Nokia 6 review: Hands-on with Nokia’s comeback

Update: Nokia 3 review is in

While we’re still yet to get our hands on the Nokia 6 for a full review, we have managed to put the firm’s budget handset through its paces. The Nokia 3 has passed through our doors and if we’re honest, didn’t leave the best first impression.

It’s a decent enough handset – it looks phenomenal for a device sitting at just £130 – but a few niggles really held it back from greatness. It’s super cheap yes, but sluggish performance issues, a mediocre battery life and a disappointing camera left a bit of a sour taste in our mouths. Motorola’s generation old phone – the Moto G4 – is still our reigning champion.

Read our full Nokia 3 review for more details

That being said, I have high hopes for the Nokia 6, and you can read my original hands-on review below.

Nokia 6 review: Hands-on in full

Nokia is back. Just when you thought the Finnish firm had fizzled from existence, a smartphone resurgence is upon us – and there’s a long list of them, too. Te Nokia 6 leads the pack, but is it as headline-worthy as the firm’s reimagined Nokia 3310?

The thing is, the Nokia 6 is no new handset. It’s already been with us for a little while now, at least in China, officially launching way back in January 2017. Rest assured though; a proper global launch is imminent, although no official release date has been set. Expect the Nokia 6 to launch in July. 

READ NEXT: Nokia 3310 review

Now, I got my dirty mitts on the Nokia 6 at this year’s MWC conference back in February, and as such, can offer my first impressions of Nokia’s mid-range handset. This is the Nokia 6, but should it be worth a look-in in a year filled with fantastic flagship alternatives? Let’s find out.

Nokia 6 review: Key specifications and release date

Nokia 6 review: Design, key features and first impressions

At the top of Nokia’s 2017 lineup, the Nokia 6 is the firm’s comeback flagship, nestled at an affordable mid-range price point. Forget the Nokia 3, 5 and 3310 revival, we’re here to talk (and play around with) the Nokia 6.

You’ll spot a Full HD, 5.5in IPS display on the front with a pixel density of 403ppi, protected by Gorilla Glass 2.5. It may not be as flashy as its other MWC competitors (LG’s G6 wins by a country mile), but it’s a decent display nonetheless, especially given you’re handing over just €229 for it. It’s bright and clear, just what you’d want.

Nokia really pushed the design of its lineup at this year’s MWC, and Nokia’s 6 is no exception. Its stunningly slim, chamfered edges are the best I’ve seen while those curved sides sit snug in my palm. It also comes with a fingerprint reader on the front, a first for the tech firm and an addition that’s very much appreciated in this security-conscious age.

The firm pointed gazes towards those dual amplifiers on the bottom, with Dolby Atmos-certified speakers. While a busy conference was hardly the time or place to test this, the company says the Nokia 6 is all for multimedia consumption.

It may prove to be a deserving photographers’ companion too, with a 16-megapixel rear f/2.0 camera with phase-detection autofocus and a 8-megapixel front-facing snapper for Instagram selfies. It’s not as cool, or handy, as LG’s dual-screened G6 with its instant shot feedback, but it did the job, even on the dimly lit show floor.

Shipping with 64GB of storage should be more than enough for your media and apps, but should you run out of space, you’ll find a microSD slot on the left edge, expandable up to 128GB. It’s powered by a 3,000mAh battery too, but it probably won’t be much competition for the Lenovo P2’s award-winning battery life.

Nokia 6 review: Early verdict

Nokia’s revival lies in refusing to gun for the Apples and Samsungs of the world, instead focusing attention towards the mid-range game with its Nokia 6. While there might be flagships on the horizon (Nokia 8 hints aplenty), Nokia is keen on keeping things simple for the time being.

And it’s doing that well. The Nokia 6 is a wonderfully priced little handset, with a clear focus on aesthetics, without sacrificing performance. I can see Nokia ruffling a few feathers come March, and while the Nokia 6 may not earn cult status à la the 3310, I expect it will still make a lasting impression. Given that you don’t have to remortgage your home to get one, Nokia’s 6 is already proving its worth.

Stay tuned for my full Nokia 6 review in the very near future.