HMD Global has been on a roll releasing budget Nokia phones in the U.S. in all shapes and sizes, and its latest is the Nokia 2.2. It’s a refreshed version of the ultra-affordable Nokia 2 from 2018, with a few new features and the promise of an update to the upcoming version of Android, Android Q.
The fact this $139 phone will get Android Q quite quickly — and that it’s getting it at all — is notable, as it makes it one of the cheapest phones to will support the new version of the Android operating system. This is possible because the Nokia 2.2 is an Android One smartphone, which means you can expect a minimum of two years of OS upgrades and two years of monthly security updates. Here’s everything you need to know about Nokia 2.2.
Design and display
What else is notable? That such an affordable phone is getting a modern, bezel-less design. The Nokia 2.2’s screen is almost edge-to-edge, with a small bubble-shaped notch at the top for the front-facing camera. The display comes in at 5.7 inches, with a HD+ resolution of 1,520 x 720, which is common for a device in this price range. HMD claims the display offers 400-nit brightness, which is good for a phone at this price, but it does still mean you may have some trouble viewing the screen in direct sunlight. On the back, there’s just a single-lens camera.
Notably, there’s no fingerprint sensor on this phone. Instead, it supports face unlock with the selfie camera. Nokia said face unlock feature uses “deep learning algorithms and liveliness detection for an accurate and spoof-proof experience,” but there’s a good chance it’s not secure enough to be compatible with sensitive apps.
Specs and camera
It’s perhaps what’s under the hood that’s more important. The phone is powered by a MediaTek A22 chipset, along with either 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage or 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. The latter configuration is the only one offered in the U.S..
There’s a 3,000mAh battery too, which should get you through at least a full day of use considering the relatively low-resolution display. The rear-facing camera comes in at 13 megapixels and is capable of recording video at up to 1,080p. The front-facing camera, on the other hand, sits in at 5 megapixels.
Software-wise, the phone will launch with Android 9 Pie, but as mentioned, it’ll eventually get Android Q. It runs on the Android One platform, meaning you get a stock Android experience with no bloatware. That’s always a nice touch.
Price and availability
The Nokia 2.2 is compatible with the company’s “Xpress-on” interchangeable covers, so you can customize the look, and color choice comes in either Pink Sand, Ice Blue, or Forest Green. The phone itself is available in black or steel. You can grab one now for $139 from Best Buy or Amazon , but only select Best Buy stores will carry Nokia’s 2.2 starting on August 4.
The Nokia 2.2’s main competitor is the Moto G7 Play, which costs $200 (but can be found for less as it already has been discounted a few times). The G7 Play is the better buy in terms of raw performance, as it offers a superior Snapdragon 632 processor, but HMD has it beat when it comes to software updates.
Updated on July 16, 2019: Added details of U.S. pricing and availability.
