Does the Nokia 6 have what it takes to compete with smartphones like the Moto G5 Plus and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 which has long been considered as the budget smartphone king? Will the Nokia 6 resurrect the Nokia brand name and wash away the wounds that Windows Phone inflicted years ago? Every ardent Nokia fans want to know if the smartphone is truly worth all the hype and hoop lah surrounding it.
The Nokia brand holds a very special place in the hearts of millions of Indians - to this date, it commands a lot of respect and admiration and a level of trust not enjoyed by most manufacturers. That is why expectations around Nokia's comeback have been simply enormous. The Nokia 3, Nokia 5 and Nokia 6 have been one of the most widely anticipated devices in smartphone history.
The Nokia 6 has the most expectation upon its shoulder as it is the flag bearer of Nokia's current Android line-up. At Rs 14,999, the Nokia 6 finds itself in arguably the most cut-throat segment of the smartphone market where a smartphone has to look premium, have decent performance and cameras and a nice screen all whilst being affordable. Plus the Nokia 6 is not just another phone, it is a device that might make or break the future of HMD Global in India and the yardstick to which all future Nokia devices will be judged.
A walk down memory lane
Back in the late 90's and early 2000's, the name Nokia was synonymous with phones and represented a new age of communication. HMD Global, the company behind Nokia's comeback into the smartphone game understands the level of nostalgia associated with the brand. In fact, their whole comeback strategy has revolved around invoking people's nostalgia for the brand and reminding them of the good old days so as to speak.
The frenzied reaction to the launch of the re-incarnated Nokia 3310 was proof of how well this strategy is working and how much love people still have for the brand. However, Nokia cannot ride on this wave of nostalgia forever. The products have to deliver as well. There have been various instances of companies, actors and products coming back after years, seeing a lot of success initially but then eventually fizzling out after the initial hoop lah around their comeback dies.
They don't make them like this anymore
What stands out first and foremost when you pick up the Nokia 6 is the design. There are no two ways about it - the smartphone is gorgeous and is surely the best-looking device in its price range. The smartphone looks and feels incredibly premium - much more so than its Rs 14,999 price indicates. The build quality is also phenomenal - the phone feels like a tank without being too heavy and chunky.
The capacitive keys for home, back and recent apps are thankfully backlit and are fairly responsive. The volume rocker and power button are also made out metal are not mushy and have a sufficient amount of travel. One slight complaint is that the fingerprint sensor, while accurate, takes a little time to read your fingerprint.
What prevents the design from getting a perfect score is the fact that the smartphone feels a bit too wide in the hand and the edges are bit too sharp and tend to dig into your fingers. The shiny finish around the camera lens and around the frame might also put off some people. All in all, it seems that Nokia has pushed the goalpost a bit further when it comes to design in this price segment with the Nokia 6. Read more...