After several years of virtual absence from the market, the Finnish brand Nokia is finally back in operation. Being under the wing of the HMD Global concern, the company has already managed to introduce several smartphones that we have previously reviewed, the next in line is the most budgetary of the Nokia 3.
The device received a stylish case with an aluminum frame, an NFC chip and the latest version of Android. But is this enough for popularity on the market, taking into account not the lowest price for its characteristics and a frankly weak processor? Read the Nokia 3 review.
Price and main characteristics
Nokia 3 is already on official sale at a recommended price of 10,000 rubles. For this money, the buyer receives a smartphone in the 16/2 GB version.
Specifications:
display: 5”, IPS LCD HD 1280*720px (294 ppi);
processor: MediaTek MT6737 (1.3 GHz) + video accelerator Mali-T720MP1;
RAM: 2 GB;
internal memory: 16GB + micro SD flash cards up to 128GB;
camera: main - 8 MP, front - 8 MP;
connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS;
battery: 2630 mAh.
Dimensions: 143x 71.4 x 8.5 mm;
Weight: 140 g.
Despite the screen size of 5 inches, the device is closer in size to 5.2 smartphones, which is explained by the relatively large bezels around the display. However, the dimensions of Nokia 3 do not interfere with the comfortable use of the smartphone in the palms of any size, and miniature female representatives will not experience discomfort with it.
Equipment and appearance
The famous "Connecting People" slogan is still used in marketing of Nokia gadgets. On the white box of the device, the smartphone itself is depicted over the classic handshake, which was actively used in advertising campaigns of the company's past phones. Inside the box, you can find a standard set of accessories: a charger, a microUSB Type-C cable and a headset.
The characteristics of Nokia 3 do not allow recording the model even in the bottom of the middle price segment. Everything, from the processor to the camera, screams that we have an “ultra-budget” in front of us, focused on an unpretentious buyer who needs only basic functions from a phone - calls, instant messengers, simple toys. Given the very modest passport data, the price of Nokia 3 does not seem so attractive - with a budget of around 140-150 bucks, you can find more interesting models.
The purpose of this Nokia 3 review is to understand whether the smartphone is worth its money, does it have hidden advantages that can become a decisive argument in favor of a purchase? Or is it better to leave Nokia alone and look towards competitors?
Nokia 3 specifications
Nokia 3 review is built according to a somewhat unconventional scheme for Five-Inches. First, let's talk about all the characteristics of the phone and dwell on the key points. Then we will go through the pain points - the camera, the battery, the processor - and evaluate the capabilities of the smartphone according to the test results. We start with a table that lists the key features of the Nokia 3.
| Nokia 3 | |
|---|---|
| Chipset | MediaTek 6737 |
| Number of Cores | 4 |
| Processor architecture | 4x ARM Cortex A53 |
| Clock frequency | up to 1.3 GHz |
| graphics accelerator | Mali-T720 MP2 |
| RAM | 2 GB |
| Memory | 16 GB |
| Expansion slot | separate microSD, up to 128 GB |
| LTE modem | LTE Cat.4 download 150 Mbps transmission up to 50 Mbps |
| Diagonal | 5.0 |
| Permission | 1280×720, 294ppi |
| Screen type | IPS LCD |
| Battery | 2630 mAh |
| Main camera | 8 MP f/2.0 aperture pixel size 1.12 µm |
| Front-camera | 8 MP f/2.0 aperture pixel size 1.12 µm |
| Operating system | Android 7.1.1 Nougat |
| Case dimensions | 143.4×71.4×8.48mm |
| Weight | 140 grams |
Battery capacity 2630 mAh. This is not enough today, but it must be taken into account that a 4-core processor (even one manufactured according to the 28 nm process technology) consumes not so much energy. As well as a 5-inch screen with HD (720p) resolution. We will not write down the display as shortcomings - not only state employees consistently come out with such a resolution, but also some representatives of the middle price segment.
The Nokia 3 smartphone has little RAM and internal memory. 2 GB RAM barely enough for the operating system and a few running applications. 16 GB built-in memory- also a serious minus, because the user is left with no more than 9 GB, and in modern realities this will not be enough for a long time.
CPU MediaTek MT6737 has only 4 cores, built on the reference architecture ARM Cortex A53, which operate at a frequency 1.3 GHz. We do not expect a high speed of work by default, as well as a high frame rate in games that will be dealt with by far from the new Mali-T720 graphics adapter.
The main camera of Nokia 3 received a sensor with a resolution 8 MP. So you can’t immediately remember when the last time a phone was presented, which had a rear camera resolution of less than 10 megapixels. Don't expect much from photos.
Nokia 3: design, software, interfaces
The Nokia 3 smartphone is assembled in a solid polycarbonate case, which does not beat and perfectly absorbs shocks. The case is packed in a metal frame, the front glass - Gorilla Glass - is quite resistant to scratches. A 3.5mm audio jack is placed on the top edge, microUSB is on the bottom. The volume rocker and the lock button are on the right side, the SIM card tray and memory expansion cards are on the left.
The microSD expansion slot is dedicated here even in the 2-SIM version, and this is one of the advantages of the model. The smartphone comes running Android 7 Nougat with a very “thin” proprietary shell. For many users, near-stock Android is an advantage. There is no fingerprint scanner, but there is an FM radio and NFC is supported.
Battery, operating time on a single charge
According to the test results, Nokia 3 was one of the worst smartphones in terms of battery life. The overall battery life rating is only 53 hours. This means that with a very rational use of the charge will last for two days. If you actively use the Internet, talk on the phone for a long time or watch a video, the battery will sit down in about 10 hours.
Fast charging is not supported. The kit comes with a device for 1A, which feeds the battery relatively slowly. It takes about 45 minutes to replenish 50% of the charge. It will take much longer to get the remaining 50%.
| Nokia 3 | |
|---|---|
| Battery | 2630 mAh (non-removable) |
| fast charging | not supported |
| Autonomy rating | 53 hours |
| 3G calls | 10:17 |
| Internet | 10:02 |
| Video | 08:27 |
Nokia 3: speed
For comparison, models from the budget segment of the market, built on similar chipsets (architecture, manufacturing process, number of cores and clock frequency), were selected. Also included in the comparison is the Redmi Note 4x, a comparable-priced phone with a much more powerful processor.
The results in GeekBench 4 are not surprising. In single-core mode, almost all state employees go toe-to-toe, only RN 4x goes a little further. In multitasking mode, the alignment of forces is more obvious. Smartphones with 4-core processors are located in the bottom half of the table (Xperia L1, Redmi 4a), and phones with 8-core chips (Meizu, RN4x) are confidently ahead of them.
Nokia 3 in GeekBench 4 (multi-core)
Nokia 3 in GeekBench 4 (single-core)
The popular Antutu 6 benchmark puts the Nokia 3 in last place. There is a big lag even from - a smartphone on the same weak chipset. Apparently, unsuccessful software optimization is affecting, it is difficult to find other explanations for the failure of Nokia 3. Confirms the results of another comprehensive test - BaseMark OS 2.0.
Nokia 3 in AnTuTu 6
Nokia 3 in BaseMark OS 2.0
It remains to check Prof. the suitability of the Mali-T720 graphics accelerator. The task before him is not too difficult - to calculate the pixels for a screen with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. But even with this task it is not easy for him to cope - Nokia 3 is again in last place.
GFX 3.0 Manhattan (onscreen)
Nokia 3 Screen Testing
How good is the Nokia 3 display? Let's just say, better than the processor. The picture is generally good, with sufficient black depth. Brightness - 472 nits. In sunny weather, the screen is read very well, at the level of some flagships. Contrast at a decent level.
Only the color rendition failed. The average Color Accuracy Ratio was 9 (lower is better; 9 is below average) and the maximum DeltaE rose to 15.1. Manual calibration does not save the situation.
| Black, cd/m2 | Brightness, cd/m2 | Contrast | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nokia 3 | 0.353 | 472 | 1351 |
| Nokia 5 | 0.69 | 632 | 916 |
| Nokia 6 | 0.377 | 522 | 1385 |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625) | 0.322 | 484 | 1503 |
| Xiaomi Redmi 4a | 0.513 | 475 | 925 |
| Sony Xperia XA1 | 0.512 | 537 | 1049 |
| Sony Xperia L1 | 0.47 | 450 | 957 |
| Meizu M5 Note | 0.614 | 463 | 754 |
Readability in the sun
Camera
In short, the Nokia 3 camera is not a fountain. Autofocus is slow and unstable, which will annoy many. You can’t rely on HDR, which becomes an impossible task for a slow processor. It is impossible to say that HDR significantly improves the quality of images. Detailing is low, there is not enough sharpness even in the center of the frame, there are problems with the exposure - the pictures are either too light or too dark. Examples of photos on the slider (clickable), and 100% crops can be viewed.
The Nokia 3 can only record video in 720p at 30 frames per second. The front camera, which has its own autofocus, should take good photos, but autofocus either does not work at all, or it makes a mistake when choosing a focal length. As a result, we get the same problems as on the main camera.
Headphone sound quality
Some modern state employees offer the user sound quality that even flagships will envy. An example is Redmi 4a, which has already been reviewed on Five-Inches. Perhaps clear and rich sound in headphones will be the trump card of the Nokia 3?
If you connect Nokia 3 to an external amplifier, the sound will be clear and loud. But when you connect the headset, typical problems for many smartphones (not only cheap ones) come out. At high and low frequencies, the signal is amplified unevenly. In headphones, the dynamic range drops sharply and the signal-to-noise ratio worsens. Nonlinear distortions are noticeably enhanced, especially intermodulation (KII).
| Cho | Signal/Noise | DD | OIG | KII | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nokia 3 (amplifier) | +0.02, -0.11 | -91.9 | 91.8 | 0.012 | 0.017 |
| Nokia 3 (headphones) | +0.88, -0.06 | -78.7 | 77.6 | 0.039 | 0.348 |
| Nokia 5 | +0.02, -0.03 | -94.3 | 92.8 | 0.0035 | 0.019 |
| Nokia 5 (headphones) | +0.00, -0.09 | -92.4 | 89.9 | 0.0041 | 0.016 |
| Sony Xperia L1 | +0.10, -0.11 | -93.6 | 92.9 | 0.0090 | 0.013 |
| Sony Xperia L1 (headphones) | +0.79, -0.10 | -92.9 | 91.9 | 0.010 | 0.420 |
| Redmi Note 4x | +0.05, -0.04 | -90.6 | 91.9 | 0.0018 | 0.0086 |
| Redmi Note 4x (earphones) | +0.05, -0.03 | -96.3 | 90.5 | 0.0047 | 0.023 |
| Meizu MX6 | +0.10, -0.03 | -94.2 | 94.0 | 0.0019 | 0.0064 |
| Meizu MX6 (headphones) | +0.30, -0.07 | -92.5 | 93.0 | 0.810 | 0.271 |
Nokia 3 review summary
The test results show that we have a phone with mediocre technical characteristics - Nokia 3 has few competitive advantages, and someone will say that they do not exist at all. Nevertheless, it is worth highlighting the good build quality, durable glass on the front panel, good brightness and readability of the screen in the sun.
What smartphones can be considered as an alternative? If you are satisfied with the HD screen resolution, we advise you to pay attention to and. In the first case, you will also get significant savings in terms of money, and in the second, you will get an increase in speed and battery life. In addition, both representatives of the Redmi 4 line will delight music lovers with high-quality sound in headphones.
If you want to buy a phone with a Full HD screen, for the same money you can take Redmi Note 4x on Snapdragon 625 (). Among the advantages of this model - a significant increase in speed and smart autonomy (battery 4100 mAh).
Another option with a resolution of 1080 x 1920 is . In addition to Full HD resolution, this model compares favorably with Nokia 3 with a metal case and support for Pump Express 3.0 fast charging (24W charger included). The speed of work is also higher, as is the battery life. The disadvantages of the model are not the best readability of the screen in the sun, lower brightness and contrast, Android 6 Marshmallow out of the box.
Other materials on Nokia smartphones:
That's all, thanks for your attention. If you have personal experience with Nokia 3 or other state employees, share it in the comments. Thank you in advance!
The most affordable model of the "new Nokia"
At the beginning of the year, during the MWC 2017 exhibition, the first three models from the new Nokia smartphone range were announced, they were Nokia 3, Nokia 5 and Nokia 6. Later, other new products were presented, including the powerful flagship Nokia 8, but it only just went on sale. Today we will talk about the most affordable model in the new line, costing only $150: Nokia 3. For its level, this is a rather interesting device, besides, it has long been sold in official Russian retail for 10 thousand rubles.
Nokia 3 Key Features (Model TA-1032)
- SoC MediaTek MT6737, 4 cores @1.25 GHz (ARM Cortex-A53)
- GPU Mali-T720
- Operating system Android 7.0
- Touchscreen display IPS 5″, 1280 × 720, 293 ppi
- Random access memory (RAM) 2 GB, internal memory 16 GB
- Support Nano-SIM (2 pcs.)
- microSD support up to 128 GB
- GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks (850/900/1800/1900 MHz)
- WCDMA/HSPA+ networks (850/900/1900/2100 MHz)
- LTE Cat.4 FDD (B1/3/5/7/8/20/28), LTE TD (B38/40) networks
- Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n (2.4 and 5 GHz)
- Bluetooth 4.1
- GPS, A-GPS
- Micro USB, USB OTG
- Main camera 8 MP, f/2.0, autofocus, 720p video
- Front camera 8 MP, f/2.0, autofocus
- Proximity sensor, light sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, compass
- Battery 2630 mAh
- Dimensions 143×71×8.5 mm
- Weight 142 g
Contents of delivery
A single packaging design was chosen for the entire new Nokia line. This is a fairly simple flat box made of thin inexpensive cardboard, brightly decorated in a youth style.
The set consists of a connecting cable, a network adapter with an output current of 1 A and a maximum voltage of 5 V, a card ejector, very simple headphones without rubber pads, and a pack of paper documentation.
Appearance and usability
This is not to say that Nokia 3 looks expensive or at least more expensive than its level. The Chinese now manage to offer much cheaper models in spectacular all-metal cases. Here everything is simpler: the device received a neat, but unpretentious design with a plastic back panel and a metal side bezel.
The bezel is matte and just as nondescript as all the other elements that make up the outer part of the Nokia 3 case. Of course, we can say that the device continues the design traditions laid down by Nokia and Microsoft in the Lumia family. But still, this model is more reminiscent of a Sony smartphone, since here the corners are very slightly rounded in plan, the device turned out to be clearly not “iPhone-like”.
The Nokia 3 is practically the same size as the older Nokia 5, however, due to the matte slightly rougher sidewalls and less weight, the device is more securely held in the hand and does not slip out. There are also practically no fingerprints on its matte surfaces, the smartphone always looks neat. In general, the device is practical in everyday life, but it is difficult to promise that it will keep a presentable appearance for a long time, the materials are clearly prone to scratches.
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There are two card slots on the side of the device: one provides space for two Nano-SIM cards, and the second one can install a microSD memory card. This is very convenient, you do not need to sacrifice one thing.
The front panel is completely covered with a transparent protective 2.5D Gorilla Glass. The edges of the glass are sloping, and in combination with the slightly rounded corners of the case, this does not look very natural. Such glass is well suited for streamlined "remnants" - in fact, Apple with its sixth iPhone introduced it once into use. Here, perhaps, a flat “classic” would look better. But a tribute to fashion makes all manufacturers follow the same path, what can you do.
Sensors and a front camera eye are usually installed above the screen, but there is no front flash and an LED event indicator.
At the bottom, the same sad situation: there are touch buttons, but they do not have backlighting. There is no fingerprint scanner either on the front or on the back - for a budget phone, it was considered an unnecessary luxury.
The buttons on the right side face do not differ in texture, they are the same matte and monochromatic as the bezel itself. The keys are hard, have a distinct response.
On the back side, the camera is combined with a flash under a transparent oval glass. The flash, unlike Nokia 5, is single here, but it shines no less brightly. Modern Nokia smartphones can work with some of the most powerful flashlights.
The top end is given over to a 3.5 mm headphone jack and an auxiliary microphone hole.
The bottom end contains a standard Micro-USB connector that supports connecting external devices in USB OTG mode, as well as a conversational microphone and a main speaker.
Nokia 3 is available in four colors. Three of them are completely ordinary (black, white and dark blue), but the last one, having a body like a white one, has a side frame of not silver, but orange. It turns out a sort of sports orientation for people leading an active lifestyle.
Screen
The Nokia 3 features an IPS display covered by 2.5D Gorilla Glass with sloping edges. The physical dimensions of the screen are 62 × 110 mm, the diagonal is 5 inches. The resolution is 1280×720, which is often found in budget solutions, especially with a relatively small screen, an option. Accordingly, the dot density is about 293 ppi. The frame around the screen is standard: the total width on the sides is 4.5 mm, on the top - 15 mm, on the bottom - all 17 mm.
The display brightness can be adjusted manually or you can use automatic settings based on the operation of the ambient light sensor.
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A detailed examination using measuring instruments was carried out by the editor of the sections "Monitors" and "Projectors and TV" Alexey Kudryavtsev. Here is his expert opinion on the screen of the test sample.
The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface, resistant to scratches. Judging by the reflection of objects, the anti-glare properties of the screen are better than the screen of the Google Nexus 7 (2013) (hereinafter simply Nexus 7). For clarity, here is a photo in which a white surface is reflected in the off screens (on the left is Nexus 7, on the right is Nokia 3, then they can be distinguished by size):
The screen of the Nokia 3 is a bit darker (brightness in the photographs is 107 versus 118 for the Nexus 7). The ghosting of reflected objects on the Nokia 3 screen is very weak, which indicates that there is no air gap between the screen layers (more specifically, between the outer glass and the LCD matrix surface) (OGS type screen - One Glass Solution). Due to the smaller number of borders (glass/air type) with very different refractive indices, such screens look better in conditions of intense external illumination, but their repair in case of cracked external glass is much more expensive, since the entire screen has to be changed. On the outer surface of the screen there is a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating (in terms of efficiency it is better than Nexus 7), so fingerprints are removed much easier, and appear at a slower rate than in the case of ordinary glass.
With manual brightness control and output white field full screen the maximum brightness value was about 520 cd/m², the minimum was 18 cd/m². The maximum brightness is very high, and given the excellent anti-reflective properties, readability even on a sunny day outdoors should be at a good level. In complete darkness, the brightness can be reduced to a comfortable value. In the presence of automatic brightness control by light sensor (it is located to the left of the front speaker slot). In automatic mode, when the ambient light conditions change, the screen brightness both increases and decreases. This function depends on the position of the brightness slider. If it is at 100%, then in complete darkness the auto-brightness function reduces the brightness to 170 cd / m² (too bright), in an office lit by artificial light (about 550 lux) it sets it to 330 cd / m² (too much), in a very bright environment (corresponds to lighting on a clear day outdoors, but without direct sunlight - 20,000 lux or a little more) brightness increases to 520 cd / m² (to the maximum, as it should be); if the adjustment is about 50%, then the values are as follows: 19, 130 and 520 cd / m² (suitable values), if the regulator is at 0% - 4, 8 and 520 cd / m² (the first two values are underestimated, which is logical). It turns out that the auto-brightness function works adequately and to some extent allows the user to customize their work to individual requirements. At any brightness level, there is no significant backlight modulation, so there is no screen flicker.
This smartphone uses an IPS type matrix. Micrographs show a typical IPS subpixel structure:
For comparison, you can see the gallery of microphotographs of screens used in mobile technology.
The screen has good viewing angles without significant color shift even at large deviations of the gaze from the perpendicular to the screen and without inverting shades. For comparison, here are photos in which the same images are displayed on the screens of Nokia 3 and Nexus 7, while the brightness of the screens was initially set to about 200 cd / m², and the color balance on the camera was forcibly switched to 6500 K.
White field perpendicular to the screens:
Note the good uniformity of brightness and color tone of the white field.
And a test picture:
Color saturation on the Nokia 3 screen is normal, colors are close to natural. The color balance between the Nexus 7 and the test screen is clearly different.
Now at an angle of about 45 degrees to the plane and to the side of the screen:
It can be seen that the colors have not changed much on both screens, but on the Nokia 3 the contrast has decreased to a greater extent due to strong black highlights.
And the white box:
The brightness at the angle of the screens has decreased (at least 5 times, based on the difference in shutter speed), but the Nokia 3 screen at this angle is still a little darker. The black field, when deviated diagonally, is highlighted strongly and acquires a bluish or yellowish tint. The photos below demonstrate this (the brightness of the white areas in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the screens is the same!):
And from another angle:
With a perpendicular view, the uniformity of the black field is average:
Contrast (approximately in the center of the screen) is high - about 1050:1. The response time for the black-white-black transition is 22 ms (11 ms on + 11 ms off). The transition between grayscale 25% and 75% (according to the numerical value of the color) and back in total takes 33 ms. The gamma curve constructed from 32 points with an equal interval according to the numerical value of the shade of gray did not reveal a blockage either in the highlights or in the shadows. The fit exponent is 2.20, which is the same as the standard value of 2.2, but in this case it doesn't really matter. In this case, the real gamma curve somewhat deviates from the power dependence:
This device has an aggressive dynamic adjustment of the brightness of the backlight in accordance with the nature of the displayed image - on average dark images, the brightness of the backlight decreases. As a result, the resulting dependence of brightness on hue (gamma curve) does not correspond to the gamma curve of a static image, since the measurements were carried out with sequential grayscale output almost on the entire screen. For this reason, we carried out a number of tests - determining contrast and response time, comparing black flare at angles - we carried out (however, as always) when displaying special patterns with a constant average brightness, and not monochromatic fields in full screen. In general, such a non-switchable brightness correction does nothing but harm, since a constant change in screen brightness can at least cause some discomfort, reduce the visibility of gradations in the shadows in the case of dark images and the readability of the screen in bright light, since the brightness of the backlight is not the brightest on average. is underestimated.
Color gamut close to sRGB:
The spectra show that the matrix filters moderately mix the components to each other:
As a result, visually the colors on this screen almost do not differ from natural ones. The balance of shades on the gray scale is not very good, since the color temperature is significantly higher than the standard 6500 K, but the deviation from the blackbody spectrum (ΔE) is below 10, which is considered acceptable for a consumer device. At the same time, the color temperature and ΔE do not change much from hue to hue - this has a positive effect on the visual assessment of color balance. (The darkest areas of the gray scale can be ignored, since the color balance does not matter much there, and the measurement error of color characteristics at low brightness is large.)
Let's summarize. The screen has a very high maximum brightness and has excellent anti-glare properties, so the device can be used outdoors without any problems even on a sunny summer day. In complete darkness, the brightness can be lowered to a comfortable level. It is permissible to use the mode with automatic brightness adjustment, which works adequately. The advantages of the screen include an effective oleophobic coating, the absence of an air gap in the layers of the screen and flicker, high contrast, color gamut close to sRGB. The disadvantages are the low stability of black to the deviation of the gaze from the perpendicular to the plane of the screen and the aggressive dynamic adjustment of the brightness of the backlight in accordance with the nature of the displayed image. Nevertheless, taking into account the importance of the characteristics for this particular class of devices, the screen quality can be considered high.
Camera
The front module of the Nokia 3 takes pictures with a maximum resolution of 8 megapixels, but the picture quality is not very high. The detail is not the maximum, the images come out darkish. The lens here is wide-angle, so a single object looks unusually small in the picture.
The main camera uses an 8-megapixel sensor with a pixel size of 1.12 microns and an f/2.0 lens. There is a fairly fast autofocus and a single very bright flash. There is no stabilization system.
The camera application is quite simple, the settings menu, represented by a single drop-down list, is convenient and concise. It is curious that the aspect ratio and resolution of photos and videos are set in a single subsection for both cameras. You can manually set the white balance and perform exposure compensation, choose focus options. Otherwise, the shooting parameters are determined by the machine with a ready list of scene modes.
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The camera can shoot video at a maximum resolution of 720p, there is no Full HD, there is no stabilization function either. With this resolution, you do not have to wait for a detailed and juicy picture, the image is loose, but in general the camera gives the maximum possible for such conditions. There are no complaints about the sound recording, the sound is recorded with high quality.
- Video #1 (20 MB, 1280× [email protected] fps, H.264, AAC)
- Video #2 (29 MB, 1280× [email protected] fps, H.264, AAC)
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Macro photography in room lighting works well with the camera. |
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Details in the distance merge. |
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The camera copes with macro photography. |
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Good field and plan sharpness. |
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The text is well done. |
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Good detail in the foreground, but in the middle the details already merge. |
With its relatively low resolution, the camera sometimes works out the details quite well, but at the slightest lack of lighting, they begin to merge. Otherwise, the pictures are quite decent: the sharpness in the field and according to the plans is not bad, there are practically no noticeable blur zones, and the program works very accurately in the light. As a result, the camera will do well with documentary, and sometimes artistic shooting.
Telephone part and communications
Nokia 3 connectivity includes support for LTE Cat.4 (up to 150 Mbps), as well as support for a number of LTE FDD and TDD frequency bands, including all 3 FDD LTE bands of interest to us (band 3, 7, 20). In the city limits of the Moscow region, the device behaves confidently, the quality of signal reception does not cause any complaints.
In addition, Nokia 3 supports both Wi-Fi bands (2.4 and 5 GHz), and there is even an NFC module that can work with travel cards. You can standardly organize a wireless access point via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth 4.1 channels. The Micro-USB connector supports connecting external devices in USB OTG mode. The navigation module only works with GPS (with A-GPS). The first satellites during a cold start are detected within half a minute, the positioning accuracy is not bad. There is a built-in magnetic field sensor for the operation of the compass of navigation programs.
Software and multimedia
As a software platform, Nokia 3 uses Google's version of Android 7.0, unlike older Nokia models that received Android 7.1.1. In principle, these are all the differences, since the rest of the interface is identical. The manufacturer proudly announces that the new Nokia smartphones run on an absolutely pure Android OS. There are practically no third-party programs, everything you need is achieved using Google Apps.
To listen to music, a regular Google Music player with sound settings and built-in equalizer presets is used. Both in headphones and through the speaker, the device sounds quite modest, whistling and hissing prevail, the sound is noisy, not very clear, but in general the volume is enough for any environment. There is also an FM-radio, but there was no built-in voice recorder in the device.
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Performance
The Nokia 3 hardware platform is based on the MediaTek MT6737 SoC, made using the 28 nm process technology. This 64-bit platform is configured with 4 Cortex-A53 processor cores running at up to 1.25 GHz. The Mali-T720 video accelerator is responsible for graphics processing. RAM is 2 GB and user storage is 16 GB. Of these, on average, less than 500 MB of RAM and less than 10 GB of flash memory are free. It is possible to connect external flash drives in USB OTG mode.
MediaTek MT6737 is one of the most modest modern platforms for entry-level mobile devices. It is quite weak, focused on the ultra-budget class of devices. It is pointless to expect high performance from this SoC, the hero of the review scores less than 30K points in AnTuTu, and in all other tests, Nokia 3 shows a low level. Demanding games like Mortal Kombat X and graphics tests slow down noticeably. There is definitely no reserve of power for the future in such a device.
Testing in comprehensive AnTuTu and GeekBench tests:
For convenience, we have summarized all the results obtained by us when testing a smartphone in the latest versions of popular benchmarks in tables. Several other devices from various segments are usually added to the table, also tested on similar latest versions of benchmarks (this is done only for a visual assessment of the obtained dry numbers). Unfortunately, within the framework of one comparison, it is impossible to present the results from different versions of benchmarks, so many worthy and relevant models remain “behind the scenes” due to the fact that they once passed the “obstacle course” on previous versions of test programs.
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Testing the graphics subsystem in 3DMark gaming tests, GFXBenchmark and Bonsai Benchmark:
When testing in 3DMark for the highest performing smartphones, it is now possible to run the application in Unlimited mode, where the rendering resolution is fixed at 720p and VSync is disabled (due to which the speed can rise above 60 fps).
| Nokia 3 (MediaTek MT6737) |
Micromax Canvas Juice A1 (Qualcomm Snapdragon 210) |
Honor 6C (Qualcomm Snapdragon 435) |
HTC One X10 (MediaTek Helio P10 (MT6755)) |
Honor 8 lite (HiSilicon Kirin 655) |
|
| 3DMark Ice Storm Sling Shot ES 3.1 (more is better) |
103 | — | 254 | 421 | 398 |
| GFXBenchmark Manhattan ES 3.1 (Onscreen, fps) | 3 | — | 11 | 5 | 5 |
| GFXBenchmark Manhattan ES 3.1 (1080p Offscreen, fps) | 1 | — | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| GFXBenchmark T-Rex (Onscreen, fps) | 10 | 9 | 28 | 17 | 19 |
| GFXBenchmark T-Rex (1080p Offscreen, fps) | 6 | 5 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
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Browser cross-platform tests:
As for benchmarks for evaluating the speed of the javascript engine, you should always make allowances for the fact that the results in them depend significantly on the browser in which they are launched, so that the comparison can only be truly correct on the same OS and browsers, and this possibility is available when testing not always. In the case of Android OS, we always try to use Google Chrome.
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AndroBench memory performance test results:
thermal images
Below is a thermal image rear surface obtained after 10 minutes of running a battery test in the GFXBenchmark program:
Heating is more localized in the upper part of the device, which apparently corresponds to the location of the SoC chip. According to the heat chamber, the maximum heating was 37 degrees (at an ambient temperature of 24 degrees), this is not very much.
Video playback
To test the "omnivorous" when playing video (including support for various codecs, containers and special features, such as subtitles), we used the most common formats, which make up the bulk of the content available on the Web. Note that for mobile devices it is important to have support for hardware video decoding at the chip level, since it is most often impossible to process modern versions using processor cores alone. Also, you should not expect everything from a mobile device to decode everything, since the leadership in flexibility belongs to the PC, and no one is going to challenge it. All results are summarized in a table.
| Format | container, video, sound | MX Video Player | Regular video player |
| 1080p H.264 | MKV, H.264 1920×1080, 24fps, AAC | plays normally | plays normally |
| 1080p H.264 | MKV, H.264 1920×1080, 24 fps, AC3 | plays normally | video plays fine, no sound |
| 1080p H.265 | MKV, H.265 1920×1080, 24fps, AAC | not playable | |
| 1080p H.265 | MKV, H.265 1920×1080, 24 fps, AC3 | plays with significant delays (only in SW) | not playable |
Further testing of video playback performed Alexey Kudryavtsev.
We did not find an MHL interface, as well as Mobility DisplayPort, in this smartphone, so we had to limit ourselves to testing the output of video files on the screen of the device itself. To do this, we used a set of test files with an arrow and a rectangle moving one division per frame (see "Methodology for testing video signal playback and display devices. Version 1 (for mobile devices)"). Screenshots with a shutter speed of 1 s helped determine the nature of the output frames of video files with different parameters: the resolution varied (1280 by 720 (720p), 1920 by 1080 (1080p) and 3840 by 2160 (4K) pixels) and frame rate (24, 25, 30, 50 and 60 fps). In tests, we used the MX Player video player in Hardware mode. The test results are summarized in the table:
720/30pNote: If both columns Uniformity And Passes green ratings are set, this means that, most likely, when watching movies, artifacts caused by uneven interleaving and dropping frames will either not be visible at all, or their number and visibility will not affect viewing comfort. Red marks indicate possible problems with the playback of the respective files.
According to the criterion for displaying frames, the quality of playing video files on the screen of the smartphone itself is good, since in most cases frames (or groups of frames) can (but are not required) to be displayed with more or less uniform alternation of intervals and without frame drops. Note that, apparently, the screen refresh rate is slightly higher than 60 Hz (about 62 Hz), so the ideal smoothness of playback is not obtained at any standard frame rates in the video file. When playing video files with a resolution of 1280 by 720 pixels (720p) on a smartphone screen, the image of the video file itself is displayed exactly along the border of the screen, one to one in pixels, that is, in its original resolution. The brightness range displayed on the screen corresponds to the standard range of 16-235: in the shadows and in the highlights, only a couple of shades merge with black and white, respectively.
Battery life
The non-removable battery installed in the Nokia 3 has a slightly lower capacity of 2630 mAh than the older Nokia 5 with its 3000 mAh. It is logical that the younger model also demonstrates a slightly worse level of autonomy. However, the level of both models is quite satisfactory, just not outstanding. As a standard, the hero of the review is able to survive until evening charging, but you will have to charge your smartphone every night.
Testing has traditionally been conducted at normal power levels without power saving features.
Continuous reading in the Moon + Reader program (with a standard, light theme) at a minimum comfortable brightness level (brightness was set to 100 cd / m²) with auto scrolling lasted until the battery was completely discharged for about 13 hours, and with continuous viewing of video in high quality (720p) with the same brightness level via Wi-Fi network, the device operates for about 10 hours. In 3D gaming mode, the smartphone can work up to 5 hours.
Nokia 3 is charged from the bundled network adapter for 3 hours with a current of 0.9 A at a voltage of 5 V. The smartphone, of course, does not support wireless charging either.
Outcome
The most affordable of the new Nokia smartphones received the most modest cameras and sound system in the family. The device obviously wasn't conceived as a multimedia solution, it's a workhorse with a practical body, quite good communication capabilities for its level (which even surprised us), as well as a good bright screen. Autonomy at the average level. The hardware platform for the smartphone, unfortunately, was chosen very weak, its capabilities are only enough for the interface and applications to work without delay, but this is already not bad. In official retail, a smartphone costs only 10 thousand rubles, which is not so much. With many still remembering their favorite old Nokia phones, the unpretentious new Nokia 3 is sure to find a buyer.
Budget smartphone with an attractive design.
Verdict
The Nokia 3 looks like one of the best budget phones on the market, but a deep review reveals long boot times and poor battery life. If you prefer style over the inside and are also looking for a way to save money, the Nokia 3 might be a good choice. Nokia 3 review more…
- Reliable build quality;
- Low price;
- Android software;
- Disappointing performance;
- Limited memory;
- Average working time;
In 2017, the Nokia brand is experiencing a renaissance in the phone market, with the latest exciting releases including , and the Nokia 3.
The Nokia 5 costs more than the Nokia 3, but it does offer a few extra features that we think are worth the extra cash.
You get a slightly better premium build, a lot more performance, and an under-screen fingerprint scanner.
Of course, the Nokia 5 isn't without problems either, limited to 16GB of onboard storage and 720p instead of Full HD, but overall it's a better option than its cheaper sibling.
More: .
Motorola Moto E4
Not bad!
The Nokia 3 looks like one of the best budget phones on the market, but a deep review reveals long boot times and poor battery life. If you prefer style over the inside and are also looking for a way to save money, the Nokia 3 might be a good choice.
Nokia 3 is currently the most affordable smartphone of the resurrected Nokia. Despite its low cost and position in the model range, the new product still has something to boast about. There is a separate slot for a memory card, there is support for 5 GHz Wi-Fi, an 8 megapixel front camera with autofocus, and an NFC module. The latter is extremely rare in the budget segment, and given the widespread use of terminals with support for near-field connection technology (in stores, catering establishments, and even in subway turnstiles), this function is becoming more and more in demand. And this is even if you do not remember about the possibility of quick connection with various electronics like cameras, TVs, multimedia centers or speakers.
Specifications
| Display size and type | 5 inches, 1280x720 pixels, IPS |
| CPU | MediaTek MT6737, 4 cores (4×1.3 GHz) |
| graphics accelerator | Mali-T720 MP2 |
| Built-in memory, GB | 16 |
| RAM, GB | 2 |
| Memory expansion | Yes (dedicated microSD slot) |
| Number of SIM cards | 2 |
| 2G communication standards | 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz |
| 3G communication standards | 850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz |
| 4G communication standards | 700, 800, 850, 900, 1800, 2100, 2300, 2600 MHz |
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n/ac, 2.4/5 GHz |
| Bluetooth | v4.1 |
| NFC | There is |
| IrDA | Not |
| USB connector | microUSB |
| 3.5 mm jack | There is |
| FM radio | There is |
| The fingerprint scanner | Not |
| Navigation | GPS/A-GPS, GLONASS |
| Built-in sensors | illumination, proximity, accelerometer, gyroscope |
| Main camera | 8 MP, f/2.0 |
| Front-camera | 8 MP, f/2.0 |
| Operating system | Android 7.0 |
| Protection class | Not |
| Battery | 2630 mAh |
| Dimensions, mm | 71,4*143,4*8,7 |
| Weight, g | 140 |
Appearance and usability
Formally, the smartphone belongs to the budget class, but it does not look cheap. From a subjective point of view, in a dark version, Nokia 3 looks more expensive than its formal competitor in the face of the Samsung J3 2017, which costs as much as . To a certain extent, the tested smartphone is similar to a more expensive one, which is also comparable in cost to.
Only the frame covering the ends of the case is made of aluminum alloy, and the back cover is made of plastic with a matte surface that is pleasant to the touch. The build quality is pleasing. When trying to twist, the body only gives in slightly, even with significant effort. With light tapping on the case, it was not possible to achieve a rattling of the lock keys and volume control, while in the case of the model this drawback is pronounced. But still, in the case of the tested smartphone, there is something to complain about. The cover of the device is quite thin, so it is easy to bend it under pressure. And everything would be fine, but with pressure in the center in the area just below the camera, where fingers often fall during a telephone conversation, the lid creaks a little. Of course, one cannot exclude the possibility that this defect manifested itself only in a particular sample.
On the front side, above the display, there is a sensor block, an autofocus camera, and a speaker. Under the display are three standard touch control keys. The keys are not backlit, which is extremely inconvenient when working with a smartphone in the dark. Of course, over time, muscle memory begins to work, but at first you still have to go through a period of adaptation and addiction.
From the back, only the camera is visible, supplemented by a flash consisting of a single LED. The camera block is protected by a barely visible edge that prevents the protective glass from contacting the flat mounting surface.
On the left side surface, a pair of slots is noticeable, one of which is designed to install a pair of SIM cards (in the DualSIM version), and the second is a misoSD card. On the right side surface are the lock keys and volume control.
At the top there is a microphone and a 3.5 mm jack (mini-jack) for connecting a headset or headphones. At the bottom there is a second microphone, a system speaker, and a microUSB connector.
Software
As with the recently reviewed Nokia 5, the Nokia 3 uses pure Adnroid 7 with no additional software. The only difference from other pure Android smartphones is the camera control program. In general, such a decision can only be welcomed, because the user can always install a third-party launcher or any other software on his own.
Display
The smartphone uses an IPS-matrix with a diagonal of 5 inches and a resolution of 1280x720 pixels. Of course, there are smartphones with FullHD displays of similar cost on sale, but, from a subjective point of view, such a high resolution for a 5-inch screen is unnecessary, and besides, such matrices consume battery power faster. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass with a 2.5D effect, so the additional protective glass on it will look like a saddle on a cow. However, additional protection is not particularly required, because during the week of use, not a single scratch appeared on the screen. There is an oleophobic coating, but it is not very effective, so you still have to wipe the display periodically. The screen supports up to 10 simultaneous touches, but it does this very reluctantly, so it was far from immediately possible to achieve the display of “tens” in the Multi-Tuoch Test test window. Problems with touch recognition start as early as 6 simultaneous touches to the display. However, it is unlikely that anyone will need more on a 5-inch display. Display brightness is average. At maximum backlight power, the brightness of the white field was 407.3 cd/m2, while the brightness of the black field was 0.33 cd/m2, which corresponds to a contrast ratio of 1234:1. And this is a great result. Color balance is clearly not the strongest side of the display. Even with the naked eye, a shift towards blue-green hues is noticeable, which was confirmed by instrumental tests. The color gamut does not match the standard sRGB color space. The graphs show a clear lack of warm tones and an excess of cold tones. The color temperature in the entire brightness range is within 9558…9859 K, which is significantly higher than the reference 6500 K. And everything would be fine, but the ability to adjust the color temperature is not provided. The delta E color shift set an anti-record at all - on the gray scale in the dark tones, the shift is no more than 10, but closer to white, the error increases sharply and reaches a value of 32.7. When measuring on primary colors (CMYRGB), the error is not so significant, and depending on the color, it is in the range of 3.6 ... 13.4.
Sound
The smartphone is equipped with separate conversational and system speakers. There are no comments to the conversational speaker - the volume of the sound is enough in any typical operating conditions of the smartphone, the sound itself is clear, without pronounced defects. The system speaker was also comparatively loud. When playing a sinusoidal signal with a frequency of 1 kHz at a distance of 1 m, a sound pressure level of 77.2 dBA was recorded. But, unfortunately, the sound quality is not the best even by the standards of smartphones - the sound is flat and poorly detailed. Of course, there are no obvious defects such as hiss, crackling or choking at the maximum volume level, but still some competitors sound better.
Playing the same test tone as the system speaker volume test, the analog audio output measured 171.6 mV (32 ohm load), one of the lowest values in our measurement database. Among smartphones, only 136.1 mV output signal level is lower.
The sound quality on the analog audio output was tested in the RightMark Audio Analyzer application using the Creative E-MU 0204 USB external audio interface.
General results 24 bit, 48 kHz
Performance
The smartphone is based on the not very productive MediaTek MT6737 system-on-a-chip, introduced in the spring of 2016. This is a 64-bit 4-core solution at 1.3 GHz. The Mali-T720 MP2 is responsible for the video subsystem. The amount of RAM is 2 GB, ROM is 16 GB, but only 9 GB of disk space is available to the user. Fortunately, it is possible to install a pair of SIM cards and microSD media at the same time.
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System performance was measured in PCMark, 3DMark, Geekbench 4 and AnTuTu v6 synthetics. The performance of the disk subsystem was determined in the Androbenchmark test package. The following smartphones were chosen as opponents:
: MediaTek MT6737T, 4 cores (4 × 1.44 GHz), 5.5 inches, 1280x720 pixels;
: Qualcomm Snapdragon 430, 8 cores (4×1.4GHz, 4×1.1GHz), 5.0 inches, 1920×1080 pixels;
: HiSilicon Kirin 655, 8 cores (4 × 2.1 GHz + 4 × 1.7 GHz), 5.2 inches, 1920x1080 pixels; 
But the main camera disappointed, and thoroughly. There is also autofocus, but it is incredibly slow, and in low light it raises a white flag at all. Even at low sensitivity values, the image is a complete mess, both in the foreground and in the background. On top of that, the automatic white balance is constantly wrong, and the color quality leaves much to be desired. The dynamic range is often sorely lacking, and if you activate the HDR mode, then the color quality becomes even worse. For example, the sky on a sunny day turns gray with a slight blue tint, and the greenery on the trees becomes yellowish-brown. In fact, the only thing that can be praised for smartphone photography equipment is not the camera itself, but rather a powerful LED flash. At a distance of 1 m from the smartphone, the flash provides illumination at the level of 46.2 lux, which is one of the best results among flashes consisting of 1 LED, and the absolute champions are not far away. In general, the flashlight is good.
In the camera settings, you can select a white balance preset, introduce exposure compensation, select a focus mode, and also control sensitivity. It is noteworthy that only 4 sensitivity levels are available - ISO 100, 200, 800 and 1600, and ISO 400 is omitted. Transferring camera control to third-party applications using the Camera 2 API is not supported, shooting in RAW is not provided. To evaluate the image quality, the test pattern was shot with all available sensitivity values. Below are the crop snippets.
Snapshot examples
macro photography
 |  |  |  |  |
| Illumination 50 lx | Illumination 50 lx + flash | Illumination 3 lux + flash |
Video filming
The main and front cameras are capable of recording video with a resolution of 1280 * 720 pixels, which is quite expected for the most affordable smartphone in the Nokia line. But it was difficult to expect such a low quality video. In the current firmware version, the video recording function in Nokia 3 is lame, and it is lame on both legs.
Offline work
The smartphone is equipped with a non-removable battery with a capacity of 2630 mAh. When tested according to our methodology described in the review, the smartphone lasted 641 minutes in reading mode, 562 minutes in FullHD video playback mode, and 243 minutes in game mode. The results are mediocre, but it was difficult to expect otherwise, because the system-on-a-chip used is based on a 28 nm process technology, which is not very economical by modern standards. Fast charging is not supported, and the 5V / 1A charger configuration does not inspire optimism. Up to 85% of the level, the battery is charged in 141 minutes, and the indicator crawls to the full level in 192 minutes.
Conclusion
The most affordable smartphone in the lineup of any manufacturer, even purely theoretically, cannot be without flaws. Some of them are laid down by the manufacturer so as not to interfere with sales of slightly more expensive models, and some are the result of certain flaws. And Nokia 3 has enough of both. But is it worth it to strongly scold the smartphone for this? Indeed, at a relatively low cost, it has enough advantages. What is only worth a decent-looking and touching case, with good build quality and high torsional rigidity, a good front camera with autofocus, support for 5 GHz Wi-Fi and an NFC module. But in any case, a smartphone can only be advised to those users for whom mobile games and photos are only a secondary function of a smartphone.
Minuses:
– crackling of the housing cover under pressure;
– there is no illumination of the dedicated touch keys;
– poor quality of photos from the main camera;
– Extremely poor video quality;
– color rendering of the display;
– low signal level at the analog audio output;
– microUSB connector;
– slow built-in media;
– low system-on-a-chip performance;
- Slow battery charging.
Pros:
– interesting design;
– high torsional rigidity of the case;
– high contrast display;
– support for the 5 GHz Wi-Fi band;
- the presence of an NFC module;
– relatively loud system speaker;
– relatively powerful LED flash;
- a very good (for its price segment) front camera.
