In this Nokia G10 review, we reveal how this phone is overdelivering in many areas, such as display size, and its OS with a 2-year guaranteed upgrade.
The Nokia G10 smartphone was released in April 2021. Every year, it looks like manufacturers always step up their game when it comes to budget phones. Nokia G10 is the result of this.
Nokia has always been a respectable brand offering great products. But this particular model catches our attention in several ways. The first being its design, which is typical of Nokia.
Then, we also like the big screen and the triple camera setup. The phone is equipped with a gigantic size battery that can last for days. Nokia G10 also comes with the latest Android 11 and it is upgradable for two years.
This phone has a lot of promise. In this Nokia G10 review, we will see if it delivers. Hopefully, you can be an informed buyer after reading our analysis.
Page Contents:
Key Specs
Nokia G10 specifications:
| Weight | 197g |
| Dimensions | 164.9 x 76 x 9.2mm |
| OS | Android 11 |
| Screen size | 6.5-inch |
| Resolution | 1600 x 720 |
| CPU | 2GHz Octa-core, MediaTek Helio G25 |
| RAM | 3GB / 4GB |
| Storage | 32GB / 64GB |
| Battery | 5,050mAh, Non-removable |
| Rear camera | 13MP + 2MP + 2MP |
| Front camera | 8MP |
Design
Nokia G10 is a big phone. It has a thicker body compared to other phones and the 197g weight shows it’s on the heavy side of things. The phone compensates for the bulkiness with an ergonomic design so that it’s easy to hold.
The back of the phone has a curved design complete with rounded corners. You will see the texture of the back cover, which consists of diagonal lines. The purpose would be to add friction so that the phone doesn’t easily slip from our hands.
The cameras are situated inside a circular frame on top of the back cover. This is a distinct design choice typical of Nokia that looks unique. Other than the camera gear, the other components on the back cover are just logos. Thus, everything still looks clean and sleek.
We like how the phone maximizes the front part just for the screen. It adopts a notch design so the space for the front camera is kept to a minimum. A very thin bezel surrounds the screen, making the big screen look even more spacious.
Two pretty color choices are available to choose from. You can either pick the blue color or the purple dusk one. We had a hard time picking one since both look beautiful.
Read also: Nokia G10 User Manual
Display
Nokia G10 has a massive 6.5-inch screen which is the largest size a phone has before people start calling them a tablet. This size is preferable for many, as it provides ample space to do activities. There’s simply more room for reading, browsing, and multimedia entertainment.
In fact, in this Nokia G10 review, we think of the massive display as one of the best selling points of this phone. You can stack two apps and still get a good view of each of them. On top of that, the capacitive screen is responsive too when registering inputs.
The only drawing of the size is navigation. It’s not easy to get around a 6.5-inch with your thumb. Sometimes, you need two hands to interact with the phone. For some people, this is inconvenient. There’s a workaround for this. You can activate one-handed mode to shrink the screen size temporarily.
Additionally, we admit that display quality isn’t the best you can get with Nokia G10. The phone’s display has 1600 x 720 pixel resolution. It is a high definition (HD+) screen, but quality-wise still falls short under Full HD or retina ones.
Camera
The camera part of the Nokia G10 is where things get interesting. The setup consists of three lenses, one main camera, and two supporting lenses. The main camera has a resolution of 13MP. Additionally, one depth lens and one macro lens each have 2MP in resolutions.
The main lens supports various shooting modes, such as panorama and HDR. By itself, this camera has already provided a tool to get killer pictures. Image results come with a decent level of details, accurate color reproductions, and reasonable file size. It’s more than enough for social media.
If you want to get more creative, that’s where the second and the third lenses step in. Utilize them to add nuances in your picture, such as adding a blurred background on a portrait shot. The depth lens is what you’re looking for in this situation.
For detailed, close-up photos, we have the macro lens. Shoot super small objects, like a spider you encounter when hiking, by activating this macro mode. Another use case for macro lenses is when you want to capture the deliciousness of a meal. A good macro angle can make food look more attractive in pictures.
On the other side of the phone, we have the 8MP camera. It’s more than enough to cater to selfie addicts out there. The lens also comes with a good video recording capability too. It allows you to record 1080p 30fps videos, fit for video conferences, or simply upload short clips on social media.
Read also:
- AT&T Fusion Z Review: Huge Battery Capacity with HD+ Display
- Alcatel Axel Review: 13MP Camera with Big Battery Size
Storage
Nokia G10 is equipped with 32GB internal storage. Seems adequate to us, as this capacity allows you to install a handful of apps. On top of that, there will be some space left to store personal data. But it’s going to be filled up very soon, especially if you like taking pictures.
The solution comes in the form of an SD card. This phone lets you expand the storage capacity by inserting this additional memory chip. The biggest capacity you can go is 512GB, which would satisfy any storage-hungry user out there.
Performance
Nokia G10 runs on a 2GHz Octa-core, MediaTek Helio G25 processor. Relatively a new CPU model, MediaTek Helio G25 packs several useful improvements. But the most notable is better efficiency on gaming-related activities. The CPU here works alongside a 3GB RAM.
In our opinion, this is a setup a budget user would be grateful for. The 8-threads processor handles tasks faster than a lesser CPU, and the RAM is big too. On top of that, the CPU also focuses on efficient power consumption. That way, you’ll get longer gameplay.
The 3GB RAM is also atypical on budget phones. However, today it has become the norm and Nokia makes sure they follow the trend. As a result, users get plenty of space to store temporary apps data. You can use more apps at once and there will be a lot less lag when you switch between them.
If the hardware impressed us, the software isn’t far behind. Nokia G10 features Android 11 as its operating system. At the time of release, it was the latest version Google had.
But many other phones use Android 11. What makes Nokia G10 different? The surprise lies in the updates. Nokia will release software upgrades for two years after release, ensuring you get the latest version as long as possible. Users will also enjoy a three-year guarantee for security updates.
Nokia G10 lets you choose between several methods to secure the phone. This smartphone is equipped with a fingerprint reader and face recognition. Our personal favorite is the fingerprint sensor but to each their own. The facial unlock is also quite fast and responsive.
One thing to note, the fingerprint reader is located on the side power key. For some people, this could feel like an awkward location. It does take some time to get used to.
Other sensors available here include Accelerometer (G-sensor), Ambient light sensor, and Proximity sensor. Quite a typical lineup and we’re pretty satisfied. Nokia G10 is equipped with the tech it needs to function properly.
Connectivity
Nokia G10 is a 4G-supported phone. No 5G support yet and it didn’t surprise us considering the price. The call quality is pleasant. You’ll have the option for WiFi calling if your provider supports it.
This smartphone also comes with the capability to connect with other types of networks. Pick Wi-Fi over mobile data if you want to save some money. Wi-Fi is equally as fast as using 4G. On the other hand, you can also share your internet with other devices using a mobile hotspot.
Further, enjoy the USB Type-C port for wired connections. Nokia G10 also didn’t forget to include GPS for navigation purposes.
Battery
The 5,050mAh battery on this phone is also an attractive point in this Nokia G10 review. Nokia doesn’t stop at one or two days of battery life. It promises up to three days of uptime in between charges. That ensures you stay connected with your loved ones, without any interruption because the phone runs out of juice.
This capability isn’t just due to the big capacity. Nokia G10’s battery is also AI-assisted. There’s software that helps you manage your battery usage efficiently. The battery comes with a 10W fast charger. Therefore, don’t worry about waiting hours for the battery to fill up.
Is the Nokia G10 a good phone?
Nokia G10 is not only a good phone based on specifications, but it also has a reasonable price. At $150, it’s hard to not be tempted to pick it. The Nokia name also adds confidence to our choice. Users are less likely to be disappointed in choosing a reputable brand.
In this Nokia G10 review, we only wish that one area on this phone could be improved. And that’s the display, which in our opinion, needs to offer more than just an HD+ quality. Overall, other than the display blunder, this phone is a solid choice.
Nokia G10 Pros
- Big screen
- Triple camera
- Good CPU performance
- Android 11 with future updates
- Large battery
Nokia G10 Cons
- Average display quality
