Nokia 7.1: Plans | Pricing | Specs

Nokia's latest Android handset is a mid-range, mid-sized smartphone that looks to have plenty of power.

Strictly speaking, "Nokia" doesn't make phones any more. Nokia sold its mobile-phone business to Microsoft back in 2013, making it an exclusively Windows-phone-only maker, but some years down the track, HMD Global – largely made up of ex-Nokia employees – licensed the brand to produce Android phones. Its latest handset is the mid-range Nokia 7.1.

Design

• 5.84-inch "PureDisplay" screen.
• 19:9 aspect ratio.

• Read more on the Nokia 7.1 design

  
  The Nokia 7.1 features a 5.84-inch display with a 19:9 aspect ratio and a resolution of 1080 x 2280 pixels, which is quite decent for a mid-range phone in 2018.

  Where Nokia is pushing it heavily is in the quality of its video playback, with what it's calling "PureDisplay" technology to enable HDR10 viewing as well as upscaling of lower resolution content to HDR on the device itself.

  Measuring in at 149.7 x 71.2 x 8mm with a carrying weight of 160g, the Nokia 7.1 should be a solid phone in the hand, especially given it's carrying Nokia's rather more serious phone design. In Australia, it will be offered in the Gloss Midnight Blue finish only.

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Camera

• Dual rear cameras.
• Nokia is still trying to make bothies happen.

• Read more on the Nokia 7.1 camera

  We're seeing an increasing number of mid-range handsets offer decent dual camera options, but Nokia's tie-up with quality lens maker ZEISS Optics gives it a distinct edge. The Nokia 7.1 will be one of the most affordable phones that Nokia has put ZEISS glass into, which could make it really stand out in the camera space. At the front, the Nokia 7.1 has a front-facing 8MP f/2.0 camera alongside dual 12MP/5MP rear cameras.

  The Nokia 7.1 is the latest Nokia handset to include Nokia's "bothie" feature. If you're thinking that sounds a little like "selfie", it's not coincidental. Bothies are photos where both the front and rear cameras fire and combine the shot, so that you can take a picture of your friends and still be in the shot. You're both there, hence "bothies". For previous phones, we've found it to be a gimmick with limited appeal, and there's not much to suggest this will change with the Nokia 7.1.

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Performance

• Snapdragon 636 is a good match for a mid-range phone.
• Android One means guaranteed updates and a clean Google experience.

• Read more on the Nokia 7.1 performance

  One way that Nokia keeps its prices low for its handsets is by using slightly older or cheaper processors in its handsets. While the Snapdragon 636 in the Nokia 7.1 isn't cutting edge, it's a good contemporary match for what we'd expect in a mid-range phone in 2018. The model sold in Australia will only have 32GB of onboard storage, but that's expandable via microSD storage if you need it. That model only has 3GB of onboard RAM, while a 64GB storage model sold overseas has 4GB, which will impact performance.

  Nokia announced at MWC 2018 that its flagship phones in 2018 would all be Android One handsets, and this includes the Nokia 7.1. Android One is Google's platform for (essentially) Google-managed handsets with minimal additional software and a guaranteed two years' worth of both security and operating system upgrades.

  So what does that mean for the Nokia 7.1? It means you get a clean Android experience, which should aid performance, but above and beyond that, you should get timely updates. The Nokia 7.1 will ship with Android 8 ("Oreo") on board, but will see an upgrade to Android 9 ("Pie") later this year. Given the promised two-year time frame for Android One upgrades, that should extend out to Android 10 ("Q") in 2019 and possibly into Android 11 ("R") in 2020.

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Battery life

• 3060mAh battery

• Read more on the Nokia 7.1 battery life

  The Nokia 7.1 features a sealed 3060mAh battery, which is pretty much exactly in the mid-range space for a phone of this size and price range. While there is no wireless charging capability onboard, it is compatible with Qualcomm's fast charge technology to quickly top it up. Charging is via the newer and more convenient USB C standard.

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Early Verdict

• Nokia's value brand strategy looks like it will continue with the Nokia 7.1.

• Read our early Nokia 7.1 verdict

  Nokia is all about brand value at lower prices than premium flagships, and the Nokia 7.1, at least at first glance, would appear to meet those needs pretty well indeed. It won't compete with the premium-priced flagship phones from the likes of Apple or Samsung, but you're not paying that kind of money. What you will get is a good-looking phone with enough power for everyday users. Stay tuned for our full review of the Nokia 7.1.

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Pricing and availability

Nokia 7.1

Nokia's HDR-ready Nokia 7.1

The Nokia 7.1 offers a superior display along with the power of Qualcomm's Snapdragon 636.

Buy Now

• The Nokia 7.1 goes on sale in Australia for $499 outright from 17 October 2018.
• The Nokia 7.1 will also be available on contract terms from JB Hi-Fi.