Fast-forward to 2022 and things are very different. Nokia exists, but as a brand name for fellow Finnish company HMD Global. For all intents and purposes though, we have a host of Nokia phones to recommend to you – both feature phones and smartphones. Ranging from the cutesy restyling of old classics, right up to high-end specs of slick smartphones to rival Samsung and Google, Nokia has a decent range. Its version of Android is close to stock and uncluttered, and it’s been pretty good at ensuring a vast number of its devices stay current by receiving a jump to the next version of Android and beyond (not to mention long-term security updates, too). Some phones listed here reach a little further back in time but Nokia is consistently releasing handsets across the budget and mid-range markets. Here are the best Nokia phones you can buy today.
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Stylish, robust design Impressive camera performance Gorgeous display Three-year warranty
Performance is lacking for the price No true stand-out feature compared to the competition
HMD has leant into making the cameras the focus (ha) of the X series and it really shows here. The X30 punches well about its price bracket when it comes to photography, particularly in low light where it truly excels. That’s largely thanks to a solid 50Mp main camera sensor and some clever software such as a good night mode and what HMD brands ‘Capture Fusion’, where both the main and ultra-wide lenses take a shot of the scene and fuse them together to make one hopefully better image. The phone comfortably lasts all day and has 33W fast charging, though there’s no charger in the box. HMD has done this to save on e-waste, an outlook which is reflected in the company’s Circular scheme where you can effectively rent the X30 (and other phones) on a pay monthly basis.
Long battery life Pleasing display Pro video recording features
Plastic design elements Poor palm rejection tech
The main 64Mp Zeiss-engineered snapper is a big improvement on other recent implementations within the Nokia family and a dedicated Cinema video mode allows you to shoot video in up to 4K@30fps in 21:9, with optional H-Log capabilities. Couple that with two years of Android OS updates and all-day battery life, and you’ve got a great Nokia experience on your hands.
Resilient design Extended warranty Clean Android user experience 5G
Middling performance Only 60Hz display No power adapter in box
Beneath that well-protected exterior, it offers similar internal hardware to the Nokia X10; with a Snapdragon 480 chipset and a 48Mp primary camera. Battery life is some of the best around, however, which, for some, may be enough of a reason to buy a phone in its own right. Other standout features include 5G, a headphone jack and Nokia’s characteristically easy-to-use Android user experience.
Premium design Long battery life Three years of OS upgrades
Lackluster display Underpowered processor Pricier than similar rivals
As you might expect, the phone comes with stock Android, three years of OS updates and superb battery life; topped off with a three-year warranty. Performance is the X20’s biggest shortcoming, however.
Sense of nostalgia Brilliant battery life Easy to use
Awkward SIM standard Relatively pricey 3G/4G costs extra
It’s not going to replace your smartphone (nor does it try to) but it can serve as a cheap supplement (although the SIM size is annoying). And yeah, you can already buy other feature phones for cheaper, but between the epic battery life and the sheer Nokia factor (including Snake!) we know where our loyalties lie.
Premium finish Good main camera Great software
Average performance Inconsistent secondary cameras
With much more prominent angles, the Nokia 7.2 stands out, and the light refracting glass on the rear does a good job at providing a premium look. The internals are fairly standard for the price; boasting a Snapdragon 660 alongside either 4GB or 6GB of RAM, and the performance reflects this. Nokia wanted the Zeiss-manufactured lenses to be the star of the show but we’ve found the camera setup to be hit-and-miss, with great performance from the 48Mp sensor but disappointing results from the ultrawide camera by comparison.
Nice build quality Good update support Great battery life
Terrible performance Weak display Poor cameras
Beyond that, the G20 is nothing to write home about, with underwhelming processing and camera performance that, for the price, we didn’t expect.
Good primary camera Great battery life Price
Poor performance Bad speakers Lacklustre display
But at this price, compromises have to be made. The downsides of 5.3 include poor-quality speakers, a relatively low-resolution screen and the secondary cameras downgrade the quality of images significantly. If you use your phone for watching lots of videos, the Nokia 5.3 probably isn’t for you. If, however, you’re looking for a cheaper phone that does the basics well, then there’s no harm in keeping the 5.3 in mind.
Good camera Great battery life Nice display
Poor performance Low storage
Much like the Nokia 1.3 and 2.4, performance is the 3.4’s undoing; with too many inconsistencies to make this an easy budget recommendation.
Compact design Good battery life Price
Terrible performance Average cameras
The flip-side is that performance – even when using Android Lite and Go-optimised apps – lacks fluidity to make this a worthwhile recommendation as anything other than a backup phone.
