Nokia 5 review: the well-known old makes convincing comeback

Read our Nokia 5 review...

Nokia is back, and how. The returned Finnish manufacturer relies not only on naamsherkenning, but also provides an excellent budgetsmartphone, as you discovered in our Nokia 5 review.

Read our Nokia 5 review

If there is one manufacturer that has a turbulent history has had, then it is Nokia. The Finnish company dominated ever the mobile market, with successes like the Nokia 3310. When competitors Apple and Google have their own smartphones and software was introduced, things went quickly downhill. The manufacturer decided to with Microsoft and Windows Phone in the sea to go, but that system never missed. Microsoft took over the mobile division, but was dismissed within a few years thousands of employees.

When it became known that the unknown HMD Global the brand name took over, we were also slightly suspicious about. Was Nokia restored, or hoped HMD only to take advantage of a well-known name? The Nokia 5 offers hope. In terms of solidity, reliability and value-for-money, this is a Nokia as we are accustomed to.

Design: long live reliability

The old Nokia knew as no other that solidity is not a dirty word, and this unit underlines that. With a suggested retail price of 199 euro is the Nokia 5 cheap, but you notice that not the build quality. No cheap plastic or nasty around the edges, but a piece of aluminium with a sloping back that great feel. Nice and modern, but mostly solid.

The camera and led flash on the back poke a little bit, making the unit flat on its back. Below the screen we find the finger print scanner and it works well. In this price range are vingerafdrukscannerscanners still quite rare, but the Nokia 5 does the job well. At the bottom sits a micro-usb port (unfortunately no usb (c), the on/off and volume buttons are on the right. The back is not removable, so the interchangeable batteries of yesteryear sadly lacking.

Screen and hardware: solid base

The 5,2-inch screen has a resolution of 1280 by 720 pixels, which for a pretty sharp image. In this price range we see today, especially full-hd displays, but that extra sharpness is not a huge deal. The image itself is nice and bright and even in full sunlight.

The Snapdragon 430 chip that Nokia used is not the allerkrachtigste, but in daily use are more than sufficient. That’s because Nokia stock Android. As a result, the number of apps in the background is limited. As smoothly as a flagship is the Nokia 5, of course not, and apps like WhatsApp, Chrome and the camera also have a visible second to start. Once opened, however, if you have no more problems with jitter.

There is 16GB of storage available, of which about 8GB is already used by the included apps and software. The remaining space is a bit tight if you like a lot of music and photos on your device, but can thankfully be expanded with a micro-sd card. The specifications get a spacious enough: nothing seconds, but more than enough to be coping with it well.

Software: good riddance

Nokia says that the software is working closely with Google, and that we the device, therefore, can be seen as a cheap Google Pixel. That sounds like a marketingclaim, but in practice it is yet to achieve. The Nokia 5 runs on a virtually unmodified version of Android 7.1. This looks the operating system is cleaner than on other smartphones. The interface is modern, easy to use and contains no unnecessary extra features.

Because even though old-fashioned Nokia-fans may be disappointed that apps like Snake is missing, for many it is a breath of fresh air. The Nokia 5 has no included app from the manufacturer, to a digital manual. In addition, are Googles own apps, and design untouched, except for the camera app. Nokia has the design of them slightly adapted. Also, there are a few extra features, such as a compass or guidelines in the field of view. Filters, masks, and other funny features are missing: also here the Finns have it cleaned up.


Manufacturer HMD promises, moreover, fast and complete software support for the next two years. That means you have until mid-2019 is still the latest Android updates, and security updates. The company hopes within a month after Googles release of Android 8.0 is already an update for the Nokia 5 to roll out.

Because Nokia is a ‘new’ brand is, is to wait and see whether that promise was kept. The Finns see quick updates in any case, however, as a priority. That we can about other manufacturers not to say. The smartphones Huawei, Samsung and Alcatel this year in this price range release, then the next time no updates to be expected, let alone in 2019.

Camera requires effort

The 13 megapixel camera on the back allows unfortunately, to disappoint. Photos that you shoot are soon overexposed. Is there a lamp in the picture, is the sun inside or is there another light source, then there is not only a bright white spot in the image, but gave the entire photo a slight tone. movement soon became fatal for the image.


With the right lighting conditions to see photos fortunately, however, relatively sharp and colourfast. So you can take great photographs with the Nokia 5, all you need to make a bit more effort in. The 8 megapixel camera at the front is sufficient for the most selfies: sharp enough and rich in detail.

Battery: long life, long charge time

No, this phone gets it, of course, not at the battery life of the Nokia’s of yesteryear. Weeks without charging, like with the 3310, there is not. However, the battery capacity of 3000 mAh enough to get the end of the day. Often we had in the evening another 30 percent, even with intensive use. Also the low duration of battery power on stand-by is: ‘at night there are only 1 or 2 percent battery consumed.

Unfortunately, supports the device is not Quick Charge. Fact: it takes very long before the smartphone is charging. Our test model had more than three hours needed to go from 10 to 100 percent. Of course, it is a budgettoestel never be as fast as, for example, the OnePlus 5, which is in a half hour, 60 percent of it. But Nokia gets it not even when other devices in this price range. The Moto G5, which is also for 199 euro appears, it loads much faster.

Conclusion Nokia 5 review

With the Nokia 5 makes the Finnish manufacturer a convincing comeback on the mobile market. However, it is not the sleek design or the excellent hardware that is the spotlight it deserves. No, the star on this smartphone, which is Android itself. Nokia leave the frills behind with a very stripped-down software. That ensures speed and ease of use that we usually rarely see in this price range.

Nokia promises in addition, for two years to provide support in the form of updates. The ‘newcomer’ must be located in this area is still to prove, but if the promise lives up to, then, is the aim of virtually all of the competitors over. It is as if Nokia never moved away: with this device, grab the Finns at one time virtually all the goodwill and trust of the old Nokia back.

Nokia 5 buy

The Nokia 5 is for sale separately for € 199. You have a choice from different colors, including black, silver and blue. The Nokia 5 with subscription available at almost all Dutch providers.

5 July 2021, 22:00 | Views: 166

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