gb RAM/ 8gb ROM, 8mp & 5mp cheap camera module, old SD425, and 720p screen are very cheap components, added with plastic body, no one in their right mind willing to pay $99!

                            Not to mention, Android Go, despite its "oreo" monicker, doesn't have ANY of the important Oreo features, even its apps choice is VERY LIMITED as the most of apps you could find in the Play would not support this shit.

                            So, let me ask again, HOW THE BLOODY HELL DO THE NEW NOKIA DEVICES ARE BUDGET PHONES?

                              Anonymous, 30 May 2018compared to samsung j6 with legendary exynos 7870 nokia 5.1... moreSamsung founded 1938 - HMD Global founded 2016 - Im pretty sure Samsung can gift every customer a free phone without ruining their business while a not even 2 year old company like HMD Global that would be otherwise (if not branded nokia) would be titled "a startup company"...couldn't do this for the next let's see...78 years?

                              You guys arent into business are you? Monopolies are fun for one - but not for all. Go buy your iphonegalaxys8s but dont come whining if the market gets stuck in some years since there is no competition no more.

                                No type C port.
                                Nokia launched a device in china with dual camera, type c port, premium glass build, AI camera, Face Unlock, latest processor, more ram, more storage; All this at a price lower than Nokia 5.1. But they are trying to sell this garbage in all other markets. Never expected this from Nokia.

                                  • S
                                  • Sheyla
                                  • pHZ
                                  • 30 May 2018

                                  Tim, 30 May 2018This phones remember me the LG Q and K series. Hiper-expens... moreI'm agree, the hardware of these phones is so confusing, and add that don't match with they high price they are asking in each phone. Too high and after Project Treble, the working time to program and release the update for the phones is negligible compared to previous android versions so is no more a justification or excuse for overprice the phones. Perhaps they feel that they are the Android's Apple at all ranges but without its own operating system and ecosystem...

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                                    • Anonymous
                                    • tEZ
                                    • 30 May 2018

                                    compared to samsung j6 with legendary exynos 7870 nokia 5.1much better, better software support, better specs with nfc. and on top of that, using aluminum that definitely better than cheap plastic.

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                                      • Titan
                                      • U{d
                                      • 30 May 2018

                                      MG7, 30 May 2018Anyone knows if helio p18 is manufactured using 16nm or 12n... moreCan be 16nm as mediatek tends to stick with older designs for lower manufacturing costs.

                                        • ?
                                        • Anonymous
                                        • tDP
                                        • 30 May 2018

                                        Anonymous, 30 May 2018Don't spread fake news it's 2018 and info's are just a few ... moreThere's no use in trying to correct him. He chooses by his own to be blinded in the darkness of his own mind and won't accept the facts, despite them being in everywhere in the Internet and in big major sources (Wikipedia etc). Many folks have tried to correct him but to no avail.

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