Nokia X Smartphone Review

The possibility of Nokia going the Android was nigh impossible until the Finnish handset maker decided to change its market dynamics by taking Android under its helm and offering an experience that combines the effectiveness of Android with the services of Microsoft in the form of Nokia X.

Dream comes true?: Every smartphone evangelist has dreamt about the possibility of combining the hardware finesse of Nokia with the utilitarian aspect of Android which has somewhat been fulfilled with Nokia X but it sure does have its own shortcomings and there are many. The phone sports a 4 inch 800x480 pixels display that merely manages to make it in our listing owing to its price. The phone runs on Nokia X platform which has been reformed from Android Open Source Project (AOSP) with services from Microsoft like OneDrive, Nokia Here Maps etc. This is not how one envisaged a Nokia Android device but then these things were never meant to happen. One thing we do like about the Nokia X is its sturdy build quality revolving around Nokia’s favourite polycarbonate finishing.

Does it make sense in the market?: Nokia devices are now a part of Microsoft, hence the obvious no-go for Google services (Chrome, Gmail come to mind) but you can definitely get those via other third-party app stores. The interface has no resemblance to your usual Android screen and in fact comes closer to Live Tile design on Windows Phone 8. Nokia has taken its Asha-style FastLane feature to the Nokia X which enables you to get latest activities on the device by simple swipe to the left. The phone comes with a physical Back button only and unlike the Lumia devices; you do not get the Home button for some strange reasons. You also have a Notification Centre which can be accessed by sliding down from the top but its purpose is limited to getting notifications and acts as a hub to reach out to the main settings area on the device. On the hardware front, the X packs a dual-core CPU with 512 MB RAM that acts clunky, rather abysmal leading to an unpleasant usage experience. When the market has moved towards better usage products, Nokia has simply tried its hand on an ecosystem that they fail to understand. It sports a 3.15 MP rear camera sans flash, now who would really want to go for something that entry-level and there’s no auto-focus either!

Plethora of Android apps comes to Nokia: The one good thing about Nokia X is its app-store portability feature. What this simply means is, you can sideload your favourite Android apps on the X or even download slew of Android app stores like One Mobile, Amazon etc and enjoy the experience. But then again, you cannot really justify the usual Android behaviour on the X with its sub-standard hardware. You can install the apps and save them on the phone’s 4 GB internal storage which is expandable up to 32 GB. In terms of battery life of the Nokia X, the phone managed to last our video playback tests for over 5 hours which usually translates into anywhere between 8 to 10 hours on normal usage.

Bottomline: It’s not the way we thought Android would look on a Nokia device. This clearly feels like an experiment, with Microsoft looking to deviate user’s preference for Android and may be getting them to accept Windows Phone as the best alternative around. Sub standard hardware and clunky software makes it hard to recommend for us.

Price: Rs. 7,499

Key Specs: 4 inch 800x480 display, Nokia X platform 1.0, 1 GHz dual-core CPU, 512 MB RAM, 3.1 MP rear camera,
1500 mAh battery

Pros: Refreshing Android interface, sturdy body, Android app store side loading

Cons: Sub-standard hardware, Mediocre camera, no support for Google services