Nokia 3 Review

Despite its modest price, the Nokia 3 boasts a premium feel. It has a polycarbonate body, aluminum frame, and Corning Gorilla Glass protection.

It also has 2GB RAM and 16GB ROM to ensure smooth performance. It runs Android 7.0 Nougat and receives regular monthly security updates.

Specs

The Nokia 3 features a 5-inch HD display with a 720 x 1280 pixels resolution. It is powered by a MediaTek MT6737 chip with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage.

The phone runs on Android v7.0 (Nougat) out of the box, and it can be upgraded to a newer version later if needed. It also supports a microSD card for additional storage space.

The Nokia 3 is one of few budget phones to come with stock Android Nougat, and it offers many features that many other phones lack in this price range. These include bundled notifications, a quick app switcher, and the all-new Settings app.

Design

HMD Global’s made much use of Nokia’s classic design language across many of its handsets, giving them a luxury feel. But the new Nokia 3 leans heavily into its budget roots, offering a choice of just two colors: Charcoal and Fjord.

Its design immediately reminds you of older Windows Phone-toting Nokia phones, with metal edging surrounding a lightly grippy flat plastic back. The slightly curved glass front running into the sides is classy, too.

At the heart of the design is an HD display that combines laminated IPS technology with Corning(r) Gorilla(r) Glass to deliver durability and superb clarity, reducing reflections. It also features a polarized screen, which makes it easy to read in bright sunlight.

Camera

The Nokia 3 is a good budget camera phone with its 13MP rear snapper for capturing well-lit images. Its f/2.0 aperture and autofocus capabilities are advantageous but insignificant with low-light shots.

It also has a front-facing camera capable of video chats and group selfies. The only issue is that it’s slow and inaccurate in macro mode.

This is another great feature to see in a cheap Android phone, but it’s worth remembering that if you want more from your photos than the Nokia 3 will display, you’ll need to spend a bit more on your camera.

Battery life

The Nokia 3 isn’t a bad phone in terms of battery life. However, it’s not a standout performer either.

It has a 2630mAh battery, which isn’t a tremendous amount of power compared to other budget phones, but it didn’t do too well in our standardized endurance test.

It did just as poorly as the Sony Xperia L1 we reviewed earlier this year.

It doesn’t come with fast-charging tech, so getting a full charge might take a while after you’ve used it for a bit. With light use (gaming, listening to music, social media, etc.), the Nokia 3 can last quite a long time between charges.

Performance

If you’re looking for a budget Android phone with a premium design, the Nokia 3 is a great choice. It’s got a solid build and is also part of HMD Global’s Android One program, meaning it will get regular updates for two years.

It runs near-stock Android with minimal modifications and a focus on Google services. This means it will get Android upgrades faster than most other phones on the market, which makes it a good choice for people who want to stay up-to-date with the latest features and software innovations.

The display is also decent, with a 720p resolution and 2.5D glass that protects it from scratches. It’s not as bright or vibrant as higher-end devices, but it is still a comfortable screen for watching videos.