Nokia X20 Evaluation: The Lengthy-Time period Proposition

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The Nokia X20 was once the top class providing amongst Nokia’s budget-focused April 2021 release, providing a great-looking design, lengthy battery existence, Zeiss cameras and 3 Android OS upgrades beginning at simply £299.

However whilst the Nokia X20 would possibly tempt customers with a inventory Android revel in, prolonged instrument updates and a three-year guaranty to check, efficiency problems prevent it from achieving its complete possible.

Design and construct

  • Top class construct high quality
  • Simplistic but sexy design
  • Non-remappable Google Assistant button

Nokia smartphones have a tendency to recreation the similar shape issue, and the ones in search of a metamorphosis with the Nokia X20 is also disillusioned. It’s very a lot industry as same old from a Nokia standpoint, providing a simplistic take in comparison to the likes of Realme and Xiaomi who have a tendency to peacock with their choices, providing shimmering finishes, curved presentations and extra to trap customers.

That’s to not say it’s boring; the Nokia X20 sports activities a reflective matte end at the rear that appears top class, feels tremendous within the hand, and is helping to negate the ones pesky fingerprints too. Then again, there’s no denying that it’s additionally a few of the thicker smartphones available in the market at 9.1mm, and it’s a bit weighty at 220g too.

It’s the small main points that assist the X20 shine, just like the top class steel band that runs across the external, matching the color of the rear – both the bronze-tinted Nighttime Solar or deep Mystic Blue – and the Zeiss-branded round digicam housing at the rear.

It’s transparent that this isn’t an entry-level Nokia, even supposing that line would’ve been extra obviously outlined if Nokia opted for a pitcher rear instead of plastic.

At the proper of the 6.67in show, you’ll to find quantity rockers and a fingerprint reader, and at the left, you’ll discover a SIM card tray and the Google Assistant button – some other staple of Nokia smartphones. And, similar to each different Nokia, it’s now not remappable, so it’s beautiful needless until you actively use Google’s digital assistant.

Show

  • Detailed FHD+ answer
  • 60Hz refresh fee
  • Bezels & chin provide

At the entrance of the Nokia X20 you’ll discover a 6.67in IPS LCD show providing a Complete HD+ (2400 x 1080) answer that equates to round 319ppi.

The show is brilliant and detailed, providing a most brightness of 523nits all through assessments, making it tremendous for scrolling thru social media and gazing movies on TikTok, even supposing it doesn’t rather have the similar oomph as OLED and AMOLED-enabled opposite numbers.

The 20:9 side ratio, regardless that now not rather the 21:9 ultrawide utilized by Hollywood blockbusters, way the show is big with out being too large to make use of one-handed – even supposing chances are you’ll fight to achieve the very height of the show along with your thumb.

It’s now not rather an edge-to-edge revel in both, with bezels and a noticeable Nokia-branded chin too.

The massive sadness within the show division is the refresh fee; it’s capped at 60Hz when less expensive smartphones just like the £249 Xiaomi Redmi Word 10 Professional be offering an upgraded 120Hz AMOLED show.

Whilst top refresh fee presentations had been as soon as top class generation, that’s now not the case in 2021, and it’s disappointing that it’s now not provide at the Nokia X20, which could be very a lot probably the most able to Nokia’s new choice of X-range smartphones.

Admittedly Nokia has a greater instrument providing than Xiaomi’s possibility with multi-year updates and a near-stock OS, but when show tech is top up for your precedence record, there are extra succesful choices to be had at a an identical worth.

Specifications and function

  • First rate efficiency, however underpowered in comparison to less expensive opponents
  • Inventory Android 11 with 3 OS upgrades
  • 5G connectivity

On the middle of the Nokia X20 you’ll to find Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 480 processor paired with both 6- or 8GB of RAM relying at the variant you purchase – for transparency, we’ve been supplied with the 8GB variant for benchmarking.

Whilst different producers have a tendency to supply a spice up in each garage and RAM between variants, Nokia has bucked the fashion with each 6- and 8GB variants of X20 transport with the similar 128GB of garage expandable by way of microSD.

The verdict to incorporate the Snapdragon 480 does include advantages, specifically 5G connectivity, however it’s now not probably the most succesful chipset in Qualcomm’s arsenal. It’s additionally underpowered when in comparison to in a similar fashion priced festival together with the Snapdragon 765G-enabled Realme X50 5G.

In reality, the £219 Oppo A54 5G provides the Snapdragon 480 and that is available in at £80 lower than the entry-level Nokia X20, and function is nearly similar as noticed in our benchmark effects beneath.

Whilst benchmarks are tremendous for evaluating units, it’s now not all the time reflective of real-world use.

The Nokia X20 received’t be taking up flagship units anytime quickly, that’s evidently, however it’s fantastic for day-to-day use. It could possibly simply maintain social media likes Instagram and Fb, or even some mild gaming, however don’t be expecting to run AAA cellular titles like Genshin Affect with max graphics settings enabled.

There may be the occasional stutter when opening and shutting apps regardless that, which actually does spotlight the constraints of the Snapdragon 480.

However when you would possibly now not get the most productive efficiency for the associated fee, you’re going to get inventory Android 11 – a far cleaner revel in than the likes of Xiaomi’s MIUI – and Nokia has dedicated to a few complete OS upgrades and 3 years of safety updates too.

That’s significantly better than what you’ll to find from maximum opponents, particularly at a mid-range worth level, which means the Nokia X20 will stay up for updates to Android 12, 13 and 14 and the entire new options each and every replace introduces.  

In relation to connectivity, you’ll to find 5G, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 5, NFC, a USB-C port and a three.5mm headphone jack too, and there’s a fingerprint scanner constructed into the ability button for additonal safety too.

Battery existence

  • Lengthy battery existence
  • 18W rapid charging
  • No charging brick within the field

The Nokia X20 sports activities a 4,470mAh battery that once paired with the rather low powered but energy-efficient Snapdragon 480 gets you round 1.5 days of use with reasonable use – that’s scrolling thru social media, messaging and taking the occasional snap – even supposing it’s good to almost certainly squeeze a complete two days of use out of it with lighter use.

There’s additionally 18W rapid charging features that, whilst now not related to the 65W rapid charging from extra top class choices, is greater than sufficient to get you untethered from the wall quite temporarily. The Nokia X20 went from flat to 40% in half-hour all through assessments, and also you’re shopping at round 90 mins for a complete fee.

The catch? There isn’t a charging brick within the field. It’s rarely a wonder given firms like Apple and Samsung had been doing this for some time, even supposing Nokia does supply a biodegradable case as an alternative.

In the event you actually desire a wall charger – regardless that chances are high that you don’t, with Nokia claiming the common UK family has 3 – you’ll quickly be capable to purchase one from Nokia, with earnings donated to Transparent Rivers, a charity that is helping stay rivers and oceans blank. It doesn’t appear to be at the Nokia Retailer on the time of writing regardless that.

Digital camera                 

  • Major 64Mp digicam plays effectively
  • Ultrawide & macro lenses are under-par
  • No 4K video recording

Probably the most primary focuses of the Nokia X20 is the Zeiss-branded digicam device at the rear. It’s a quad-camera association made out of a prime 64Mp snapper along a 5Mp ultrawide and twin 2Mp intensity and macro sensors – a horny same old digicam setup for a mid-ranger in 2021. Check out one of the crucial footage captured at the Nokia X20 beneath:

Nokia X20 camera test

The most powerful of the bunch is, unsurprisingly, the primary 64Mp snapper. It makes use of pixel-binning tech to mix pixels and output a 16Mp symbol with stepped forward element, and it most often works effectively, however you do find a way of taking massive 64Mp photographs if you happen to actually need to.

We’ll focal point at the 16Mp output as that’s what maximum customers will use, and the excellent news is that it’s most often a satisfaction to make use of, shooting detailed, colourful photographs with tremendous dynamic vary – particularly in well-lit prerequisites.

That efficiency isn’t rather as sturdy as mild ranges decline, with creeping noise and not more element, however there’s a devoted night time mode to take a look at and squeeze each bit of sunshine out of a scene. If there’s sufficient ambient mild for the telephone to focal point, there’s possible for warm (even supposing now not industry-leading) low-light photographs, however you’ll most likely have to take a look at greater than as soon as to get the very best shot.  

When mixed with the intensity sensor, the primary snapper takes tremendous portrait mode pictures too. The road popularity is most often correct, even alongside hairlines, and the bokeh impact can actually upload a certified really feel for your photographs.  

The unhealthy information is that efficiency doesn’t lengthen to the 5Mp ultrawide, which given the low answer and wide-angle, produce noticeably softer photographs. It’s a lot the similar with the in large part disappointing 2Mp macro lens too – in reality, the fewer mentioned about low-res macro lenses on mid-range telephones normally, the easier.

Regardless of the plain focal point on digicam efficiency at the X20, with Nokia together with a ‘bothie’ device and a devoted Cinema video mode, the smartphone caps out at [email protected]

Whilst it’s debatable that you just don’t want 4K video on a telephone that caps out at a FHD+ answer, photos will glance comfortable if you wish to play it for your 4K TV at house. And, extra importantly, it’s a characteristic of less expensive telephones together with 2020’s Moto G 5G Plus, so as to now not see it on Nokia’s X-range assortment is a bit of of a wonder.

Turn the telephone over and also you’ll discover a unmarried 32Mp front-facing digicam. It’s tremendous for selfie-taking and video calling, however it may not be changing the rear cameras any time quickly.

Value

The Nokia X20 is to be had in two configurations – £299 with 6GB of RAM and £329 with 8GB of RAM – with the latter being unique to Nokia’s on-line retailer. The ones in the USA are apparently out of success regardless that, with out a plans to send to the USA presently.

Without reference to the place it’s to be had, it’s Nokia’s least expensive 5G providing up to now, even supposing there are less expensive 5G smartphones to be had in 2021. The entry-level Nokia X20 is to be had from the likes of Amazon along maximum UK carriers whilst, as discussed, the top-tier type is unique to Nokia.

In the event you do purchase without delay from Nokia, you’ll additionally get a 90-day 15GB knowledge plan on Nokia’s new UK-based HMD Mobile community. Then again, in spite of the Nokia X20 providing 5G connectivity, Nokia’s community is restricted to 4G for now.  

You’ll additionally use your Nokia X20’s IMEI quantity to plant timber by way of a Nokia initiative. It’s a pleasing contact, however there’s not anything to suggest this at the field or integrated fabrics – it is only discussed at the Nokia web site.

Verdict

Nokia guarantees 3 years of instrument upgrades, safety updates and a longer guaranty to check with the X20, and you’ll even plant timber the use of the telephone’s IMEI quantity, however for the general public, that received’t make up for the lacklustre {hardware} hidden underneath the premium-looking external.

There are less expensive telephones that provide brighter presentations, higher cameras, quicker charging and a most often stepped forward smartphone revel in, and that makes it arduous to suggest the Nokia X20 to someone excluding probably the most devoted inventory Android fanatics.

The prolonged improve Nokia is providing is a large development in comparison to maximum producers, don’t misunderstand us, however the {hardware} must be extra aggressive to get a advice.

Specifications

Nokia X20: Specifications

  • 168.9 x 79.7 x 9.1mm
  • 220g
  • Twin-SIM
  • 6.67in IPS LCD show
  • 60Hz refresh fee
  • FHD+ (1080 x 2400) answer
  • Snapdragon 480 5G
  • 6- or 8GB RAM
  • 128GB garage expandable by way of microSD
  • Android 11 with 3 OS upgrades
  • Quad-camera device (64Mp primary, 5Mp ultra-wide, twin 2Mp macro and intensity sensors)
  • [email protected] video
  • 3.5mm headphone jack
  • USB-C
  • 4470mAh battery with 18W rapid charging
  • Wi-Fi 5
  • Bluetooth 5.0
  • 5G
  • NFC
  • Aspect-mounted fingerprint scanner
  • Prolonged three-year guaranty



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