HMD Global announced that the Nokia 1.3 on April 28th. The Nokia 1.3 aims to deliver premium technology at a more-than affordable price point – something Nokia phones have excelled at in the past. The smartphone will run Android 10 (Go edition), and will also pack a brand new camera design.
Nokia 1.3
We do have some details about the device. As I mentioned, it will come with Android 10 (Go edition) and will be accompanied by a new camera design called Camera Go, and Gallery Go. It will have a bright HD+ edge-to-edge display, along with a camera that claims to allow you to “truly see it all whether you’re indoors or in the bright outdoors”.
The OS will apparently come action-packed with more speed, more security, and “millions of apps to get your day going”, though we’re hopeful that this doesn’t refer to bloatware.
Display and Camera
This 5.71” HD+ edge-to-edge display claims to deliver a visual experience that’s great even in brighter conditions. It has 400 nits of brightness. This is something we’ve seen many budget (and other) phones struggle with, so if this claim is as good as it seems, this phone could be a treat for those on a budget, as 400 nits should be fine in high brightness. The phone will also have a notch design.
The rear camera is an 8MP auto-focus camera with an LED flash. The front-facing camera is 5MP and has a brightness boost, to “take your selfies to the next level”. I’m excited to see what this means, because the camera is one of the weakest features on budget end smartphones, typically.
Battery and Design
The Nokia 1.3 will mark the first Nokia 1 series device to feature a dedicated Google Assistant button. The feature claims machine learning capabilities such as dimming lights, and adaptation with every use.
The phone will come with a Qualcomm 215 Mobile Platform CPU. Nothing too special there, but good value for the price. For what you’re paying, you’re certainly getting a sweet deal.
The battery is a 3000mAh all-day design. This is something many budget users have asked for. A low-priced device with a battery that doesn’t clap out after opening Facebook for an hour. Hopefully, this will deliver in efficiency, but its size alone is setting up for success.
Android 10, Go Edition
This smartphone will be one of the first smartphones to launch with Android 10 (Go edition). The goal of the implementation is to maximise data security through a new form of encryption, while simultaneously avoiding compromising the performance. Furthermore, HMD Global has said that they will be upgrading this device to Android 11, a similar Go edition of it. This comes with a guarantee of monthly security updates for at least three years and OS updates for two.
Pricing and Availability
The Nokia 1.3 will be available through Vodafone in Ireland starting early May. It comes in 2 colours; Cyan and Charcoal. And it costs, at retail value, €79. For what you’re getting in this device, that seems like an absolute bargain. It will be interesting to see how well it holds up in comparison to other budget phones, most of which are at least twice the price.
