A lot of times, as users, we look at smartphones through a very narrow lens. We look at their specifications and look up reviews for the latest and greatest. However, over the years, we have seen a shift in focus when it comes to smartphones. While we still have the big flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S21 and Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max, a new class of smartphones has been emerging. One spearheaded by companies like HMD Global who are focusing on experience and software support.
HMD Global showed us a big shift with the announcement of their new flagship – the Nokia X20. Unlike the Nokia 8.1 or Nokia 9 PureView of year’s past, the Nokia X20 focused on affordability and software. It eschewed the pricey Snapdragon 800 series for a more affordable and equally capable Snapdragon 480 5G. The Snapdragon 480 5G is a capable octa-core processor with speeds of up to 2.0GHz which pack enough performance for an everyday user. Its added 5G capabilities also help futureproof the smartphone with 5G networks being turned on across the world. Paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, HMD Global is packing the Nokia X20 with specifications that are up to the job.
However, that’s only part of the equation! The user experience of any given smartphone is centred on the software. The Nokia X20, like previous Nokia Android devices, comes with near-stock Android. HMD Global opted to not bog down the operating system with needless skins and features which consume RAM and storage. Instead, the experience you get with the Nokia X20 is a pure, unadulterated version of Android. This vanilla approach to Android allows HMD to focus on developing features like their ZEISS camera lens which come with X20.
The 64-megapixel quad-camera setup on the Nokia X20 is equipped with ZEISS optics. The Nokia X20 utilises these optics to deliver some of the most stunning pictures you can get on a smartphone. HMD Global partners with ZEISS to ensure that each of the lenses used in the camera sensors is up to scratch. Like cameras, lenses in smartphones play a key role in focusing light and what we want to capture. Using poor quality lenses can lead to aberrations and distortions which will result in a horrible picture. However, with technology like ZEISS, you get clear, crisp pictures. The camera of the Nokia X20 also comes with AI-augmented features which allow it to intelligently focus and optimise to get the best picture.
AI isn’t just employed for photography. The Nokia X20 continues to stay true to the promise of having up to 2-days of battery on each charge. HMD Global has imbued the Nokia X20 with AI algorithms that allow the phone to adapt and optimise according to the usage patterns of its user. This allows it to get every millisecond from the 4470mAh battery of the X20. No need to hug walls or carry bulky battery packs and power banks when your phone has your back. Even if you forget to plug in after a day and a half, the Nokia X20 comes with support for Quick Charge 4+ which will allow you to get up to 5 hours of battery life in 15 minutes.
The only piece that is left to complete the experience with the Nokia X20 is good software support. Out of the box, the X20 comes with Android 11. However, thanks to the vanilla approach that HMD Global has taken with the software, you can expect that Android 12 will be making its way to the smartphone. In fact, you can rest assured that you will get the update. The Nokia X20 is guaranteed 3 years of OS updates. This means that the phone will see the update to Android 14! Realise that HMD Global isn’t taking the same approach as others when it comes to promises. They’ve promised 3 years and not 3 iterations. This means that if Android goes from 12 to 17 in that three years, you’ll get it all. In addition, the Nokia X20 is also guaranteed security updates for the same amount of time. It will be getting monthly security bulletins that help secure Android in a timely manner. As a matter of fact, there’s no doubting this with HMD’s current track record of updates. However, HMD isn’t just giving you software updates for 3 years, the warranty of the Nokia X20 lasts for the same 3 years!
Looking at the Nokia X20 makes one think about what truly makes a smartphone worth it. The smartphone isn’t a slouch when it comes to performance but it does bring a lot of quality of life features that are sorely lacking in the smartphone arena. Guaranteed software updates, long battery life, good camera performance and even specification that are up to task might just be the thing that all of us are looking for. In fact, that just might be it – the makings of a truly reliable smartphone; one that you can call your companion for 3 years confidently.
DISCLAIMER: THIS ARTICLE IS AN ADVERTORIAL COMMISSIONED BY HMD GLOBAL. IT MAY NOT REPRESENT THE OPINIONS OF THE TECHENT EDITORIAL BOARD