HMD Global released the Nokia 3.1 in the 2nd Quarter of 2018 as a decent entry-level smartphone that is suited for people on a tight budget. The Nokia 3.1 is the successor to the Nokia 3 that was launched in 2017. The phone still has an improved version which is the Nokia 3.1 Plus. In this article, I’ll be doing a review of the Nokia 3.1 in 2020 telling you if it’s still worth buying. Join me as we unravel the specs and features of this phone.
Nokia 3.1 Key Specs
- 5.2 inches IPS LCD display
- MediaTek MT6750 octa-core processor
- 2GB or 3GB of RAM
- 16GB or 32GB built-in storage
- 13MP rear camera
- 8MP front-facing camera
- 4G LTE network support
- 2,990 mAh battery
Design and Body
HMD Global used different material in building the body of the Nokia 3.1, at the back they used plastic, on the frame they used aluminium and at the front, Corning Gorilla Glass 3 was used. The phone is very sleek with it weighing 138.3 grams and having a thickness of 8.7 mm. The phone aluminium frame gives it a premium feel and on the front, the Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protects it from scratches.
Display
In this department, the Nokia 3.1 features a 5.2 inches IPS LCD display with a 720p resolution of 720×1440 pixels and 310 PPI density. The phone has an 18:9 aspect ratio. However, it has noticeable bezels at the top which houses the selfie camera and other sensors.
Processor and Memory
The Nokia 3.1 is powered by an octa-core MediaTek MT6750 SoC which features 4 cores clocked at 1.5 GHz and 4 cores clocked at 1.0 GHz. The Mali T880 MP2 GPU is in charge here.
The phone comes with 2GB or 3GB of RAM and 16GB or 32GB built-in storage with a dedicated micro SD card slot. The configurations are 16GB 2GB RAM and 32GB 3GB RAM.
Camera
The phone has a 13MP rear camera with f/2.0 aperture and Auto Focus. The rear camera has a LED flash below it which helps in low light situations. The back camera can record 1080p videos at 30 fps.
At the front, we have a 8MP camera with f/2.0 aperture which can HDR photos. The front camera can record 720p videos at 30 fps.
Network and Connectivity
Despite being an entry-level smartphone, the Nokia 3.1 comes with support for 4G LTE network which gives you access to fats blazing internet speeds. The phone has support for the following 4G bands in the APAC/EMEA version: 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40.
The phone comes with dual-band WiFi, WiFi Direct, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS, NFC, FM radio and WiFi hotspot. The phone has a micro USB 2.0 port which supports OTG feature.
Battery and Charging
In the battery department, the Nokia entry-level smartphone fairs well with having a 2,990 mAh non-removable Li-Ion battery. The battery may look small but it promises up to 18 hours of talk time and up to 84 hours of music playtime. There’s no information about the phone supporting fast charging.
Software
The Nokia 3.1 runs on Android 8 Oreo under the Android One initiative by Google. The phone has been upgraded to Android 9 Pie via OTA and it should get Android 10 update.
Nokia 3.1 Review in 2020
The Nokia 3.1 is not really worth buying in 2020. The outdated process won’t run all the heavy apps that we have now. The battery is not really meeting up to its expectation now. There are several other entry-level smartphones you can buy now that are better.
