A few months ago, we previewed Nokia 8.3 5G and were impressed with its on-paper specs/price ratio. However, the headline grabber back then was undoubtedly the 5G at its modest cost. Since then, the barrier of entry to 5G has fallen leaving Nokia to hang its hat on its qualities elsewhere.
Luckily for us, Nokia 8.3 5G isn’t just a cheap entry to the future of mobile communications. It’s also the only current smartphone with worldwide 5G compatibility and is one of only a few handsets set up for the upcoming ‘standalone 5G’ standard.
Eye Catching
The rear casing of Nokia 8.3 5G is difficult to capture. The ‘Polar Night’ finish is inspired by Finnish polar nights – the fleeting streaks of the Aurora are recreated well here. There is an almost holographic 3D effect to the glass that stands out from all other smartphones currently available.
That enticing rear cover is framed by aluminium that matches the darker tones of the glass. I’ll say it again – you have to see it in real life to appreciate it.
007 Connection
One feature that is easier to convey is the capture quality of Nokia 8.3 5G. Photographer Ben Maclean used Nokia 8.3 5G to snap some amazing shots with OO-Agent Nomi (Lashana Lynch) and later in the week will share his tips on using the four Zeiss-lensed cameras to their full potential.
One of the four lenses captures a 64MP master image with other lenses dedicated to depth, bokeh/macro and ultrawide capture. So far, the macro lens has impressed me the most.
In the Field Stamina and Handling
Nokia 8.3 5G comes with a 4,500mAh battery. A two-day battery life is a great feature to boast and so far the device seems capable of near that figure with moderate use. The 18W charger should fill the device in well under two hours with a 50% charge in under 45 minutes. Of course, we’ll let you know if it hits these targets in our full review.
Nokia goes the old Sony route and places the fingerprint sensor on the side-mounted power button. We weren’t thrilled to see that particular arrangement – even premium Xperiae (plural) were slow reading such a small sliver of the user’s fingers. Coupled with experiences of accidentally turning Sony screens off while trying to use the reader and this writer was wary.
Thankfully the implementation here is excellent. The power button is firm and doesn’t depress willingly. The 6.81″ inch screen doesn’t have much of a bezel – something that smaller hands would have appreciated in such a large device. It’s also slightly slippery as glass phones tend to be.
That Price Though
Our first impressions are positive. The last few Nokia flagships have looked amazing with build quality to match – 8.3 5G continues that tradition with a sensational visual design. The offering of global 5G is also a commendable feature.
Despite these and other excellent features, the price is still the main attraction – 6GB/64GB models start at €469 in Ireland.
Is Nokia onto a winner with global 5G? Is their Android One-powered Nokia 8.3 5G ‘the only gadget you’ll ever need’?
Vinny Fanneran will return in… “A Review to a Kill”, Nokia 8.3 5G is available in Ireland from Thursday 1st October 2020.
