(MWC 2018) Nokia 6 (2018) Hands-on, Quick Review: Better Every Year

(MWC 2018) Nokia 6 (2018) Hands-on, Quick Review: Better Every Year

The global version of the handset has Android One for a better Android experience

Earlier this year HMD Global announced the refresh for their first ever Android phone, the Nokia 6. And just like the model that came before it, the Nokia 6 (2018) was first made available for the Chinese market, with a wider global release set for later.

Thankfully we didn’t have to wait long for the global version of the phone to hit, as HMD Global announced the Nokia 6 (2018) along with other phones in their lineup during Mobile World Congress. While we hated the fact that we had to wait for the phone to arrive, we liked the fact that the phone is now part of Google’s Android One initiative, which means guaranteed updates for at least two years after purchase.

Nokia 6 (2018) Specifications

  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 octa-core processor
  • 5.5-inch full HD display, 2.5D glass, 1920 x 1080 resolution
  • 4GB RAM
  • 32GB/64GB internal storage expandable storage up to 128GB via microSD
  • 16-megapixel rear camera, f/2.0 aperture, PDAF, Laser AF, Dual-tone LED flash
  • 8-megapixel front camera, f/2.0 aperture
  • Dual SIM (Hybrid Tray)
  • 3G, LTE
  • WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, A-GPS, Fingerprint scanner
  • Bothie mode, OZO audio
  • 3000mAh battery with fast charging
  • Android 7.1.1 Nougat

 

Initial impressions: Still solid aluminum, though blockier this time around

The whole “hollow out an aluminum block and stuff phone parts inside of it” strategy worked for HMD Global for the first Nokia 6, as the phone managed to become one of the toughest smartphones that ever crossed Jerryrig Everything’s table of destruction so we’re not surprised that it’s the same tactic that they used with the new version of the phone.

 

The result is a very sturdy-feeling smartphone that can probably take a few hits and still keep on running. You could probably use the aluminum back as a hammer and despite a few scratches, it’ll still keep going.

 

The front of the phone isn’t too different from last year’s iteration, as the device still retains a traditional full HD 16:9 aspect ratio display.

 

Inside though, this year’s Nokia 6 is a whole new beast. A Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 octa-core processor with 4GB of RAM as well as a choice between 32GB and 64GB of expandable storage. It also gets a 16-megapixel Carl Zeiss rear camera, f/2.0 aperture, PDAF, Laser AF, Dual-tone LED flash, which is an upgrade to the non-Zeiss version of the phone that debuted in China.

 

The phone is also now a part of Google’s Android One program, which means it’s guaranteed updates to the latest version of Android for at least two years along with the requisite security updates that come with it. Nokia’s phones are the few devices available in the market that sport pure Android, which makes it easier for people to enjoy them just as Google intended.

The global version of the Nokia 6 (2018) is set to hit select markets worldwide for around 279 Euros, or around Php 17.2K.

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