5, 6, 7, 8. Nope, we aren’t about to launch in some dance routine however we are literally referring to the names of the Nokia smartphones. Weird nomenclature apart, if there’s a model – apart from Honor — that has been in completely prolific kind in terms of launching smartphones then its HMD International with its Nokia handsets. There have been as many as 12 new Nokia smartphones launched in 2018. Nonetheless, because the outdated adage goes, it’s the standard and never the amount that issues. To be truthful to HMD, it has made a honest try and bridge the hole between amount and high quality as Nokia smartphones this 12 months look good.
Becoming a member of that horde is the brand new Nokia 8.1 and no it’s not an extension of the Nokia 8 Sirocco which was launched earlier this 12 months in April. That was a “flagship” gadget whereas the Nokia 8.1 is juxtaposed between a flagship and a mid-ranger because it has the appears to be like of the previous however value and options of the latter. Priced at Rs 26,999, the Nokia 8.1 will lock horns with a variety of different manufacturers in what’s slowly turning into a very aggressive phase. We used the Nokia 8.1 and here’s what we consider the gadget:
Nokia 8.1 Design
HMD International appears to have discovered the magic beans in terms of designing the smartphones. As we now have seen prior to now with the Nokia 6.1 Plus and Nokia 7.1, the corporate has upped its design sport. The Nokia 8.1 isn’t any totally different as this can be a severely well-designed smartphone. It blends glass, metallic, curves, aluminium seamlessly to present you a cellphone that’s actually good wanting.
The body of the cellphone has Collection 6000 aluminium and it’s a refreshing change from all of the gradient combos we now have seen with different smartphones. This a sturdily constructed smartphone which is surrounded by metal accents that give it a cultured and premium look. Each the entrance and the again have 2.5D Gorilla Glass safety. The glass again is reflective however isn’t susceptible to that many fingerprints and smudges.
Nokia 8.1 has the SIM card tray on the left aspect whereas the facility button and quantity rockers discover a place on the suitable hand aspect. On the again you’ll discover the fingerprint sensor together with a twin rear digicam module which is barely protruding. The cellphone is on the bulkier aspect however doesn’t really feel one bit and is fairly good for one-handed operations. Design is clearly one of many strongest factors of the Nokia 8.1
Nokia 8.1 Show
Maintaining in step with Nokia 7.1, the Nokia 8.1 will get one thing known as PureDisplay display screen. What this expertise does is that it offers greater distinction and HDR10 help. When in comparison with competitors, this can be a function that HMD is touting essentially the most as others don’t have something like that. On the 6.18-inch show which comes with FHD+ decision, the PureView tech does appear so as to add some sheen.
The PureView show works fairly effectively for all kinds of viewing. Be it streaming Netflix content material or watching YouTube movies there’s a sense of sharpness is the show. The color replica can be a lot better than what we now have seen on, say, the Poco F1 or the Vivo V11.
The show works high-quality indoors however it’s fairly reflective when put beneath direct daylight. Having mentioned that the viewing angles are good and the whereas steadiness can be fairly apt.
Nokia continues to make use of the notch and right here as effectively there’s a barely biggish wanting notch. The notch isn’t certainly one of HMD International’s strongest level and the wideness of it did hassle us a bit. Nonetheless, the general expertise is kind of good and higher than competitors.
Nokia 8.1 Efficiency
After the PureView show, the opposite function that has been talked about is the processor that powers the Nokia 8.1 The cellphone is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 710 which is a brand new chipset and the one different cellphone to have it on board is the Oppo R17 Professional.
The processor – greater than the show – is the spotlight of the Nokia 8.1 as it’s quick and makes the cellphone a worthy purchase. The processor is what makes the Nokia 8.1 ‘flagship’ as you’ll be able to’t have any complaints about its efficiency. On the coronary heart of the Snapdragon 710 is an octa-core chipset with a clock pace of two.2GHz. Nokia 8.1 comes with 4GB variant and in case you’re simply going by the specs on the paper then you definitely’ll be shocked. The processor coupled with 4GB RAM does pretty much as good a job as a 6GB RAM cellphone would do.
What has at all times given Nokia smartphones is that they provide pure Android expertise. Nokia 8.1 isn’t any totally different in that sense as it’s an Android One cellphone that runs the newest OS and has no undesirable apps or what we discuss with as bloatware. Briefly you get the perfect of Android OS expertise and options with none customised UI hampering the expertise.
All of the routine duties are dealt with completely and there isn’t a touch of stutters or lags. Gaming is the place the 2 finest options of Nokia 8.1 shine by way of. There’s an Adreno 616 GPU on board which makes gaming a real delight. Video games similar to Actual Cricket or PUBG that are graphic-intensive video games run on excessive graphics. In truth, we tried taking part in Actual Cricket on very excessive graphics mode and nonetheless didn’t encounter any lag. Furthermore, the gadget doesn’t warmth up in any respect whereas indulging in these lengthy gaming classes.
It needs to be mentioned that the Nokia 8.1 provides a greater healthful expertise due to its quick processor and the pure Android expertise.
Nokia 8.1 Digicam
Earlier than we delve into the digicam efficiency, let’s get the specs out of the best way. Nokia 8.1 incorporates a 12MP major sensor that comes with 1.4 micron pixel and f/1.8 aperture. The secondary digicam on the again is a 13MP digicam. The entrance digicam is a 20MP sensor for the selfie brigade.
The Zeiss lenses on Nokia telephones are recognized to click on photos with truthful quantity of detailing, which is what we discovered with the Nokia 8.1 as effectively. Many of the photos we clicked had been sharp and clear and even the color replica was fairly pure. Portrait photos clicked with the Reside Bokeh mode additionally come out pretty effectively. However all that is in well-lit circumstances. Transfer to low-light circumstances and the digicam efficiency drops in comparison with well-lit circumstances. Nonetheless, total efficiency of the rear digicam is greater than acceptable.
The entrance digicam additionally manages to click on detailed selfies however there’s some sense of artificialness when in comparison with rear digicam. The pictures look a bit saturated than what we might’ve appreciated to see. The Portrait mode on the entrance digicam does handle to get the correct quantity of detailing.
Nokia 8.1 Battery
There’s a 3500mAh battery within the Nokia 8.1 which manages to ship dependable efficiency. Nokia claims that may last as long as two days due to the chipset and utilizing sure Android Pie options. In our utilization, the cellphone simply lasted over a day with heavy utilization and with reasonable it did work for shut to 2 days. The cellphone does help quick cost tech however isn’t as quick as say the OnePlus or Oppo R17.
Nokia 8.1 Verdict
After we reviewed the Nokia 8.1 Sirocco, we had mentioned that the most important blunder HMD International made was with its pricing. With the 8.1, it hasn’t fully rectified that mistake as at Rs 26,999, this can be a cellphone on the upper aspect. Contemplating when you’ve gotten Poco F1 which on paper provides a quicker processor at a a lot lesser value. Having mentioned that, the Nokia 8.1 has all of the substances to be a crowd pleaser. It’s got the appears to be like, a very good show and a processor that delivers greater than competent efficiency.
Nokia has two issues getting into its favour: first, the corporate enjoys great quantity of goodwill amongst Indian prospects. And second, the Nokia 8.1 is a cellphone that received’t disappoint you in any respect. Go for it, even when it’s a must to spend just a few further bucks as this can be a sturdy cellphone with an excellent processor.
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