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While we were testing this Nokia G42, we regularly thought with real nostalgia about our Nokia phones from the beginning of this century. First there was the 3210
While we were testing this Nokia G42, we regularly thought with real nostalgia about our Nokia phones from the beginning of this century. First there was the 3210 and our introduction to the game Snake. Then came that sturdy and iconic brick: the ever-stylish Nokia 3330. Life was good and Nokia was one of the big players in the mobile phone market. Oh, how times can change.
It’s unfair to compare the generation of twenty years ago with today’s smartphones. In this case, unfair to the smartphone. For example, we’re pretty sure we won’t be thinking about the Nokia G42 in 2045. Unless smartphones that are easy to repair yourself turn out to be the planet’s salvation. By the way, this phone brand is only called Nokia, production and development also takes place at the Finnish HMD Global.
The Nokia G42 has a recommended retail price of 249 euros (including VAT), but at first glance it looks like a mid-range cell phone. However, this impression does not last long. The screen is a respectable size of 6.56 inches and is made of Gorilla Glass, the ten-year-old version 3. That’s where it all starts.
The screen is surrounded by a high-quality plastic casing that makes you feel like you’re not holding a premium device. Basically, you can choose between three colors: a subtle shade of gray, a more extravagant purple and, since the beginning of September, bright pink (perhaps under the influence of a certain hype). However, for a long time the second option was the focus of almost all communication surrounding the Nokia G42. In itself, it is not surprising that purple is trendy and trendy.
On the back, the three camera lenses and the flashlight protrude somewhat awkwardly, grouped together in a frame. The front camera is in the middle of a small notch at the top of the screen, which is a bit annoying. There is a noticeable dark stripe running around the screen, which becomes slightly wider towards the bottom. That’s a bit of a shame considering the size of the screen.
You can say that the Nokia G42 fits well and comfortably in the hand. This is surprising in itself, because the device is 8.55 mm thick and you can clearly notice the above-average additional millimeters. The weight may be responsible for this feeling, as the G42 weighs just 193.8 grams on the scales. For a height and width of 16.5 and 7.58 centimeters respectively, that’s not exactly difficult.
The volume buttons and the on/off switch are located on the side and are neatly integrated into the housing. The latter also serves as a fingerprint sensor, which proves to be a little less practical. Below you’ll find, hallelujah, another old-fashioned headphone jack.
The image quality is more than sufficient for this budget. The Nokia G42’s HD+ display (720 x 1,612 pixels) offers a refresh rate of 90 Hz with a brightness of 400 nits. With an increase in brightness, this value should increase to 560.
We had to fiddle with the screen settings, particularly the brightness level, but then we were able to make video calls and watch videos without much discomfort. At least as long as we were in an environment that was dark enough itself. Unfortunately, when the summer sun shines, you notice that you are traveling with a smartphone on a budget. An extra point for the color balance, which is better than you’d expect for this price.
A small additional annoyance for us was that you can’t unlock the screen with a quick double-tap. This can only be done using the button on the side. It’s a detail, but if you’re used to the former, it’s unsettling.
Although the screen is even better than expected, the Nokia G42’s internal kitchen turns out to be primarily that of a (decent) snack bar. The Snapdragon 480+ is a solid worker, but it doesn’t run at full speed. The chip is supported by an octa-core processor, 6 GB of RAM and an Adreno 619 GPU.
During most actions, the Nokia G42 seems to think for a split second about whether it will perform the requested task or not. If you quickly check something in an app, it’s not really noticeable, but if you switch between different applications and functions for a while, it starts to get on your nerves. An entry-level processor and a modest amount of RAM seem a bit limiting.
The following graphics show the difference in some good mid-range devices. The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite (Snapdragon 695) still leaves the Nokia G42 and its Snapdragon 480+ in the slipstream, but if you look at the difference to the other two, you can see that a more expensive device also means more performance. The Samsung Galaxy A34 in particular stands out in the truest sense of the word with its Mediatek Dimensity 1080.
History repeats itself when it comes to the GPU. If the Nokia G42 had a neck, it would have to be cracked in the meantime because you’re constantly looking at the Samsung Galaxy A34’s benchmarks. With his Mali-G68 he simply looks down on the competition in this area. However, the OnePlus Nord CE 2 works with the same material. Like the Nokia G42, the OnePlus Nord CE 3 has an Adreno 619, but it gets significantly more out of it than our test model.
The Nokia G42 performs quite well for its budget, but don’t set your expectations too high. If you use your phone regularly for long periods of time and also juggle various apps, this is not the device for you.
Additionally, the Nokia G42 runs Android 13 and two years of operating system updates. This is somewhat in contrast to the three-year warranty you get on this device in Belgium. When it comes to security, you can expect a monthly update for three years. You can additionally protect your phone with one or more fingerprints, but the sensor is on the side and is therefore quite narrow. Both the recording and the registration process to unlock your device are not entirely smooth. For the latter we sometimes needed three attempts.
This device has 128GB of internal storage. If you want, you can connect up to 1 TB of external storage via MicroSD.
We can be brief about the tone. It’s loud enough, but at higher volumes it tends to get a somewhat flat, metallic sound.
Then we come to the pièce de résistance of this device, its 5,000mAh battery. There are several reasons to describe them this way, but let’s start with the most obvious one, which is the ease of replacing them yourself.
Nokia phones are increasingly prioritizing sustainability, and the G42 is no different. Unlike phones, where a simple repair requires a whole team with specialized equipment, with this device you can easily repair many things yourself. So inserting a new battery is no problem.
The G42 is Nokia’s first 5G device that you can (partly, of course) repair yourself. With parts and tools from iFixit, you can start replacing not only your battery, but also your screen or even a charging port yourself. Of course, this is not free; you can buy spare parts and tools online. On the iFixit website you will also find the necessary explanations and a manual to accompany you on your DIY adventure.
Nokia is not an isolated case. The Dutch company Fairphone has made self-repairing smartphones its thing and is now available in its fifth version. You pay significantly more for the Fairphone 5 than for this Nokia G42 (699 euros, including VAT).
Nothing was wrong during the testing period, so we did not test any of these repairs. If it ain’t broke, you know.
If you don’t replace it yourself, the Nokia G42 battery is still worth mentioning. Longevity is really the biggest advantage of this device. If we compare the battery life benchmarks, the Nokia G42 can definitely keep up with the more expensive competitors from Samsung and OnePlus. From the latter manufacturer, the Nord CE 3 Lite even has to admit defeat to the G42.
Good batteries last a little longer, but not forever. When you need to charge the Nokia G42 battery, the good news broadcast stops. It even brakes hard. This device has to make do with a meager charging power of just under twenty watts.
If we compare these benchmarks to the same three mid-range competitors, you’ll see that a higher price clearly also means faster loading time; However, the Samsung Galaxy A34 shouldn’t be too boastful with its 25 watts. Of course, Samsung is almost never allowed to do this when it comes to loading times.
Our experience is completely consistent with both of these graphs. The battery life of the Nokia G42 is nothing short of spectacular. Even if you work intensively on it for a day, searching for a power outlet is not immediately necessary. However, when that moment comes, remember that patience is a beautiful virtue. We took no chances and hung our test model on busier days when we could.
As we said at the beginning of this review, the Nokia G42 has three rear cameras:
Unfortunately, we’re not fans of the photo quality. But it’s also something to focus on. Perhaps the display with an arc distracts us too much when zooming in, which is also possible.
Night mode doesn’t do much either. The following photos were taken one after the other in this mode. The contrast to the Samsung Galaxy A53 is clear. It does have a 64MP main camera, but the difference seems pretty noticeable to us.
You also have an 8 MP front camera for selfies and video calls. You can’t complain about it, it does what it’s supposed to and provides a clear picture. Video meetings and a new profile photo for LinkedIn are therefore no problem.
What you see on your bill is what you get. You can’t expect the same from a device priced at 249 euros (including VAT) as from a phone from a higher segment. The Nokia G42 isn’t exactly the most luxurious device, but it feels good in the hand and doesn’t weigh much despite its respectable dimensions.
The usage is a bit ambivalent: the battery life is a dream, even if you use it constantly, but on the other hand everything is a little slower than you would actually like. If you would like to keep your ecological footprint a little smaller, you will find a good device here with a variety of options for repairing it yourself.
This is a budget device that gets the most out of it, but you won’t be able to walk very far with it. Unless you’re buying this phone just for its durability, the question is how smooth the experience will be once Android and its accompanying apps have been updated for three years.
The Nokia G42 5G is available in pink, gray and purple. The price is 249 euros, including VAT. In Belgium, this device comes with a three-year warranty.
Android Update Policy: HMD guarantees that the Nokia G42 will receive security updates for three years and operating system updates for two years.
Source: IT Daily
As an experienced journalist and author, Mary has been reporting on the latest news and trends for over 5 years. With a passion for uncovering the stories behind the headlines, Mary has earned a reputation as a trusted voice in the world of journalism. Her writing style is insightful, engaging and thought-provoking, as she takes a deep dive into the most pressing issues of our time.
