Nokia brings a budget smartphone Nokia C3. Competing in a sub 8k price bracket, the smartphone does garner a lot of competition from rivals such as the Realme C series and Redmi series. However, Nokia`s solid brand name and no-nonsense outlook do give it that slight edge against the competition. But is this enough to offset the underrated processor and low-res screen, well let’s find out!
Design
With every release, Nokia has tried to perfect and unify its design philosophy to create a unique and identifiable product. The Nokia C3 continues this tradition with a sturdy polycarbonate shell builds with chunky bezels surrounding the 5.99-inch HD+ display with Nokia embellishing down below. The button placement is ergonomic with a volume rocker and power button on one side and a google assistant button on the other. The back is sleeky and slippery with a matte type finish around the centre placed fingerprint sensor. Nokia promises a one-year worth of replacement guarantee with the Nokia C3.
With a resolution of 720 x 1440 pixels, the Nokia C3 does loose out against its rivals as they all support 1080×1920 as standard. The colour reproduction seems accurate and the display is fairly visible under outdoor lighting conditions. Watching movies or streaming shows on this device is a joyous experience as the speaker gets adequately loud for enhanced vocals. Overall, we liked the minimalism design followed by Nokia a lot.
Processor
The Nokia C3 is powered by an Octa-Core 1.6 GHz SC9863A chipset coupled with PowerVR GE8322 GPU and 2/3 GB RAM. This processor lends a good amount of support to facilitate multi-tasking with sufficient ease. Casual games and social media apps run without any hiccups and guarantees a lag-free experience.
We loved the bloatware-free Android 10 experience that is snappy and promises the latest operating system updates as in when they launch. The only thing we would have liked it if the company had provided a better processor to counter the Snapdragon competitors out there.
In regards to storage, the smartphone offers 16GB of onboard storage that is expandable up to 128GB via a MicroSD slot. The device also supports Dual Nano Sim via the provided slot. Sensors include an accelerometer, ambient light sensor, proximity sensor, and fingerprint sensor.
Camera
The single unit 8MP (f/2.0) sensor with flash on the back is good for normal shots under sufficient sunlight. The images are pale looking and grainy when zoomed in. Night-time photography is surprisingly good considering the processor`s ability to discern the object’s saturation level perfectly.
There are several modes such as HDR, beauty model, filters, and manual model to give the user a lot more options to play. The front-facing camera is a 5MP (f/2.4) sensor placed beside the earpiece unit that is capable of capturing good selfies and videos at 720p (30fps).
Connectivity and Battery
The Nokia C3 offers dual SIM with 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi, v4.2 Bluetooth, Mobile Hotspot, A-GPS, and micro-USB 2.0. The device packs in a modest 3040mAh user-replaceable Li-ion battery, that promises backup up to 22 hours of 4G usage, up to 23 hours of 3G usage, and up to 50 hours of 2G usage.
In our testing we found the claims of Nokia C3 to be true as the device adequately lasted for a long time before we needed to charge. The only downside is the lack of any fast charging support that has become a norm in recent times.
Gizmo Verdict
The Nokia C3 2020 is a no-nonsense smartphone that guarantees effective and reliable workflows for your busy schedule. The device looks good and easy to hold with its agile proportions. The smartphone focusses on the essential features like a great battery, good display, a quick assistant with the reliable support offered through a one-year replacement guarantee. So, at ₹7499, the Nokia C3 is arguably a great option for people looking for a reliable smartphone at an affordable price.
