Nokia 2.1 review: Plans | Pricing | Specs

Name: Nokia 2.1
Brand: Nokia

Alex Kidman

Last updated: Apr 11, 2019

The Nokia 2.1 has its limitations in processing power and camera quality, but its exceptional battery life and attractive design make it an easy recommendation for customers who only need light use from a mobile.

Attractive design
Good battery life
Optimised Android Go apps

Generally poor app performance
Camera is slow

5.5 inches

Display size

8GB

Internal storage

8 MP

Rear camera

4,000 mAh

Battery size

Finder rated as Average vs similar phones

Display

Display Size

5.5 inches

Pixels per inch (PPI)

267 ppi

Camera

Rear camera megapixels

8MP

Video recording

N/A

Front camera megapixels

5MP

Physical Dimensions

Dimensions

153.6mm x 77.6mm x 9.7mm

Weight

174g

Connectivity

NFC

Wi-Fi

802.11 b/g/n

Network category speed

N/A

Power, storage and battery

Processor

Snapdragon 425

RAM

1GB

Operating system

Android Go

Internal storage

8GB

External storage support

Up to 128GB

Battery capacity

4,000mAh

Device features

Headphone jack

Yes

Fingerprint sensor

Water resistance rating

N/A

Wireless charging

Launch price (RRP)	$199
Launch date	2018-09

Go to Nokia's site More info

Alex Kidman

Alex Kidman was the tech and telco editor at Finder and is now a freelance technology writer. He's been a technology writer with experience spanning more than 20 years, writing and editing at Gizmodo, CNET, PC Magazine, Kotaku and many more. Alex has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New England and a serious passion for retro gaming.

Finder score: 3.5 How we score our reviews

Where to buy

What's in this review?

Design
Camera
Performance
Battery life
Verdict
Pricing and availability
Specifications

When HMD Global gave new life to Nokia in 2017, and attacked the budget smartphone market with a range of Android-based handsets, by and large they didn't thrill us. However, during 2018 HMD has released a number of new handsets at similar price points to last year's models that are just that bit more refined. The Nokia 6.1 was a great update to the Nokia 6, and the Nokia 3.1 improved on the Nokia 3 in mostly pleasing ways.

With the Nokia 2.1, HMD Global has taken that sharp refinement to the real budget end of its range, and the results are excellent for the price.

Design

Removable back
5.5-inch display
Aluminium frame gives a premium feel

Plenty of budget phones have been released in 2018 with a style that pushes beyond a simple black plastic frame, and the Nokia 2.1 really stretches those boundaries. It has an aluminium frame that wraps around in a band, and a clip-on plastic back that is produced in three premium colours. The unit that sells in Australia, which is the model we tested, has a copper frame and blue back. There are also blue/silver or grey/silver units sold in other markets.
If you remove the rear plastic shell you can access the SIM card tray and microSD card slot; the battery itself is a sealed unit.
The front of the Nokia 2.1 houses a 5.5-inch display with a 720 x 1,080-pixel resolution. This gives a relatively mediocre 267 pixels per inch count, which isn't stellar, but is essentially in line with what you would expect from a sub-$200 handset in 2018.
The phone only has a 16:9 aspect ratio display, whereas many competitors have switched to 18:9. However, you might not immediately spot this, thanks to the inclusion of prominent stereo speakers at the top and bottom of the display. This does mean the handset has prominent bezels, but it also gives it superior audio output, which is a big plus if you like sharing music or video with the world.

Camera

Camera is a notable weak point

When you build any mobile phone to a budget something has to give, and with the Nokia 2.1 it's pretty clear that this has been the case in the camera department. Reviewing the Nokia 2.1 after my assessment of the Nokia 8110 4G, things could only get better, but the 2.1 is still very much a compromised phone in camera terms.

Blowing out exposure on your shots is something you'll have to get used to with the Nokia 2.1's limited camera.
It's equipped with a single rear 8-megapixel (MP) camera and front-facing 5MP camera, which doesn't push what you might expect at this pricepoint in any way at all.

As long as your expectations are modest, the Nokia 2.1 is fine as a camera, but don't try and push it.
Even budget phones have benefitted from general improvements in camera technology over the years, and you can get some decent photos from the Nokia 2.1, but only under optimal conditions.
Challenge it in any way, whether it's in low light, or with complex exposures or moving targets, and you'll end up with some very ordinary photos indeed.

Performance

Android Go makes the most from a budget processor
A good match for basic smartphone users

The original Nokia 2 was based on a Snapdragon 212 processor, but for the Nokia 2.1, it's been upgraded to the Snapdragon 425. That's still only a budget processor, but it's one that gives more power to play with.
Still, you wouldn't call the Nokia 2.1 a powerful phone, and you shouldn't expect it at this kind of pricepoint. Here's how it compares using Geekbench 4's CPU test against a range of similar budget phones:
The Nokia 2.1 performs exactly as you might expect a phone in its price range to do. As with the Nokia 1, the secret to the 2.1's performance lies in the fact that it's one of a handful of phones available in Australia to feature the Android Oreo Go operating system.
Android Oreo Go is Google's highly optimised Android variant for very low-power handsets, and it comes with a suite of "Go" optimised versions of popular Android apps. You're not constrained to only using them on the Nokia 2.1 because it can run most (but not all) Android apps from the full Google Play Store. With its moderate specifications, you can expect relatively slow performance and response from most apps, but again that's very much par for the course for a low-cost handset.
As the phone is installed with Android Oreo Go, it couldn't run 3DMark's Slingshot Extreme benchmark test. Anecdotally, and I'm certain this isn't a shock, this isn't much of a gaming phone unless your needs are very modest.

Battery life

Great battery performance

The larger frame of the Nokia 2.1 gave HMD plenty of space for battery capacity, and it clearly took advantage of that, packing in a hefty 4,000mAh battery behind the display.
The combination of a large battery and a moderate processor is usually a recipe for good battery life, and here the Nokia 2.1 impressed. Here's how it compared using Geekbench 4's linear battery test:
The Nokia 2.1 is only beaten by the Motorola Moto E5, but that's a slightly more expensive handset. Neither phone is pushing processing power hard during the benchmark, but both delivered plenty of actual powered minutes of operation.
In real-world use, as distinct from Geekbench 4's battery test, single-day battery life is easily achievable, and it's certainly feasible to stretch that to two days if you're a very light phone user.
Charging is done via microUSB rather than USB C, but that's truly a rarity at this end of the price range.

Verdict

A surprisingly stylish phone for very little money
Exceptional battery life makes it stand out
Not powerful, but good for those who just want basic functions

The reimagined Nokia company stated from the outset that it wanted to bring premium style to a more budget-strapped crowd. Its 2017 phones were acceptable but plagued with minor issues in design and features that left them less compelling than Nokia thought they were. In 2018, it's upped its game, and the Nokia 2.1 is a fine example of that commitment to constant iteration and improvement. It's definitely a budget phone when it comes to performance, but it's a highly stylish one with great battery life, and an easy recommendation if you only need the basics.
Alternatives
If you're keen on a prepaid phone to use with Telstra, that $149 pricepoint is compelling, although there are some other options. You could consider the Alcatel 1C or Telstra Essential Plus for less than the Nokia 2.1's asking price, although they are lesser handsets. For the same price as the non-locked Nokia 2.1, you could also consider the Alcatel-produced Telstra Superior.
Nokia still sells the Android Go-based Nokia 1 in Australia for $149 outright. If the larger size of the Nokia 2.1 is an issue for you, this model is also worth considering.
If you're buying outright, or don't want a handset locked to Telstra, then consider the Motorola Moto E5 which costs just a little more than the Nokia 2.1.

Pricing and availability

Price: RRP $199
Where to buy: Target | eBay | Amazon