Nokia 5 Review

• Overview
• Design and Build Quality
• Display
• Performance
• Software and User Interface
• Camera
• Battery Life
• Connectivity and Networking
• Additional Features
• Comparison with Other Related Phones
• Pros and Cons
• Conclusion

Overview

The Nokia 5 is a budget-friendly smartphone that offers a premium design and reliable performance. With its sleek all-metal body and comfortable grip, it exudes a sense of elegance and durability. The 5.2-inch display provides a vibrant visual experience, although it may not be the sharpest in its category. The inclusion of a fingerprint scanner adds an extra layer of security and convenience. The Nokia 5 features a 13MP rear camera that captures decent photos, and its stock Android Nougat ensures a smooth and user-friendly interface. Priced at £179, it offers great value for those seeking a stylish and affordable smartphone option.

Design and Build Quality

The Nokia 5 boasts a sleek and premium design that is sure to catch the eye. Its all-metal body gives it a robust and sturdy feel, while the rounded edges and corners make it comfortable to hold. The phone's physical appearance exudes elegance, with a minimalist and clean design that is free from unnecessary clutter. The materials used in its construction are of high quality, adding to its durability. The Nokia 5's form factor strikes a good balance between portability and screen size, making it easy to handle and operate with one hand. The phone's weight and dimensions are well-balanced, ensuring a comfortable grip. The finishing touches on the Nokia 5 are impeccable, with attention to detail evident in every aspect. The buttons and controls are well-placed and offer a satisfying tactile feedback. The bezels around the display are minimal, allowing for a more immersive viewing experience. The back panel has a smooth texture that adds to the phone's premium look and feel. Overall, the design and build of the Nokia 5 are top-notch, making it a stylish and reliable choice for budget-conscious consumers.

Display

The Nokia 5 features a 5.2-inch HD display with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. While the display may not be the sharpest in its price range, it still offers good readability and clarity for everyday use. The LCD technology used in the Nokia 5 provides decent color accuracy, although colors may not be as vibrant as some other smartphones.

In terms of brightness levels, the Nokia 5's display performs well, offering good visibility even under direct sunlight. The touch responsiveness is also satisfactory, with smooth and accurate touch inputs.

To protect the display from scratches and accidental damage, the Nokia 5 comes with Corning Gorilla Glass protection. This ensures durability and peace of mind for users.

The pixel density of the Nokia 5's display is around 282 pixels per inch, which is decent enough for most tasks. However, it may not deliver the same level of sharpness and detail as higher-resolution displays.

The viewing angles of the Nokia 5 are satisfactory, allowing for comfortable viewing from different angles without significant color distortion. It does not have any special features like HDR or wide color gamut support.

Overall, the display of the Nokia 5 offers a decent viewing experience for everyday use, with good color accuracy, satisfactory brightness levels, and reliable touch responsiveness. The inclusion of Gorilla Glass protection adds to its durability, making it a suitable choice for budget-conscious consumers.

Performance

The performance of the Nokia 5 is powered by its Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 chipset, paired with Adreno 505 GPU. While it may not be the most powerful combination on the market, it still offers a smooth and lag-free user experience for everyday tasks and light gaming.

In terms of CPU benchmarks, the Nokia 5 performs decently, with its octa-core processor handling multitasking with ease. App loading speeds are generally quick, and the phone provides a smooth overall performance.

When it comes to gaming capabilities, the Nokia 5 can handle casual and less demanding games without any issues. However, for more graphics-intensive games, it may struggle to provide a seamless gaming experience. GPU benchmarks and gaming benchmarks indicate that the Adreno 505 GPU is not the most powerful in its class, resulting in lower graphics scores compared to some competitors.

In terms of system optimization, the Nokia 5 runs on stock Android Nougat with minimal customizations. This helps in delivering a smooth user experience, as there is no bloatware or unnecessary software running in the background. The phone also benefits from regular software updates from Nokia, ensuring that performance and security improvements are implemented.

Thermal management on the Nokia 5 is generally efficient, with the phone staying cool during normal usage. However, during extended gaming sessions, the phone may heat up slightly, which is common among budget devices.

Overall, while the Nokia 5 may not be the most powerful smartphone in terms of performance, it offers a satisfactory experience for everyday use and light gaming. Its processor efficiency, coupled with a smooth user interface and stock Android experience, contribute to its overall performance. However, users looking for a device with higher gaming capabilities and more powerful performance may need to consider other options in the market.

Software and User Interface

The Nokia 5 runs on the stock Android Nougat operating system, providing a clean and user-friendly interface. With the stock Android experience, you get a clutter-free interface without any unnecessary customizations or bloatware. This means you have more storage space available right out of the box. The phone comes with the promise of regular software updates, ensuring that you stay up to date with the latest features and security patches.

The Nokia 5 also offers a seamless user experience, thanks to its smooth navigation and multitasking capabilities. The operating system is responsive, and apps load quickly without any noticeable lag. The clean interface makes it easy to navigate through the phone's settings and features, making it suitable for both new and experienced smartphone users.

In terms of pre-installed apps, the Nokia 5 keeps it minimal, with only essential apps like Google's suite of applications, such as Gmail, Google Maps, and Google Drive. This allows you to personalize your phone according to your preferences by installing the apps you need without being overwhelmed by unnecessary pre-installed apps.

Overall, the software experience on the Nokia 5 is commendable, offering a user-friendly interface, minimal bloatware, and the promise of regular software updates. Whether you're a casual user or a tech-savvy individual, the stock Android experience on the Nokia 5 provides a smooth and hassle-free smartphone experience.

Camera

The Nokia 5 comes with a 13-megapixel rear camera that delivers good image quality in daylight photography. The camera captures sharp and detailed photos with natural colors and decent dynamic range. It performs well in outdoor photography, producing vibrant and well-exposed shots. However, in low-light situations, the camera struggles to maintain sharpness and reduce noise, resulting in slightly grainy images. The Nokia 5 does not have a dedicated night mode or low-light sensitivity, so nighttime photography may not yield the best results.

The camera app on the Nokia 5 offers some useful features, including HDR mode for capturing more detail in high-contrast scenes and panorama mode for capturing wide-angle shots. There is also a pro mode that allows users to manually adjust settings like ISO, white balance, and shutter speed. Additionally, the camera app has AI scene recognition, which automatically detects the subject and adjusts the settings accordingly for optimal results.

When it comes to video recording, the Nokia 5 can shoot videos in 1080p resolution with decent quality. However, it lacks the ability to record in 4K. The phone also lacks video stabilization, so videos may appear slightly shaky if not held steady. Slow-motion and time-lapse video modes are not available on the Nokia 5.

Overall, the Nokia 5's camera is capable of capturing good quality photos in well-lit environments, but it may not perform as well in low-light conditions. The camera app offers some useful features, but lacks advanced video recording options.

Battery Life

The Nokia 5 comes with a 3,000mAh battery that offers decent battery life. With moderate usage, the battery can easily last a full day, but heavy gaming or media streaming can drain it quickly. The phone does not support fast charging or wireless charging options, which may be disappointing for some users. However, the battery optimization features on the Nokia 5 help in maximizing the battery performance. The phone also has a battery saver mode that can be enabled to extend the battery life when needed. Overall, while the Nokia 5's battery capacity may not be the largest in the market, it provides satisfactory battery backup for everyday use.

Connectivity and Networking

The Nokia 5 offers a range of connectivity options to keep you connected wherever you go. It supports 4G LTE networks, allowing for fast data speeds and smooth browsing. The phone also has Wi-Fi capabilities, supporting the latest Wi-Fi standards for a reliable and speedy internet connection. Bluetooth is available on the Nokia 5, allowing you to connect wireless headphones, speakers, or other devices. The Bluetooth version on the phone is not specified, but it should be compatible with most Bluetooth devices on the market. NFC is another connectivity feature on the Nokia 5, enabling you to make contactless payments and easily share files with other NFC-enabled devices. The phone comes with a USB-C port for charging and data transfer, offering faster charging speeds compared to older USB ports. It also has dual SIM support, allowing you to use two SIM cards simultaneously for better network coverage or to separate work and personal contacts. GPS and navigation are included on the Nokia 5, making it easy to find your way around using various map and navigation apps. Overall, the Nokia 5 provides a wide range of connectivity options to ensure you stay connected and have access to all the features and services you need.

Additional Features

Comparison with Other Related Phones

When comparing the Nokia 5 to other related gadgets in the market, it becomes clear that this budget smartphone offers a competitive option for consumers. Let's take a look at how it stacks up against some of its rivals.

In terms of design, the Nokia 5 stands out with its premium all-metal body, which gives it a more expensive look and feel compared to other budget smartphones. This sets it apart from competitors like the Moto G5, which features a plastic build.

When it comes to display, the Nokia 5's 5.2-inch HD screen provides clear visuals, although the colors may not be as vibrant as some other smartphones in the same price range. In contrast, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 offers a larger and sharper display with Full HD resolution.

The inclusion of a fingerprint scanner on the front of the Nokia 5 is a bonus, providing added security and easy access. In comparison, the Huawei Honor 7X also offers a fingerprint scanner but located on the back of the device.

Battery life on the Nokia 5 is average, with a single charge lasting a day with moderate usage. However, heavy gaming or media streaming can drain the battery quickly. On the other hand, the Moto E5 Plus boasts a massive 5000mAh battery, providing exceptional battery life.

In terms of camera performance, the Nokia 5's 13MP rear camera performs decently in well-lit conditions, but can appear dull and lacking in clarity. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5, on the other hand, offers a 12MP camera with impressive image quality and sharpness.

Overall performance on the Nokia 5 is average, with load times being lengthy and the device occasionally feeling slow. In comparison, the Moto G6 offers a more powerful processor and smoother performance.

In terms of pricing, the Nokia 5 is competitively priced at £179.99 in the UK, making it an attractive option for those on a budget. However, with devices like the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 and Moto G6 offering similar features at a similar price point, the competition in this market segment is fierce.

In conclusion, while the Nokia 5 offers a solid budget smartphone option with its premium design and decent performance, it faces tough competition from other devices in the market. Consumers looking for a budget smartphone with a focus on design and brand reputation may find the Nokia 5 to be a good choice, but those seeking more powerful performance or better camera capabilities may need to consider other options available.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Nokia 5 is a budget smartphone that offers a premium design and decent performance at an affordable price. Its all-metal body and compact form factor make it comfortable to hold and visually appealing. While the display may not be the sharpest and the camera performance could be improved, it still manages to deliver satisfactory results for everyday use. The stock Android experience, along with regular software updates, adds to the overall value of the phone. If you're on a tight budget and looking for a reliable smartphone with a stylish design, the Nokia 5 is definitely worth considering.