Launched last September 2020 during its live HMD Global launch event that showcased several other new Nokia smartphones. The Nokia 2.4 which retails for only PHP6,990 is already available in the Philippines, the budget-friendly device brings with it a large display, bigger battery and a mobile operating system that’s always secured and updated.
We got to spend for a brief time enough for our review and test the Nokia 2.4 to check out its new features and our initial impressions of the latest device from HMD Global.
Unboxing
Taking out the contents of the box, the Nokia 2.4 contains the following: Nokia 2.4 device, charger, microUSB cable, SIM Tray Tool Ejector, Earphones, Quick Start Guide and a free Clear Jelly Case Cover.
You can check out our Nokia 2.4 unboxing video on our YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffTbgagKMnQ
Display and Build Quality
Looking at the front, we see the Nokia 2.4 sports a large 6.5-inch HD+ display with a teardrop notch for the front facing camera plus the speaker grill on top of it and below the screen a Nokia logo is placed. It has a resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels and an aspect ratio 20:9.
As for the display size it is perfect to do your everyday multimedia tasks from watching movies, gameplay, browsing the web and checking your social media pages. We just noticed that the display when used under direct sunlight is a little dull.
Weighing at 195g its remarkably thin and light with the device measurements are 165.85 x 76.30 x 8.69 mm. Materials used for the Nokia 2.4 consists of a sturdy plastic material and a metal chassis frame that securely holds the polycarbonate back cover and front display of the device.
The polycarbonate back cover has a 3D nano-textured design that offers a nice grip and less finger print smudges on it. Located there as well is the dual camera setup, a fast fingerprint scanner and the Nokia logo.
On the right you have the volume control and power button that are tactile very responsive which are placed on the right distance for easier to reach. On the left you’ll find the triple card slot that can accomodate two nano-SIM card and a microSD card upgradeable to 512GB plus a dedicated Google Assistant button.
While at the bottom you have the loudspeaker, microphone and a microUSB port. Up top is another microphone and an available standard 3.5mm headphone jack.
Reliable Camera
The Nokia 2.4 has a dual camera lens setup positioned at the center comprising a 13MP main camera and a 2MP depth sensor that has an impressive edge detection capability. Even if this device has a basic camera setup it can capture decent and well-exposed shots when the lighting conditions are good with images that are crisp, good details and vibrant colors. It has a dedicated night mode in case you need to take photos on dark conditions or use the built-in rear flash LED. With Portrait mode you can choose custom shapes and blurred backgrounds to have a nice bokeh effect.
The front facing camera has a generous single 5MP lens, it is able to capture nice detail shots on well lighted conditions but struggles on dark conditions where digital noise will be present on your shots. However, Nokia does not have a PRO shooting mode with this device that allows users to manually select their camera settings.
You can also find on top of the Camera user interface a handy Google Lens, an image recognition technology that has option for QR code recognition, photo translation, recognize products or identify relevant information related to that object.
As for the video both rear and front facing camera offers you to choose 1080p Full HD or 720p HD resolution. Good thing that there is an option for extra video stabilization which can be found it the camera settings.
Here are our sample photos and videos using the Nokia 2.4:
Hardware and Performance
Under the hood the 2.4 is powered with a 2.0GHz MediaTek Helio P22 Octa-core, a PowerVR GE8320 graphics, 3GB memory and a 64GB internal storage. For some users the storage may not be enough especially if you want to put in more media such as your videos and music. We were glad Nokia offered an expandable microSD card slot with up to 512GB to accommodate this.
So far the performance of the Nokia 2.4 during our review fairs very well as it can handle task smoothly such as online browsing, calls/text messages, YouTube videos and more. However, we encountered a little stutter during multi-tasking and when there are too many apps running at the same time. During our camera test when we change from photo mode to video mode there was a slight delay before we begin to shoot.
Using the benchmark results from Geekbench 5 we got a 134 score on its single-core and a 474 on its multi-core.
UI and Security
Another great feature that the Nokia 2.4 has on its sleeve is their user interface as it runs on Google’s standard Android One OS getting an updated Android 10 as well. What’s so good about the Android One is a clean, less cluttered user interface and no value-added apps. There are no social media apps that are pre-installed on the device such as Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter only the YouTube app is already available. With the Android One users will have a peace of mind on this Nokia device as it offers 3 years of monthly security updates and 2 years of software upgrades.
For added security and fast unlock, the Nokia 2.4 already has a rear fingerprint scanner at the back with more additional device security you can choose from like Screen Lock, Face Unlock and Smart Lock.
Battery
The Nokia 2.4 has a built-in 4,500mAh battery cell using a microUSB charging port plus including Google’s AU-assisted Adaptive Battery feature. It is excellent as the battery can take up to two days of usage due to the specs of its hardware and the display.
But it takes almost 3 hours when we charge the device from 0 to 100 percent even though the charger that comes along with it supports 5W charging. In our test we got a 30 percent increase in the battery after 1 hour of charge.
It can last more than two days if you’re simply using the phone for web browsing or as an everyday communication device which is good. But will have a significant amount of time for you to do a complete a full charge of the phone.
Other Notable Features
As we have mentioned the device has a dedicated button for the Google Assistant. Just by pressing the button the virtual assistant will ask you to speak what you want. You can manage tasks, create lists, get directions or search something you need on the internet.
You can listen to your favorite FM station thru the FM Radio app by using a compatible headset that will act as an antenna.
Conclusion
The new Nokia 2.4 offers a good amount of value in terms of design, user interface, build quality, display and its battery life. Although there will be some little shortcomings in terms of its hardware. It’s not the feature-packed smartphone you wanted it to be, but at PHP6,990 only you get a good value out of your money on this very nice budget smartphone from HMD Global the makers of Nokia.
What We Like:
- Large 6.5-inch HD+ Display
- 4,500 mAh battery
- Clean and Uncluttered User Interface
- Monthly Security Updates and Software Upgrades
- FM Radio
- Device Security
- Google Assistant Button
- 3D Nano Textured Cover and Sturdy Build
- Price
What We Wish:
- Available PRO Shooting Mode on Camera
- 10W Charger
- More Storage
- USB Type C Port
- Triple Camera Setup
Nokia 2.4 Full Specifications:
- Display: 6.5-inch HD+ 720×1600 pixels (270ppi) Teardrop notch
- Aspect Ratio: 20:9
- OS: Android One, Android 10
- Processor: MediaTek Helio P22 Octa-core 2.0GHz ARM Cortex-A53
- GPU: PowerVR GE8320
- Memory: 3GB
- Storage: 64GB (MicroSD Card Slot up to 512GB)
- Camera: Rear: 13MP/2MP Depth Dual Camera / Front: 5MP Selfie, Night Mode
- Battery: 4,500mAh
- Security: Fingerprint Sensor
- Sensors: Accelerometer, Proximity
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0, WiFi b/g/n, USB-OTG, GPS (A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS)
- Dimensions: 165.85 x 76.30 x 8.69mm
- Network: 4G LTE, Dual SIM (Nano SIM)
- Weight: 189g
- Other Features: FM Radio, 5W Charger, Face Unlock, MicroUSB port, Google Assistant Button
- Color: Charcoal Grey
- Price: PHP6,990
