Nokia 3.2 review: Features | Pricing | Specs

Where to buy

HMD Global, the folks who have the rights to produce "Nokia" branded phones, certainly haven't been slow in producing new phone models.

Its latest device, the budget-focused Nokia 3.2, sells itself on its large and pleasant display, as well as its battery stamina. It's a very worthwhile phone, even if it's not ultimately an exciting one.

Design

• 6.26-inch LCD display works well for web browsing or simple video watching
• Small notch, but you can't obscure it at all
• Plastic body feels cheap and attracts fingerprints like crazy

• Read our full review of the Nokia 3.2's design

  HMD/Nokia has produced a lot of very good-looking phones since the brand re-emerged a few years back.

  The Nokia 3.2 really isn't one of them. Part of the issue is the immense size, which makes the very standard rounded Nokia design appear even more generic. It's a plastic body phone and the model I tested with was the black variant, also known as the home of every fingerprint you've ever had after only a few seconds. It's a very common story for black phones across the board, but again the size of the Nokia 3.2 means you'll notice those smudges even more.

  That size has allowed Nokia to substantially upgrade the screen from last year's Nokia 3.1. That was a 5.2-inch phone, but the Nokia 3.2 packs in a hefty 6.26-inch display, which isn't terribly common at this price point. If you're after a phone for longer web browsing or video viewing.

  The Nokia 3.2's 6.26-inch display has a 1,520x720 pixel resolution, so it's not super-sharp, but again that's a function of its price point. The front selfie camera sits behind a rounded top notch, and like other Nokia phones, you can't opt to "black out" the top bar if you're not a fan. Maybe that's a function of Nokia's adherence to the Android One platform, but it sure would be nice to have the option.

  Like the recently released Nokia 4.2, the Nokia 3.2 features a side-mounted power button that also acts as a glowing notification icon for any updates you might otherwise miss. It sits just underneath the volume controls on the right-hand side while the left side features a dedicated Google Assistant button.

Camera

• Single slow rear lens
• Camera app is easy to use

• Read our full review of the Nokia 3.2's camera

  The Nokia 3.2 isn't an expensive phone and the one area where HMD Global has clearly kept costs low is in the camera module. It features a single rear 13MP f/2.2 sensor and a single front-facing 5MP f/2.2 sensor for your selfie needs.

  We're starting to see more dual lens camera set-ups emerge in the true budget space, and while pretty much all of them only use that second lens for portrait effects, the inclusion of just a single lens on the Nokia 3.2 can't help but feel rather restrictive.

  It's not helped by the fact that it's just a very plain camera module in the first place. Focus is slow and you'll often find it jumping around even in well-lit conditions, so it's wise to take multiple exposures to avoid only having one slightly blurry shot.

  Nokia's camera app is also very basic, with only photo, square and video modes immediately available. Even the pop-up menu at the side only adds time-lapse, panorama and Google Lens options.

  That will cover most people's basic usage needs, but if you do want fancier, you'll have to look to a third-party photo application.

  The Nokia 3.2 very much encapsulates the idea of getting what you pay for in camera terms, and absolutely nothing else. Photo results, even at their best, were deeply average, but that's not surprising at this price point.

  Nokia 3.2 sample photos

  

  

  

  

  

  

Performance

• Snapdragon 429 delivers meagre power
• Only 16GB of onboard storage
• Android One promises future updates

• Read our full review of the Nokia 3.2's performance

  The Nokia 3.2 is a big phone, but underneath the glass what you're getting isn't all that impressive. HMD Global pairs up the low-end Qualcomm Snapdragon 429 processor with just 2GB of RAM. That's not a recipe for any kind of impressive performance, even at the budget end of town.

  Here's how the Nokia 3.2 compares to phones in its price range using Geekbench 4's CPU test:

  And here's how it compares using 3DMark's Slingshot extreme test:

  In storage terms, you'd be wise to invest in a microSD card for expansion, because the Nokia 3.2 ships with only 16GB of onboard storage. You don't get that whole 16GB either, because of course Android has to sit somewhere. If you do take lots of photos or want plenty of apps on board, you're likely to rapidly run out of space.

  Like Nokia's other Android offerings of late, the Nokia 3.2 is an "Android One" handset. What that means in practical terms is that the updates come from Google and the overall interface is remarkably close to "pure" Android. It's not quite a Pixel phone, but HMD Global's track record in terms of delivering updates is impressive. Even while testing, I had security updates flow through to the Nokia 3.2 that I'm still waiting to see on other more premium phones.

  Android One should also supply the Nokia 3.2 with updates to at least Android Q – due any day now – and Android R, due in 2020 at the very least. Given its power profile, you shouldn't expect massive performance boosts from those full upgrades, but it's at least good to stay on track of security and basic features.

Battery

• 4,000mAh battery just keeps on going
• Slow micro-USB charging

• Read our full review of the Nokia 3.2's battery

  We've seen massive growth of late in budget phones with big batteries in them. It's a simple enough recipe. Take a low-end processor, match it up to plenty of electrons and watch the battery stamina rise. The Nokia 3.2's 4,000mAh battery is no exception and that's undoubtedly why HMD Global claims "up to" two-day battery life for it.

  Based on both anecdotal and benchmark use, I'm inclined to agree with it. Here's how it compares using Geekbench 4's battery test:

  That's a test that runs deliberately hard and in a linear fashion, so you can reasonably expect to get even more battery life out of it in day-to-day use.

  While the battery life of the Nokia 3.2 is pleasing, it's slightly annoying to see HMD Global sticking to the older microUSB standard for charging. It's fiddlier than a USB C connection would be and it's not particularly quick. So while you might get through two days on moderate usage, you'd want to make sure you plugged it in overnight to ensure that you'd have sufficient charge on day three.

Verdict

• Fair if you want a big-screen phone, but not great

• Read our verdict and view alternatives for the Nokia 3.2

  Nokia has lots of phones in the market right now, and its message of more affordable and stylish phones can't help but become diluted as a result. The Nokia 3.2 is an entirely fine phone for what it is and it could be a good match for you if your prime need is for a larger display.

  However, the camera is quite ordinary and so is its overall performance. It's also not a notably pretty phone and its size only exacerbates that.

  Alternatives

  If you want a phone with really exceptional battery life in the budget range, the clear choice is the Motorola Moto G7 Power. Like the Nokia 3.2, it's not much of a looker, but it won't let you down even on the busiest days.

  If you do want something that looks a fair bit nicer than the Nokia 3.2, consider the Oppo AX7.

  If you do want to stay within the Nokia brand and don't need the larger display, consider the much better-looking Nokia 5.1

Pricing and availability

• Price: RRP $249
• Where to buy: Amazon | Australia Post | Catch

Specifications

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