Nokia 6.1 (2018) Review: Plans | Pricing | Specs

Nokia has refined its Nokia 6 model for 2018 with pleasing results, although it faces an uphill battle in the busy mid-range smartphone market.

When HMD Global announced its first run of Android-based Nokia smartphones, the Nokia 6 sat at the top of its affordable smartphone family, at least until the Nokia 8 came along. The 2017 version of the Nokia 6 wasn't a bad phone, but it was one that was beset with some serious design issues, mediocre performance and a lack of real standout features.

The good news is that for the 2018 edition of the Nokia 6, HMD Global has gone back to the drawing board to alleviate those issues, making the Nokia 6.1 2018 a fine budget option.

Mind you, HMD Global can't seem to decide what its actual name is. We've referred to it as the Nokia 6 2018 to differentiate it from the model that came out in 2017, but HMD Global seems to flick between calling it the "new" Nokia 6 or the Nokia 6.1 (as it was on our review packaging). This is an important distinction because there are likely still some of the 2017 models out there, and that's not going to be the handset you want.

Design

• Rounded edges make it significantly more comfortable than the original Nokia 6
• The more colourful redesign adds in a layer of premium style

• Read our full review of the Nokia 6.1's design

  The original Nokia 6 had a design that was very serious and also seriously uncomfortable to hold, thanks to a chunky design and stiff rear casing. That was a function of its creation, milled from a single block of aluminium.

  That same design idea is still present in the Nokia 6 2018 variant, but with more of a concession to actual human hands.

  A very slight rounded edge on the back of the Nokia 6 2018 makes it more comfortable to hold than its predecessor, although this is still a chunky handset.

  Measuring in at 148.8x75.8x8.6mm and with a carrying weight of 172g, you'll still notice the Nokia 6 2018 in your hand any time you're using it.

  Mind you, so will everyone else because Nokia has given the Nokia 6 2018 a serious facelift, starting with a solid band of colour that wraps around the bezel, a camera lens array and a fingerprint sensor. This gives the design a welcome splash of colour that makes it look and feel like a much more premium phone.

  The Nokia 6 2018 as tested was the Black/Copper version, but having gone hands-on with the White/Iron and Blue/Gold finishes at MWC 2018, I can attest that they're all great looking handsets.

  In Australia, the Nokia 6 2018 will be available in the Black/Copper and White/Iron finishes, so if you're keen on that shiny Blue/Gold model, you'll have to import one.

Camera

• Hardware is much the same as the original Nokia 6
• Redesigned camera app and other small tweaks make quality photos quite achievable

• See sample photos and read our full review of the Nokia 6.1's camera

  The Nokia 6 model released in 2017 featured a 16MP f/2.0 rear camera, and for 2018 that's still what you get. You do get a Zeiss lens now, but this is still very much an average camera, a fair expectation at this price range.

  In decent light it will deliver decent shots, but if you push it in lower light, it can quickly degrade. I did end up wishing HMD Global had done more to make the Nokia 6 2018 stand out.

  At the mid-range price the Nokia 6 2018 commands, we're seeing increasing numbers of phones with dual lenses, opening up your photographic possibilities.

  It's not all bad news as the Nokia 6 2018 does get Nokia's snazzy camera app with quick access to pro controls for those who like adjusting exposures, ISO settings and apertures.

  Nokia's approach to this is one of the easiest to access I've ever tested. A simple flick up of the shutter engages camera mode, while flicking it down changes back to full auto. Onscreen dials make changing parameters easier than on many premium smartphones.

  With a little care, you can get quite good pictures from the Nokia 6 2018's camera. Here are some sample images direct from the camera to compare:

  Nokia 6 2018 Sample Photos

Performance

• Upgraded processor is a massive improvement over the original Nokia 6 and stacks up well against other mid-range handsets
• Android One status provides peace of mind with guaranteed security updates

• See test results and read our full review of the Nokia 6.1's performance

  The 2017 version of the Nokia 6 featured a Snapdragon 430 processor and for the 2018 iteration, HMD Global has bumped that up to the Snapdragon 630 to give it a solid performance boost out of the gate, although it's still sporting just 3GB of RAM. Like the Nokia 7 Plus and Nokia 8 Sirocco, it runs as an Android One phone with stock Android 8.0 onboard.

  Here's how the Nokia 6 2018 compared against a range of mid-range and budget phones using Geekbench 4's CPU test:

  It wasn't quite as impressive a story with 3DMark's Slingshot Extreme test, although we haven't tested all that many mid-range handsets to date to provide full comparative context:

  Processor improvements and the inclusion of Android One give the Nokia 6 plenty of room for performance that's right up there as long as you remember that while it may have premium looks, this is still a budget handset.

  Essentially, it's a testimony to how far mobile processors have come because it's not that long ago that you would pay premium money for this kind of performance.

  Aside from the camera app, you're not presented with heaps of clutterware pre-installed on the Nokia 6 2018 because it's an Android One phone. That has the added benefit of guaranteed security and feature upgrades for a couple of years, which means the Nokia 6 2018 should see Android Pie and Android Q relatively rapidly when they come rolling out from Google.

Battery life

• Nothing remarkable, but perfectly capable of all-day battery life
• USB C charging can get you halfway charged in just 30 minutes

• See test results and read our full review of the Nokia 6.1's battery life

  HMD Global packs a 3,000mah battery into the Nokia 6 2018, with USB C charging but no wireless charging onboard.

  For a phone this thick, it might have been nice to get even more battery power, but its onboard battery still gives it more than enough juice to get through the average work day.

  Here's how the Nokia 6 2018 compared using Geekbench 4's battery test to full exhaustion with screen dimming enabled:

  Geekbench 4's battery test is quite linear, but in day-to-day testing, I haven't found any issues with keeping the Nokia 6 2018 going through a full day. At this price point, that's all you should expect.

Verdict

• HMD's second crack at the Nokia 6 is dramatically better across the board

• Read our full Nokia 6.1 verdict

  The original Nokia 6 was an ambitious phone for HMD Global to launch as its effective "flagship". It was also a phone that felt very much like a prototype, with mediocre performance, annoying sharp corners and little to make it stand out.

  The Nokia 6 2018 shows just how much HMD Global has learned in 12 short months. It's a substantially better device in most important aspects.

  It's still a bit hefty in the hand, so it would be wise to size one up in real life before laying down your cash. In a market full of glitzy but cheaply-built mid-range phones, it's a real standout.

Pricing and availability

Nokia 6.1 (2018)

Second time's the charm

Stronger, faster and more attractive: the Nokia 6.1 (2018) is a big leap forward for the reborn Nokia brand.

Buy Now

• The Nokia 6.1 (2018) retails for $449, but you can snag one for around $330 from online retailers like Catch and DWI.