This article is not any kind of PR project; Microsoft and Nokia employees did not participate in its creation. This is the personal opinion of the author who was present at the presentation, the need for which is due to an inadequate perception of the current situation around Nokia X. For some reason, many people preferred to hear only about the fact of using the Android OS and ignore all the other circumstances surrounding the release of Nokia X to the market. I hope this material will allow readers to form a more objective impression of what the new Nokia X line is and what goals Nokia pursued during its development and launch to the market.
For some reason, many professional journalists reacted with morbid excitement to the fact of using Android in Nokia devices, and the formal announcement of smartphones with it was perceived almost as the death of the Windows Phone platform (although Stephen Elop twice misspoke what was what). You can argue about the prospects of the new solution, but there is definitely no need to draw far-reaching conclusions about the “victory of Android”, and here’s why.
What is Nokia X, X+, XL
So, there are three devices in the line (the recommended retail price is indicated in brackets):
- (89 euros)
- (99 euros)
- (110 euros)
They stand out for their low price, cheerful design with bright colors and the operating system they use. However, let's take a look at the technical characteristics:
| Nokia X | Nokia X+ | Nokia XL | |
| Screen | 4″, IPS, 800×480, 233 ppi | 5″, IPS, 800×480, 187 ppi | |
| SoC | Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Play (MSM8225), CPU: 2 Cortex-A5 cores, 1 GHz | ||
| GPU | Adreno 203 | ||
| RAM | 512 MB | 768 MB | 768 MB |
| Flash memory | 4 GB | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| Memory cards | microSD | microSD | microSD |
| Camera | Primary: 3 MP, up to 2048×1536 | Main: 5 MP, 2592×1944, autofocus, built-in flash; secondary: 1.9 MP |
|
| operating system | AOSP with Nokia Glance Screen shell and Nokia and Yandex Store application catalogs | ||
| Battery | 1500 mAh, up to 17 days standby time, up to 10.5 hours talk time | 2000 mAh, up to 30 days standby time, up to 13 hours talk time | |
| Dimensions | 115.5×63×10.4 mm | 141.4×77.7×10.9 mm | |
| Weight | 128.7 g | 128.7 g | 190 g |
Let us add that all three smartphones support working with two Micro-SIM format SIM cards in Dual Standby mode, i.e., one GSM communication module is used. Each smartphone in the X line has: Micro-USB connectors and a 3.5 mm audio jack, Bluetooth 3.0 + HS wireless interfaces and Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11b/g/n. Smartphones are designed to operate in WCDMA (900, 2100 MHz) and GSM (850, 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz) networks. They support data transmission technologies HSDPA (7.2 Mbit/s), HSUPA (5.76 Mbit/s), EGPRS (236.8 Kbit/s) and GPRS (85.6 Kbit/s).
Against the backdrop of press releases about the configurations of the new flagships, the specifications of Nokia X devices seem downright weak. However, they are quite sufficient for solving basic tasks (especially undemanding users in emerging markets), and the key advantage of smartphones is their low price.
One of the features of the new Nokia X line is the use of Android OS (more precisely, Android Open Source Project OS version 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, hereinafter simply AOSP), which allows you to access a large number of applications and games for this platform, which are either free , or are very inexpensive. At the same time, the new smartphones have their own “tiled” interface (Nokia Glance Screen shell) and do not have Google services, but Microsoft services (such as OneDrive (formerly SkyDrive) and Outlook.com mail) and Nokia services (Here maps, MixRadio, etc.) are preinstalled. etc.), as well as the Yandex Store application store. Thus, the main feature of new smartphones that you need to pay attention to is the interface and services.
The main interface of the Nokia X line is similar to the interface of the Lumia line - the same large tiles with clear schematic icons. There are even rudimentary “live tiles” capabilities. The interface is divided into two parts: the general menu (tiles) and Fastlane (fast strip). Fastlane contains the most frequently used applications (somewhat reminiscent of what Windows 7 provided by default in the Start menu), but the user has the ability to control the application directly from this menu - for example, start listening to music, i.e. this is the maximum a simple and automatically working solution that does not require an active user role.
The second important feature is the operation of all Nokia services (the Here mapping service and MixRadio online radio were mentioned separately), as well as Microsoft services, primarily OneDrive cloud storage and outlook.com mail. Let me remind you that any service is good because it allows you to integrate content between different devices and platforms, i.e. Nokia X buyers will be tied to online services that are used in Nokia and Microsoft devices, and not Android (the same synchronization of contacts).
However, it was the fact of using the Android OS that was something of a red rag for the bull (despite the fact that “Android isn’t real!”). Why did this happen?
Origins of the problem
At one time, Nokia faced a difficult choice. While the company did not develop its Symbian OS, resting on its laurels as a market leader, its competitors were far ahead. Independent development of the system in “catch-up mode” would cost Nokia too much money, effort and time (especially considering the problems with controllability and decision-making in the company). Other existing solutions on the market required serious improvements and huge investments in the ecosystem. The only ready-to-use solution was Google's Android OS, and many people were pulling the company in that direction.
However, from a strategic point of view, this decision would be rather a losing one - despite its apparent obviousness. In the Android market there is absolutely terrible competition and a real war between players - with their dead (the same Motorola) and seriously wounded (HTC, Sony). So it’s pointless to hope for calm, progressive development for this market.
True, there are also complaints about the choice of the company’s CEO, Stephen Elop, because the Windows Phone (WP) OS, despite all the power of Microsoft, is still developing poorly, especially considering what bright and unusual devices Nokia has released to the market. However, WP is gradually gaining momentum.
Under these conditions, the release of products based on the Android OS was perceived by many as a “betrayal” and a 180-degree turn. However, in reality this is not the case.
Android, but not quite
First, many people somehow overlook or deliberately ignore the fact that Android is not Google's proprietary OS, but an open platform. At one time, Google was forced to take the Linux kernel as a basis, so now the entire mobile OS is considered as open-source, and anyone can take it and use it, including modifying it for themselves. This is often taken advantage of by Chinese manufacturers who release open source products (AOSP) and work with alternative app stores.
Secondly, the “free” nature of Android is a fairy tale. More precisely, the fruit of successful exploitation by Google PR specialists of enthusiasts’ love for everything “open and free.” Google takes money, it only takes it for using Google services, which constitute a significant part of the value of the system.
Price pressure
It seems that Nokia has exhausted its options for reducing the price of devices based on the Windows Phone OS, and the pinnacle of the price reduction process was the Nokia Lumia 520 smartphone (which, thanks to its low price, is selling well). At the same time, Nokia sees that the demand for obsolete devices in the line remains very high, especially in developing countries. And to abandon this market is madness.
Therefore, the company began to look for ways to make its cheap line more modern, but maintain its main advantage - the price. At the same time, in addition to saving on hardware configuration, it would be good to reduce software costs. And the first candidate is the operating system.
“Young and promising” operating systems like Firefox OS, Sailfish OS or Tizen cannot be used: these are extremely crude platforms for enthusiasts, without a wide range of software and with a large number of flaws. They also need to be seriously invested in, and besides, the instability and limitations of the platform can disappoint users and push them away from Nokia.
Therefore, there is only one candidate left - Android OS. But paying Google money for its services is stupid for two reasons: firstly, the main goal was to save money, and secondly, Nokia has its own developed services, and besides, the company has access to Microsoft services. Under these conditions, a solution simply suggested itself:
- Take not Google Android, but the base platform, which is open and free - AOSP.
- Customize it to the Nokia style, including the interface and services.
Despite official statements from the stage that the situation with applications for the Windows Phone OS is progressively improving in quantitative and qualitative terms, even Stephen Elop said that the Android OS has a huge variety of applications, and a significant part of them are free, which is an important advantage for cheap devices and poor emerging markets.
In this regard, the advantage of the new Nokia X smartphones is formulated as follows: “a widespread platform with a wide selection of free applications will allow users from developing regions to get acquainted with the new capabilities of mobile devices and appreciate their benefits.” Yes, there is no access to Google Play, but the company will work with regional online stores, plus, applications can be installed “in other ways.” As an example, we used the Aeroexpress application, which is described as “very popular in Russia”; when searching from a phone, a link was given to the Yandex Store application store.
By the way, regarding the compatibility of applications with the Nokia X platform, it is worth giving an explanation. The Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Plus single-chip system used uses a dual-core processor with an ARM Cortex-A5 core. This is a very low-cost solution based on ARMv7 architecture. According to Nokia itself, 75% of all available applications for Android are fully compatible with this platform (we're talking about ARM), and the remaining 25% will require minor modifications. To make the modification process simple and convenient, Nokia offers developers to use the tools included in the Nokia X Services SDK. It is stated that porting will not require more than eight hours of working time, even if you have to unlink the application from Google services. To help developers, Nokia has created a special one that analyzes applications for errors and suggests which of them need correction.
The end of Windows Phone OS?
Only in the dreams of fans of other mobile platforms.
I understand that the further we go, the more managers and PR people “shape” reality instead of reflecting it, which gives rise to a completely understandable distrust of their words. However, Stephen Elop emphasized several times that the Lumia line remains Nokia’s flagship line and will continue to develop. And the announcement of new products on the Android platform does not contradict this statement.
By the way, Stephen Elop was immediately asked the question: would the Windows Phone OS become the second “hot platform” after Symbian (with this statement by Stephen Elop, let me remind you, the displacement of Symbian from the market began). In principle, the question itself shows well that journalists think more in terms of military operations than in terms of working with clients. However, the answer is no less interesting: the Android market is too crowded. There are many Chinese manufacturers that produce products based on Android OS, but they have nothing to stand out in the market. Nokia, first of all, offers its own unique set of services, as well as its own unique interface and a simpler and more convenient way of working with the device.
If we translate this into Russian, then Nokia X buyers don’t really care what OS their phone has. They need an inexpensive, simple and functional smartphone with which they can solve their problems. And Nokia offers them exactly this complete solution, which they will not need to understand.
Finally, if you hold the Nokia X in your hands and turn it around, it doesn't look like Android smartphones. Its interface is designed in the style of the Nokia Lumia interface (i.e., Windows Phone OS); there are even the beginnings of “live tiles”. It works similarly, although the FastLane interface (list of recent applications) is significantly simplified, but in this way you can use it completely “automatically”, without being distracted from your thoughts.
But the main thing is that I was left with the impression that it is much easier (in terms of interface, services, etc.) to switch from a Nokia X smartphone to a Lumia with Windows Phone OS than to other smartphones based on Android OS. This is the main feature of the new line: it is more integrated with Nokia than with Android.
Total
No matter what anyone says, Nokia X is not an “emergency plan in case Windows Phone fails.” This is a necessary component of the line, which has its own specific features. These features must be perceived as a whole, and not cling to one of them (OS) and ignore the rest.
Once again, I urge you to pay attention to the main feature of these smartphones: they are intended for emerging markets. Nokia has the Asha line, which is very popular, but is very outdated. It needs a modern replacement that also offers modern capabilities. Moreover, according to Nokia estimates, the market for low-cost smartphones in developing countries will grow four times faster than the smartphone market as a whole. This market should not be missed.
So, what is Nokia X:
- very inexpensive, but smartphone
- simple interface in Nokia style
- Nokia services, Microsoft services
- the necessary services are built into the OS and are ready for use immediately (no need to bother with configuration)
- Ability to run cheap/free Android apps
It seems to me that most Nokia X buyers will be switching from old primitive push-button mobile phones. In these conditions, simplicity of the interface becomes a very important requirement, along with low price. Services from Nokia and Microsoft will connect users to their ecosystem while teaching them how to use modern technologies. And a wide range of free applications and games is a nice bonus for any cheap device.
Taking into account current trends in the market and the characteristics of the target audience that the Nokia X is aimed at, it will most likely turn out that free Android applications will indeed become a “bridge to a new world of applications” for those who are just mastering a smartphone, but in the future the familiar will play a decisive role interface with “tiles” and a set of Nokia + Microsoft services.
And then, when choosing the next smartphone, the user will prefer to save his content and access to services (mail, cloud, maps, etc.), rather than a set of applications. And Android... well, Android? An internal platform that few people see and which few people are interested in. No more.
Nokia XL Dual SIM is a development of the line of budget Nokia mobile phones, the older brother of Nokia X, with a diagonal 5 inches. The manufacturer added about one and a half thousand to the price and rolled out a device with a “stretched” diagonal, while leaving the same low resolution. At the same time, the dimensions of the device have increased significantly - the smartphone fits awkwardly in one hand. An unusual interface and a redesigned Android are not that scary. However, the lack of Play Market, in our opinion, is a serious disadvantage. Although, it seems, consumers have even learned to live and cope with installing applications not only through the Play Market.
The processor from early 2012 is not the latest solution, and the increase in RAM from 512 to 768 MB looks, in our opinion, simply frivolous. But now the smartphone has a front camera, and the main camera’s characteristics have been slightly improved - its resolution is 5 MP. The manufacturer has also slightly tightened up the battery life - the larger body allows for a more capacious battery to be placed. However, its results are still significantly below the average for smartphones in general. Among the advantages we can only note the support for two SIM cards, the assembly of the case and a large number of color options for it. We do not recommend the smartphone for purchase, despite the low price. In our opinion, Nokia has done little work on the bugs and, for a small additional fee, has improved the device's characteristics to the level of inexpensive Chinese smartphones.
Dimensions and weight - 3.8
The 5-inch Nokia XL Dual SIM smartphone is thick, wide, and its width is more likely to correspond to smartphones with a 5.2-5.5 inch diagonal. The thickness of the case reaches 10.9 mm. The device is heavy, weighing 189 grams, which is only a little short of catching up with such heavyweights as the Philips W6610 or Asus Fonepad 6.
The appearance reminded us of a flattened brick; holding and operating it with one hand is inconvenient. The case is collapsible, the battery is removable. The smartphone is made of polycarbonate, the build quality is good for a cheap model, all parts fit tightly, nothing creaks under pressure.
It is worth noting the variety of colors for the case: Nokia XL Dual SIM is available in bright green, orange, yellow, blue, black and white.
Screen - 3.1
The Nokia XL Dual SIM uses an IPS matrix with a resolution of 800×480 pixels, a screen diagonal of 5 inches, a PPI value of only 187. Today, perhaps, smartphones with a lower number of pixels per inch are no longer produced, only very cheap phones with a diagonal of 2- 3 inches have lower ppi. The viewing angles are average, the brightness level is also average, for most cases it will be enough to read information. However, on a sunny day, reading information from the display is already significantly difficult. Due to the low ppi, individual pixels stand out almost immediately. In our opinion, this display is far from the best for long reading and video viewing.
Viewing angles and color deviations of the Nokia XL Dual SIM display. As you can see in the test image above, brightness quickly drops off as you tilt it, leaving the display slightly blue and blacks blending into each other. With such narrow viewing angles, talking about color shifts when tilting the display is almost pointless. Read more about the test.
Camera
They decided to improve the Nokia XL Dual SIM cameras a little; if the Nokia X had one 3 MP main camera, here the cameras were brought up to the level of a typical budget model: 5 MP for the main camera and 2 MP for the front one, plus they added a flash and autofocus In terms of any functions, everything is typical, a standard set of settings. The maximum resolution for photos is 2592x1944 pixels, for video recording - 854x480 pixels, which is very small. But there is tracking autofocus and a recording speed of 30 fps. Sound is recorded in mono mode. The front camera takes pictures with a resolution of 1600x1200 and shoots video with a resolution of 352x288, that is, in very poor quality. The manufacturer, of course, has formally improved the main camera and added a front camera, but the result is still unsatisfactory.
Photo from camera Nokia XL Dual SIM - 2.3
Working with text - 5.0
The standard keyboard in the Nokia XL Dual SIM can be called comfortable. It contains markings of additional characters, both in Latin and in Cyrillic layout. You can quickly type numbers - the top row of keys uses a number row as additional characters. Not only stroke input is supported, but also handwriting input. However, there is one significant disadvantage here - switching between languages. To do this, you have to hold down the spacebar and then select the desired language from a long list that has fallen out; this is not very convenient, as confirmed by user reviews.
Internet - 5.0
The pre-installed standard browser surprised us with the “richness” of its settings; you can delete personal data, save/not save passwords, and that’s all. Using a double click, you can move away to the general view of the page or move closer to some area of interest. But, in addition to the standard browser, Opera is preinstalled with a reading mode, auto-fitting text, etc.
Interfaces
Nokia XL Dual SIM supports common wireless interfaces: Wi-Fi (b/g/n), Bluetooth (v3.0) and A-GPS. The device is capable of distributing mobile Internet using Wi-Fi. The smartphone does not support LTE and dual-band Wi-Fi. Everything works fine, only in our tests the GPS took a long time to determine its location.
The smartphone can work with two Micro-SIM cards, but alternately, since there is only one radio module in the device. There is a slot for a microSD card up to 32 GB and a Micro-USB 2.0 connector, without MHL and USB OTG.
Multimedia - 1.0
Pre-installed players support a limited number of video and audio formats. In our tests, the smartphone refused to play uncompressed audio in the FLAC format; video in the MOV and MKV formats was also played with great difficulty. Full HD video plays fine. However, the player does not support subtitles.
Battery - 2.2
We tested the Nokia XL Dual SIM in our two standard tests. The 2000 mAh battery (remember, the Nokia X had 1500 mAh) did not show the best results: 4 hours 20 minutes in HD video viewing mode at maximum brightness and about 27 and a half hours in music listening mode.
Performance - 1.6
The device uses a rather old Qualcomm MSM8225 Snapdragon S4 Play platform with a 1 GHz dual-core processor and an unusual amount of RAM - 768 MB, 3/4 of a gigabyte. The main processor is accompanied by the Adreno 203 graphics accelerator. In terms of filling, the manufacturer left everything as it was with the Nokia X, increasing only the RAM, but did not generously add a whole gigabyte, but added only 256 MB. With daily use, the device practically does not slow down and works, if not quickly, then normally.
The device showed low results in synthetic tests: 7686 points in the AnTuTu benchmark and 2360 points in the 3D Mark benchmark. You will not be able to play demanding games, since there is not enough RAM or processor power with a graphics accelerator.
Memory - 4.2
The amount of internal memory in the Nokia X Dual SIM is 4 GB, but only 1.11 GB is available to the user. But there is support for microSD memory cards up to 32 GB. The memory card is not hot-swappable.
Peculiarities
Nothing particularly new has appeared in comparison with Nokia X: the same remade Android, stylized as Windows Phone. To be fair, it should be said that the launcher can be reinstalled, and the lack of Google services, and especially the Play Market application store, can only be partially compensated by downloading and installing some other stores. Many applications can be installed by downloading the corresponding APK file and unpacking it on the phone, but applications that require registration in the Play Market still will not launch. Among the features, one can also note the dimensions of the smartphone: the body dimensions are most likely suitable for a smartphone with a 5.5-inch display. The interface has also not undergone any changes. There is a desktop with application icons, by swiping left or right you will be taken to the list of recent actions, which simply stores everything that you have done on the phone recently.
Competitors
On the one hand, Nokia XL Dual SIM is the only one, large, very budget 5-inch smartphones are not so popular, at least among manufacturers, and Nokia XL almost single-handedly occupies this specific niche. On the other hand, if you add one and a half thousand rubles, then you can already buy a version of the Lenovo P780 with 4 GB of internal memory, which will be much stronger in all respects, from the display, processor, cameras to battery.
Don't feel like spending more? There's Explay Rio, also with two SIM card slots, almost half the price, a little lighter, almost the same display and battery. Nokia XL noticeably outperforms it only in cameras.
LG L80 is only a thousand more expensive, but you will get 1 GB of RAM, two SIM card slots, a larger battery, and a lighter and thinner body. Nokia XL beats it only with a higher number of megapixels in the front camera.
The company believed that Nokia smartphones with Android OS would not allow them to stand out among other manufacturers. As an alternative, the well-known Windows Phone platform was chosen. And although it has gained quite a popularity recently, smartphones from other companies running Android OS are sold much more often. Android smartphones are becoming more functional every year, and their prices are decreasing. Taking this into account, Nokia decided to create its own version of Android. The developers were faced with the task, on the one hand, to create a smartphone on which Android applications would run, on the other hand, it was important that the device was not called an Android smartphone and there was no mention of Google. The operating system has been changed beyond recognition. The company has put a lot of effort into making it different from regular Android. The interface of the new operating system is a combination of elements from the Windows Phone, Android and Asha operating systems. The home screen is very similar to the screen found in Windows Phone OS.
The company presented the first smartphone on the new operating system, Nokia XL, on February 24, 2014 at the Mobile Congress in Barcelona. The positioning of the new smartphone from Nokia is very simple - “a bright smartphone for Android applications.” The main audience of this device is young people who feel the need for a smartphone, but do not want to spend a lot of money on it. Also, enthusiasts and software developers, those who like to explore new things, may be interested in a smartphone. Today we will take a closer look at the new product and try to identify all the pros and cons of the smartphone.
Contents of delivery
The Nokia XL smartphone comes in a compact cardboard box, already familiar to other Nokia products. In addition to the smartphone itself, you will find in the kit:
— Charger AC-20
— Battery Nokia BN 02 2000 mAh
— Stereo headset Nokia WH-108
— Quick Guide
The equipment is quite poor, but this is due, first of all, to the low price of the smartphone.
Design
Nokia has always tried to be different from others in terms of design. The company's engineers often experimented with the appearance of their smartphones, but one of the most successful, according to users, was the design of Nokia Lumia. In Nokia XL, as well as in the Asha line, they tried to create a cheaper version of the case, similar in appearance to the Lumia line. However, the Nokia XL smartphone uses inexpensive plastic and the body is disassembled.
Another feature that is typical only for Nokia smartphones is a wide variety of color options. While most companies try not to present many different body colors, Nokia, on the contrary, considers this a plus. Thanks to this, the user always has the opportunity to choose exactly the color that he likes.
The Nokia XL smartphone cannot be called compact. It has dimensions of 77.72x141.35x10.87 mm and weighs 190 g. The smartphone feels quite wide, and the sharp corners make it not very comfortable in the hand. If you convey the sensations in words, the device can be described as a “heavy brick.” However, Nokia XL was created specifically for lovers of large smartphones, so the buyer will certainly be prepared for such dimensions of the device.
As for ergonomics, everything is familiar here. On the right side of the smartphone there is a paired volume key, and just below is the on/off button.
At the top end there is a 3.5 mm jack.
The microUSB connector is located at the bottom end. The left side of the smartphone is completely empty. There are no buttons on it.
The back surface of the smartphone is made quite simply. It has a speaker hole, a 5-megapixel camera lens and a flash, as well as the Nokia inscription. On the front panel there is a front camera for video calls and a single button under the screen, which plays a dual role: a short press - step back, a long press - return to the home screen. The solution is ambiguous. Some will like it, some won't. Matter of habit.
The build quality of the smartphone does not cause any complaints. A matte body is used; when pressed, it does not play or stick together. For a budget device, the quality of the materials from which the case is made is excellent.
Under the back cover there is a battery, as well as two slots for microSIM cards and a slot for a microSD memory card.
Display
The smartphone uses a 5-inch screen. An IPS matrix with a resolution of 800x480 pixels and a color depth of 24 bits is installed. In most situations, the picture looks good. However, given the screen size, the resolution is a bit low. Nevertheless, if you don’t demand anything special from the device, most users should like the screen. The display brightness is quite high, there is automatic adjustment. In bright light, the image dims but remains readable.
The display of the Nokia XL smartphone has good viewing angles; when tilted, the image is not distorted.
I didn’t like the fact that the fonts don’t have anti-aliasing; in most situations they don’t look very good. Any Android smartphone from any other manufacturer does not have the same problem with fonts as the Nokia XL. The same situation applies to menu icons. They are not very well adapted to screen resolution and operating system. I hope the company will fix this flaw in future operating system updates. In the screen settings, you can specify the display of the clock in standby mode. This feature has been used in Nokia phones and smartphones for quite some time and will be very useful if the user does not wear a watch. The Nokia XL smartphone also has a proximity sensor; the screen is locked during a call.
Technical features
The Nokia XL smartphone is built on a Qualcomm chipset; on the Nokia website it is designated as Snapdragon S4 Play MSM8225. This is already a fairly outdated type of chipset. Even the not new Nokia Lumia 520 uses the MSM8227 chipset, which is slightly more powerful. The frequency of the Nokia XL dual-core processor is 1 GHz. The device uses an Adreno 203 graphics coprocessor, and its performance is also quite low. Among “budget” devices, Nokia XL is not the most productive solution. The reason is the use of inexpensive components from Qualcomm, which are inferior to analogues from other manufacturers. However, if you do not intend to run resource-intensive 3D games and heavy applications on the Nokia XL, the device's performance will be enough for you.
Nokia XL has 4 GB of internal memory, as well as 768 MB of RAM. Unfortunately, all devices built on the Qualcomm platform are more demanding on RAM than their MediaTek counterparts. After downloading, about 326 MB of RAM is free. Android's memory management is quite good so that applications are given the right amount of memory and use as much of it as possible.
1.29 GB of phone memory is allocated for data storage, 1.17 GB is shown as a memory card, plus the user can install their own memory card up to 32 GB. The main disadvantage of the Nokia XL operating system is that all applications are installed in the phone’s memory, that is, the user is limited to exactly 1.29 GB in size and this cannot be avoided. Installing applications onto a memory card is not yet supported. Perhaps this will be fixed in future versions of the operating system.
In all other respects, Nokia XL is a typical Android smartphone. There is the ability to transfer files via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi is present, and there is a USB Mass Storage mode when connected to a PC.
The Nokia XL smartphone supports working with two SIM cards, but there is only one radio module in the device, so only one SIM card can be active at a time. This is a cheaper option for implementing two SIM cards, which is most common on the market today and in devices in this price segment. The smartphone supports WCDMA networks: 900 MHz, 2100 MHz and GSM networks: 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 1900 MHz. In the settings, you can select one card for SMS/MMS/calls or specify them as standalone, that is, working independently. The call list indicates which card you called from.
Interface
The Nokia XL interface is a combination of elements from the Windows Phone, Android and Asha operating systems. The smartphone is awakened using the side key or by tapping on the end. We see the lock screen, which can display the latest events - mail, SMS, calls, programs, and so on. You can swipe in one direction or another to get to the selected program or remove this reminder.
Unlike regular Android OS, there are only two options for locking the device - PIN code or password. The interface in Nokia XL has been redesigned so much that it is difficult to recognize regular Android. The entire Android ideology was forgotten, and instead Nokia came up with the Fastlane concept.
If you move the home screen to the side, a menu will open, which is called Fastlane. The menu is copied from budget Nokia Asha phones. Fastlane is a hybrid of a news feed, a notification bar, and a list of recently launched programs. By clicking on an entry in Fastlane, the user is taken to the program that sent this entry. Unfortunately, by default there is no task manager in the phone, nor is there multitasking. You can switch between applications via Fastlane, but whether they were unloaded from memory or not is impossible to know.
The main menu is tiles similar to those used in the Windows Phone OS: Phone, Contacts, SMS, Internet, Store, Email, and so on. All installed programs are displayed on one screen. It is possible to create folders and save icons within folders.
Icons can be swapped, the desired ones can be displayed at the top, and the color of the tile for the icons can be changed. You can use search to find the application. To do this, you need to pull the entire page down, then a search will appear in which you can type the name of the program.
Like regular versions of Android, the Nokia XL operating system has a drop-down curtain that has 4 quick shortcuts, the ability to switch between SIM cards, and a quick access to settings.
The settings menu looks like regular Android.
All modern Android smartphones have such a feature as voice typing. In Nokia XL, the Pico TTS engine, which is familiar from many models from different manufacturers, is responsible for speech synthesis; it is quite primitive and does not have a Russian language. Therefore, in terms of voice dialing, Nokia needs to improve its new smartphones.
Things are much better with the keyboard. It's called Nokia Keyboard. You can enter words without lifting your finger, and they are predicted.
In the advertisement, Nokia says that this is a smartphone for Android applications, without specifying whether all of them will be supported. Nokia's branded store has a small number of programs; it can never come close to the branded Play Store. There are few applications yet. For example, Whatsapp is missing, as is Google's Chrome browser. When you search for a program in the store and don't find it, you are offered five more application stores to choose from, including the Yandex Store.
However, many Nokia XL users have already found an easy way to install applications. They take a regular Android smartphone, find and download the APK file of the application, then transfer it via Bluetooth and install it on the Nokia XL. Not the simplest, but a really working option.
Nokia does not guarantee that all Android applications will work on its device. Many applications require registration in the Play Store, which is not and will not be here, just as there is no support for Google services. There is support only for Yandex services.
When purchasing an Android smartphone, a user can usually easily sync their contacts with their Google account and transfer them to the new device in a matter of seconds. This is standard functionality for Android and for any smartphone. However, Nokia XL does not allow you to get contacts from the cloud. There are only two ways to transfer contacts. One is to use the Yandex service, the second way is to save all contacts on a microSD card, then insert it into the Nokia X and try to read it. It is unclear why Nokia refused to synchronize contacts with the cloud in its new smartphone.
The built-in applications in general do not cause any complaints. Calculator, alarm clock, browser - everything works.
I liked the navigation. Here Maps allows you to download files for countries and regions onto your memory card, which is great. The main memory will be free, and the number of maps of different countries and cities you will load onto the memory card will depend only on its capacity. The usual and familiar navigation interface is used, including for offline navigation.
The music player is ordinary, the FM radio only works with a headset.
Camera
The Nokia XL smartphone has a 5-megapixel main and 2-megapixel front camera. Main camera resolution: 2592 x 1944 pixels. There is an LED flash and auto focus. Camera Features: Auto and Manual White Balance, Active Toolbar, Photo Editor, Face Detection, Auto Exposure, Center Weighted Auto Exposure. The camera has a “panoramic shooting” function. Available color modes: sepia, solarization, normal, negative. White balance modes: cloudy, incandescent, fluorescent, daylight, auto. The camera can shoot video in FWVGA format (864 x 480) at a frame rate of 30 fps.
Additional camera resolution: 1600 x 1200 pixels. A wide-angle lens is used.
In the daytime, with good lighting, the photographs turn out quite good. Under artificial lighting, things are a little worse. Examples of photos taken with the Nokia XL camera:
Battery
The smartphone uses a removable lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 2000 mAh. According to the manufacturer, the maximum talk time in 2G networks is 16 hours, the standby time in 2G networks is 720 hours. The maximum talk time in 3G networks is 13 hours, the standby time in 3G networks is 720 hours. With frequent use, the smartphone, of course, like other Android devices, will survive daylight hours, but in general the battery life of the smartphone is quite good.
Conclusion
Nokia XL has a large number of both pros and cons. The smartphone has a good call volume, a high-quality body with bright colors, and a nice-looking screen. I didn’t like the stripped-down Android with an unusual interface, but perhaps this is a matter of habit. "Iron" is rather weak. The smartphone does not support resource-intensive applications and HD videos. The camera is average, although in good lighting the photos are quite good. The main buyers of the new product will be young people who want to get a bright, stylish smartphone with support for Android applications for little money. Nokia has made a new, unique product. If the company manages to maintain a reasonable price, the smartphone should become popular.
This year, Nokia introduced a new line of smartphones using the Android platform, albeit in a radically redesigned form. We tested the largest representative of this new cohort - Nokia XL.
Characteristics:
Communication: GSM/EDGE/UMTS (DualSIM)
Screen: IPS, 5 inches, 800 x 480
OS: Nokia X 1.0 (based on Android 4.1.2)
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 (MSM8225), Adreno 203
RAM: 768 MB
User memory: 4 GB, microSD expansion slot
Connectors: microUSB, 3.5 mm audio output
Wireless modules: Bluetooth 3.0, Wi-Fi
Camera: front - 2 MP, main - 5 MP
Dimensions: 141.4x77.7x10.9 mm
Weight: 190 g.
Battery: 2000 mAh
Extras: GPS, FM radio
Price: 1999 UAH.
Despite the fact that the Nokia X series stands apart from the company's other devices, in terms of design, it uses the same combination of bright colors and classic shapes. As a result, the model can be easily confused in appearance with more expensive Lumia smartphones. Well, this is only good for the hero of our review.
The manufacturer apparently did not set a goal to make the Nokia XL thin or light. If you're going to make a 5-inch smartphone, then there's no need to waste time on trifles. The device cannot be called thin by modern standards, and its weight exceeds even some 6-inch devices.
On the other hand, how could it be otherwise, because you are buying a thing with the abbreviation XL in the name. Nevertheless, the device looks and feels complete and well assembled in the hands.
Despite the large diagonal, the screen resolution is not very high - 800 x 480 pixels. In general, the picture is bright and contrasty, the viewing angles will not disappoint either, but there is moderate pixelation here. But the low screen resolution has a positive effect on the autonomy of the gadget.
Special thanks to the manufacturer for supporting two SIM cards. In Nokia smartphones this is perceived as a pleasant innovation, while in the CIS countries the function is incredibly popular.
Both cards are connected at the same time. But when one of them receives a call, the second remains without communication until the conversation is over. 3G support via UMTS technology is also not possible.
Nokia XL uses a 2-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 (MSM8225) processor and 768 MB of RAM. In AnTuTu Benchmark, the device scored about 8000 points, which is not very much, but typical for a budget phone. The interface seems to be well optimized, so there are no stutters in everyday tasks. But, of course, you shouldn’t count on dynamic 3D games.
The OS uses a modified version of Android 4.1.2, which the manufacturer calls Nokia X Platform. The interface changes compared to stock Android are so significant that it really feels like we are facing a completely different platform.
Literally everything has been redesigned, from the icon design to the menu organization itself. There are certain similarities with Windows Phone - the same “tiles” on the main screen. It is obvious that the company is trying to make it so that a user who has tried Nokia X will later have an easy time switching to, for example, Lumia.
But the main advantage of the platform is perhaps that it is compatible with Android applications. True, not without reservations. So, the device does not have the usual Google services, such as Play Market. Therefore, it is proposed to install applications from the Nokia store or other alternative “markets”.
It may be difficult for the user to find a specific game or a familiar mailing program for this smartphone. By the way, if you are looking for such software or service, we can recommend the solution Prostoemail (prostoemail.ru), which works directly in the browser. This is a popular mailing system, highly effective and, importantly, quite affordable. In general, unlike specialized software, the user will have all the basic software for the Nokia XL. Of the pre-installed Nokia services, I would especially like to mention Here navigation, which also works in offline mode.
The resolution of the built-in camera is only 5 megapixels. However, to say that she is here for show would be unfair. Apparently, the camera copes with its task as well as possible given the hardware used.
In general, taking a good shot during daylight hours and in good weather is not a problem at all. For shooting at dusk and indoors, you can use the built-in flash, which, by the way, is not available in the younger model, the Nokia X.
The large dimensions of the case made it possible to install a fairly capacious 2000 mAh battery in the Nokia XL. In combination with a low-resolution display and an economical processor, it provides good battery life. In our case, this is about two days of active work.
Summary
Nokia XL is a relatively inexpensive smartphone with a nice design, dual SIM support and pre-installed Nokia services. First of all, it can be recommended to fans of the brand. For example, for those who previously used ordinary push-button phones, but are now “ripe” for something more functional. However, there are many alternatives on Android, which for the same price sometimes offer more powerful hardware and the usual Google services - the same Play Market. True, the Nokia XL is clearly more interesting in appearance - inexpensive Android smartphones rarely boast a bright design. The choice is yours.
The company believed that Nokia smartphones with Android OS would not allow them to stand out among other manufacturers. As an alternative, the well-known Windows Phone platform was chosen. And although it has gained quite a popularity recently, smartphones from other companies running Android OS are sold much more often. Android smartphones are becoming more functional every year, and their prices are decreasing. Taking this into account, Nokia decided to create its own version of Android. The developers were faced with the task, on the one hand, to create a smartphone on which Android applications would run, on the other hand, it was important that the device was not called an Android smartphone and there was no mention of Google. The operating system has been changed beyond recognition. The company has put a lot of effort into making it different from regular Android. The interface of the new operating system is a combination of elements from the Windows Phone, Android and Asha operating systems. The home screen is very similar to the screen found in Windows Phone OS.
The company presented the first smartphone on the new operating system, Nokia XL, on February 24, 2014 at the Mobile Congress in Barcelona. The positioning of the new smartphone from Nokia is very simple - “a bright smartphone for Android applications.” The main audience of this device is young people who feel the need for a smartphone, but do not want to spend a lot of money on it. Also, enthusiasts and software developers, those who like to explore new things, may be interested in a smartphone. Today we will take a closer look at the new product and try to identify all the pros and cons of the smartphone.
Contents of delivery
The Nokia XL smartphone comes in a compact cardboard box, already familiar to other Nokia products. In addition to the smartphone itself, you will find in the kit:
— Charger AC-20
— Battery Nokia BN 02 2000 mAh
— Stereo headset Nokia WH-108
— Quick Guide
The equipment is quite poor, but this is due, first of all, to the low price of the smartphone.
Design
Nokia has always tried to be different from others in terms of design. The company's engineers often experimented with the appearance of their smartphones, but one of the most successful, according to users, was the design of Nokia Lumia. In Nokia XL, as well as in the Asha line, they tried to create a cheaper version of the case, similar in appearance to the Lumia line. However, the Nokia XL smartphone uses inexpensive plastic and the body is disassembled.
Another feature that is typical only for Nokia smartphones is a wide variety of color options. While most companies try not to present many different body colors, Nokia, on the contrary, considers this a plus. Thanks to this, the user always has the opportunity to choose exactly the color that he likes.
The Nokia XL smartphone cannot be called compact. It has dimensions of 77.72x141.35x10.87 mm and weighs 190 g. The smartphone feels quite wide, and the sharp corners make it not very comfortable in the hand. If you convey the sensations in words, the device can be described as a “heavy brick.” However, Nokia XL was created specifically for lovers of large smartphones, so the buyer will certainly be prepared for such dimensions of the device.
As for ergonomics, everything is familiar here. On the right side of the smartphone there is a paired volume key, and just below is the on/off button.
At the top end there is a 3.5 mm jack.
The microUSB connector is located at the bottom end. The left side of the smartphone is completely empty. There are no buttons on it.
The back surface of the smartphone is made quite simply. It has a speaker hole, a 5-megapixel camera lens and a flash, as well as the Nokia inscription. On the front panel there is a front camera for video calls and a single button under the screen, which plays a dual role: a short press - step back, a long press - return to the home screen. The solution is ambiguous. Some will like it, some won't. Matter of habit.
The build quality of the smartphone does not cause any complaints. A matte body is used; when pressed, it does not play or stick together. For a budget device, the quality of the materials from which the case is made is excellent.
Under the back cover there is a battery, as well as two slots for microSIM cards and a slot for a microSD memory card.
Display
The smartphone uses a 5-inch screen. An IPS matrix with a resolution of 800x480 pixels and a color depth of 24 bits is installed. In most situations, the picture looks good. However, given the screen size, the resolution is a bit low. Nevertheless, if you don’t demand anything special from the device, most users should like the screen. The display brightness is quite high, there is automatic adjustment. In bright light, the image dims but remains readable.
The display of the Nokia XL smartphone has good viewing angles; when tilted, the image is not distorted.
I didn’t like the fact that the fonts don’t have anti-aliasing; in most situations they don’t look very good. Any Android smartphone from any other manufacturer does not have the same problem with fonts as the Nokia XL. The same situation applies to menu icons. They are not very well adapted to screen resolution and operating system. I hope the company will fix this flaw in future operating system updates. In the screen settings, you can specify the display of the clock in standby mode. This feature has been used in Nokia phones and smartphones for quite some time and will be very useful if the user does not wear a watch. The Nokia XL smartphone also has a proximity sensor; the screen is locked during a call.
Technical features
The Nokia XL smartphone is built on a Qualcomm chipset; on the Nokia website it is designated as Snapdragon S4 Play MSM8225. This is already a fairly outdated type of chipset. Even the not new Nokia Lumia 520 uses the MSM8227 chipset, which is slightly more powerful. The frequency of the Nokia XL dual-core processor is 1 GHz. The device uses an Adreno 203 graphics coprocessor, and its performance is also quite low. Among “budget” devices, Nokia XL is not the most productive solution. The reason is the use of inexpensive components from Qualcomm, which are inferior to analogues from other manufacturers. However, if you do not intend to run resource-intensive 3D games and heavy applications on the Nokia XL, the device's performance will be enough for you.
Nokia XL has 4 GB of internal memory, as well as 768 MB of RAM. Unfortunately, all devices built on the Qualcomm platform are more demanding on RAM than their MediaTek counterparts. After downloading, about 326 MB of RAM is free. Android's memory management is quite good so that applications are given the right amount of memory and use as much of it as possible.
1.29 GB of phone memory is allocated for data storage, 1.17 GB is shown as a memory card, plus the user can install their own memory card up to 32 GB. The main disadvantage of the Nokia XL operating system is that all applications are installed in the phone’s memory, that is, the user is limited to exactly 1.29 GB in size and this cannot be avoided. Installing applications onto a memory card is not yet supported. Perhaps this will be fixed in future versions of the operating system.
In all other respects, Nokia XL is a typical Android smartphone. There is the ability to transfer files via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi is present, and there is a USB Mass Storage mode when connected to a PC.
The Nokia XL smartphone supports working with two SIM cards, but there is only one radio module in the device, so only one SIM card can be active at a time. This is a cheaper option for implementing two SIM cards, which is most common on the market today and in devices in this price segment. The smartphone supports WCDMA networks: 900 MHz, 2100 MHz and GSM networks: 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 1900 MHz. In the settings, you can select one card for SMS/MMS/calls or specify them as standalone, that is, working independently. The call list indicates which card you called from.
Interface
The Nokia XL interface is a combination of elements from the Windows Phone, Android and Asha operating systems. The smartphone is awakened using the side key or by tapping on the end. We see the lock screen, which can display the latest events - mail, SMS, calls, programs, and so on. You can swipe in one direction or another to get to the selected program or remove this reminder.
Unlike regular Android OS, there are only two options for locking the device - PIN code or password. The interface in Nokia XL has been redesigned so much that it is difficult to recognize regular Android. The entire Android ideology was forgotten, and instead Nokia came up with the Fastlane concept.
If you move the home screen to the side, a menu will open, which is called Fastlane. The menu is copied from budget Nokia Asha phones. Fastlane is a hybrid of a news feed, a notification bar, and a list of recently launched programs. By clicking on an entry in Fastlane, the user is taken to the program that sent this entry. Unfortunately, by default there is no task manager in the phone, nor is there multitasking. You can switch between applications via Fastlane, but whether they were unloaded from memory or not is impossible to know.
The main menu is tiles similar to those used in the Windows Phone OS: Phone, Contacts, SMS, Internet, Store, Email, and so on. All installed programs are displayed on one screen. It is possible to create folders and save icons within folders.
Icons can be swapped, the desired ones can be displayed at the top, and the color of the tile for the icons can be changed. You can use search to find the application. To do this, you need to pull the entire page down, then a search will appear in which you can type the name of the program.
Like regular versions of Android, the Nokia XL operating system has a drop-down curtain that has 4 quick shortcuts, the ability to switch between SIM cards, and a quick access to settings.
The settings menu looks like regular Android.
All modern Android smartphones have such a feature as voice typing. In Nokia XL, the Pico TTS engine, which is familiar from many models from different manufacturers, is responsible for speech synthesis; it is quite primitive and does not have a Russian language. Therefore, in terms of voice dialing, Nokia needs to improve its new smartphones.
Things are much better with the keyboard. It's called Nokia Keyboard. You can enter words without lifting your finger, and they are predicted.
In the advertisement, Nokia says that this is a smartphone for Android applications, without specifying whether all of them will be supported. Nokia's branded store has a small number of programs; it can never come close to the branded Play Store. There are few applications yet. For example, Whatsapp is missing, as is Google's Chrome browser. When you search for a program in the store and don't find it, you are offered five more application stores to choose from, including the Yandex Store.
However, many Nokia XL users have already found an easy way to install applications. They take a regular Android smartphone, find and download the APK file of the application, then transfer it via Bluetooth and install it on the Nokia XL. Not the simplest, but a really working option.
Nokia does not guarantee that all Android applications will work on its device. Many applications require registration in the Play Store, which is not and will not be here, just as there is no support for Google services. There is support only for Yandex services.
When purchasing an Android smartphone, a user can usually easily sync their contacts with their Google account and transfer them to the new device in a matter of seconds. This is standard functionality for Android and for any smartphone. However, Nokia XL does not allow you to get contacts from the cloud. There are only two ways to transfer contacts. One is to use the Yandex service, the second way is to save all contacts on a microSD card, then insert it into the Nokia X and try to read it. It is unclear why Nokia refused to synchronize contacts with the cloud in its new smartphone.
The built-in applications in general do not cause any complaints. Calculator, alarm clock, browser - everything works.
I liked the navigation. Here Maps allows you to download files for countries and regions onto your memory card, which is great. The main memory will be free, and the number of maps of different countries and cities you will load onto the memory card will depend only on its capacity. The usual and familiar navigation interface is used, including for offline navigation.
The music player is ordinary, the FM radio only works with a headset.
Camera
The Nokia XL smartphone has a 5-megapixel main and 2-megapixel front camera. Main camera resolution: 2592 x 1944 pixels. There is an LED flash and auto focus. Camera Features: Auto and Manual White Balance, Active Toolbar, Photo Editor, Face Detection, Auto Exposure, Center Weighted Auto Exposure. The camera has a “panoramic shooting” function. Available color modes: sepia, solarization, normal, negative. White balance modes: cloudy, incandescent, fluorescent, daylight, auto. The camera can shoot video in FWVGA format (864 x 480) at a frame rate of 30 fps.
Additional camera resolution: 1600 x 1200 pixels. A wide-angle lens is used.
In the daytime, with good lighting, the photographs turn out quite good. Under artificial lighting, things are a little worse. Examples of photos taken with the Nokia XL camera:
Battery
The smartphone uses a removable lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 2000 mAh. According to the manufacturer, the maximum talk time in 2G networks is 16 hours, the standby time in 2G networks is 720 hours. The maximum talk time in 3G networks is 13 hours, the standby time in 3G networks is 720 hours. With frequent use, the smartphone, of course, like other Android devices, will survive daylight hours, but in general the battery life of the smartphone is quite good.
Conclusion
Nokia XL has a large number of both pros and cons. The smartphone has a good call volume, a high-quality body with bright colors, and a nice-looking screen. I didn’t like the stripped-down Android with an unusual interface, but perhaps this is a matter of habit. "Iron" is rather weak. The smartphone does not support resource-intensive applications and HD videos. The camera is average, although in good lighting the photos are quite good. The main buyers of the new product will be young people who want to get a bright, stylish smartphone with support for Android applications for little money. Nokia has made a new, unique product. If the company manages to maintain a reasonable price, the smartphone should become popular.
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