Entertainment

Back to the future

Nokia was once the leading smartphone brand in Nepal in terms of market share. The durability and functionality the brand offered at the time came second to none. But with the rise of smartphones like iPhones and various Android phones, Nokia’s influence began to wane and the company eventually sold itself to Microsoft. Back to the future

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Anuj Bhandari

Published at : May 23, 2017

Updated at : June 12, 2017 17:01

Now years later, thanks to the Finnish company HMD Global, Nokia is back-arousing curiosity from mobile users the world over. So, what is HMD Global offering after resurfacing the beloved brand back into the world? What are the Nokia mobile phones you can buy right now or in the near future in Nepal? Let’s take a look.

Nokia 3310

If you’ve been using mobile phones for the past 10-15 years, you probably came across the Nokia 3310 early on. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of playing Snake and Space Impact on my dad’s phone. I even attribute my fixation with mobile phones and gadgets to this much-loved “brick phone”.

Last week, when I had a hands-on experience with the Nokia 3310, I was transported back to my childhood days. What I held in my hand came with that familiar design of yore, albeit with a slimmer body. The Nokia 3310 sports a 2.4-inch QVGA display with the resolution of 240 x 320.

Unlike normal smartphones today, the device comes with Nokia Series 30+ as its operating system. It only has 16 MB of internal memory but that can be expanded up to 32 GB via the microSD card slot. So, if you are looking forward to buying this device, buying a memory card is absolutely necessary.

The major difference of new 3310 and its older version is the inclusion of a rear-facing camera. The newly-included camera measures 2-megapixel and is accompanied by a LED flash. There is, however, no front-facing camera. The device has dual SIM slots that only support 2G connectivity. A headphone jack at the bottom of the set is another addition to the new series.

A small 1,200 mAh battery powers the device. According to HMD Global, the new home of Nokia, the battery on the Nokia 3310 provides a total 22.1 hours of talk time and up to 31 days of standby time.

Nokia 3310

• 2.4-inch QVGA display

• 16 MB internal memory, expandable up to 32GB

• Nokia Series 30+

• Dual SIM

• 2-megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash

• FM Radio, MP3 Player, Bluetooth

• 1,200mAh battery

• Price: Rs. 5,250

Nokia 3

Unveiled in February 2017, the Nokia 3 is a budget smartphone and comes with a decent polycarbonate body on the outside. The seamless 2.5D glass at the front, however, makes the device look great for its price. Like most cheap smartphone these days, the Nokia 3 is powered by a MediaTek MT6737 quadcore processor and 2 GB of RAM.

The IPS LCD display is 5-inches with HD resolution and is powered up by a non-removable 2,650mAh battery.For the photographers, the Nokia 3 is equipped with 8-megapixel front-facing and rear-facing cameras. Both cameras have f/2.0 aperture. The rear-facing camera has a LED flash below the lens. There is also an ample space to store files in the device because it has 16 GB of internal storage with an option to expand it up to 128 GB.

But the best feature of the Nokia 3 has to be its software. Even with the low pricing of the device, it has Android 7.0 Nougat as its operating system. Therefore, I would recommend this device for someone who is low on budget but wants that optimum software experience.

Nokia 3 Specs:

• 5-inch HD IPS LCD Display

• 1.4 GHz Octa-Core MediaTek MT6737 Processor

• 2 GB RAM

• 16GB ROM (expandable up to 128GB)

• 8 MP rear camera

• 8 MP front camera

• 4G LTE supported Dual SIM

• 2,650 mAh Li-Ion Battery

• Estimated Price: Rs. 16,000

Nokia 6

The Nokia 6 is the first smartphone from the ‘new and revamped’ Nokia. Launched first in the Chinese market, the device is one of the most awaited smartphones of the year in Nepal. It has a 5.5-inch IPS LCD display with a full HD resolution and a PPI of 403. Considering that the Nokia 6 could carry a price tag of Rs 26,000, it looks set to be a good deal for its specifications.

Nokia 6 has the same SoC as the Nokia 5. It houses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 SoC along with a 1.4 GHz octa-core processor, 3 GB of RAM and Adreno 505 GPU. HMD Global has also launched a 4 GB RAM variant but if the rumors are taken into account, it will not be making its way to the Nepali market.

Unlike the other models, the Nokia 6 has 32 GB of internal memory which, like the 3 and 5, can be upgraded to 128 GB. This storage could be necessary if you are into photography as the device has a 16-megapixel rear-facing shooter along with dual tone flash and it can take full HD videos at 30fps, just like the Nokia 5. An 8-megapixel front-facing shooter sits at the front, which just like the primary camera can take 1080p videos.

Among a couple of shortcomings of the Nokia 6, the hybrid SIM slot is one. But it isn’t much of a deal breaker. The inclusion of a fingerprint sensor and gyro sensor is certainly a plus. The speaker on the device is amplified by Dolby Atmos. Also, the 3,000 mAh Li-Ion battery inside has fast charging abilities, though it still lacks a USB Type-C connectivity.

Nokia 6 Specs

• 5.5-inch full HD IPS LCD Display

• 1.4 GHz Octa-Core Snapdragon 430 Processor

• 3 GB RAM

• 32 GB ROM (expandable up to 128GB)

• 16 MP rear camera

• 8 MP front camera

• 4G LTE supported Dual SIM

• Front-mounted fingerprint sensor

• 3,000mAh Li-Ion Battery

• Estimated Price: Rs. 26,000

Nokia 5

Another Nokia smartphone launched in February was the Nokia 5. It is rumored to be set for a Nepal release at the estimated pricing of Rs 22,000. At that price, HMD Global has offered a pretty decent 3,000 mAh battery and Android v7.1.1 Nougat in the device.

Apart from these standout features, the Nokia 3 comes with a HD quality display. At a time when even cheaper smartphones feature a full HD display, it is essential for a mid-range devices to have a better-quality display. Nonetheless, the 5.2-inch display matches well with the 3,000 mAh battery in providing a better battery life.

The Nokia 3 functions through its octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 CPU. This, along with a 2 GB RAM and Adreno 505 as its GPU, should provide a satisfactory performance. Tagging along is 16 GB of onboard storage which can be expanded externally and the phone runs on the newest Android v7.1.1 Nougat with near stock-like features.

Dual tone flash at the back supports a 13-megapixel primary camera that has f/2.0 aperture for poor-lit conditions. It can also capture 1080p videos at 30 frames per second. At the front is an 8-megapixel secondary camera which, needless to say, is enough to satiate your selfie needs.

The Nokia 3, like every other smartphone today, comes in an aluminum unibody metal backing. Like the Nokia 3, this device has a sleek looking 2.5D glass covering the display, and there is also a front-mounted fingerprint scanner right below the display.