Buying a phone in 2021 is an entirely different situation than it was just a few years back. Many consumers are used to buying their phones from their wireless service provider but that’s slowly changing.
Thanks to the growing presence of unlocked handsets, customers are now able to choose from a much wider selection. Instead of being stuck with what your carrier offers, consider going direct to the manufacturer.
Nokia is one brand that has done pretty well in the unlocked space; it continues to grow its portfolio with models at a variety of price points and hardware features.
We’ve put together this Nokia phone buyer’s guide to help you make heads or tails out of everything. This should help you get a better understanding of what’s currently available from Nokia.
Nokia Phone Buyer’s Guide
Nokia’s phones are essentially named and classified with a number. The general rule of thumb here is the bigger the number, the more powerful the phone. As of today its phones mainly range from the 2 and 8 series of phones; the Nokia 7.2, for instance, is a successor to the Nokia 7.1. The newer models in the Nokia lineup include the G10, G20, and XR20.
Android One
One of the best parts about Nokia phones is that they come with a stock version of Android. It’s lean and clean and left the way Google intended it to be.
Additionally, Nokia does a wonderful job of supporting its phones with major software updates and monthly security patches. Its devices receive two years of major platform updates and three years of security and bug fixes.
Dedicated Button
Another common feature in Nokia phones is a dedicated hardware button for Google Assistant. This gives users a quick and easy way of accessing the popular search tool and virtual assistant.
Key Phones
These are some of the current phones and their respective features offered by Nokia.
Nokia XR20
About as robust of an experience as you’re apt to find with the handset maker, standout details for the XR20 include a two-year warranty with three years of OS upgrades and four years of security updates. That’s far and above what most companies are willing to offer.
The sleek casing is designed to the MIL-STD-810H military standards and takes on drops, water, dust, and dirt. In fact, you can clean it with soap and water.
The dual rear camera configuration includes a 48-megapixel sensor, a 13-megapixel ultra-wide sensor, and dedicated flash. Then there’s also a suite of hardware and software enhancements to ensure everything looks great.
Nokia G10 and G20
Powered by Android 11, these two are more budget-minded approaches to the everyman phone. That is to say they are 4G handsets with MediaTek processors and modest amounts of memory.
Either phone would make a great first smartphone for someone but we suggest spending the extra money for the G20 if it’s available. For your money you’ll get more storage and performance.
Nokia X100
Among the bigger and more well-rounded, the Nokia X100 runs Android 11 and offers 5G support.
Users get a large 6.67-inch display as well as a quad-camera (48MP + 5MP Ultra-Wide + 2MP Macro + 2MP Depth) array with ZEISS features​.
Under the hood are a Qualcomm Snapdragon 480G processor bolstered by 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. Rounding things out are a 4,470mAh battery and a side-mounted power and fingerprint sensor button.
Nokia G300
Powered by Android 11, the device provides users with a 6.52-inch HD+ screen, a triple camera array, and 4,470mAh battery.
A mid-range phone for modest needs, it offers wide support for 4G LTE bands and 5G, too. The handset packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 processor with 4GB RAM. Storage is listed at 64GB of space but a microSD expansion card slot allows for up to 1TB external media.
Nokia G50
An excellent option for first-time users and those who don’t demand much of their phone, this one packs a large 6.82-inch HD+ screen and an equally large 5,000mAh battery.
The handset runs Android 11 and comes with 4GB and 128GB memory. A triple-camera configuration snaps ultra-wide and portrait shots alike while the expandable (up to 512GB) storage ensures you’ve got room to store them.
Nokia 3 Series
Often sold through prepaid carriers and MVNOs, these are now what you’d find in the entry level space from Nokia. Although they are a little lighter on hardware, they still come with a wonderful software experience that’s backed with years of support.
