Friends+Design
- In recent times, HMD has launched some exquisite smartphones this year that all exude style and class - the Nokia 8.1 is no different - it's an elegantly designed device that comes with a glass and metal design - the front and back of the Nokia 8.1 get 2.5D Gorilla Glass protection - and the glass subtly curves on the edges and seamlessly blends into the aluminium frame
- The frame itself is a solid Series 6000 aluminium with diamond cut, chiseled edges
- Overall, the Nokia 8.1 is built like a tank - and the material quality as well as the fit and finish are excellent - every part of it feels completely solid, right down to the thick metal SIM tray and the power and volume buttons - the body doesn't twist or flex even slightly
Display
- Excellent, vivid, sharp, tall display with HDR10-support - which means you can stream HDR content on supported platforms like Netflix, Prime Video and YouTube - and you will get some pretty amazing colour reproduction
- The display notch is quite wide
Software
- Being an Android One device, you get simple, clean stock Android similar to Pixel devices, along with a promise for Android updates for at least 2 years - there is also basically zero bloatware
Performance
- Slick, butter smooth performance with the new Snapdragon 710, that's just a notch below the Snapdragon 800 series flagships - in real-life use, you will only be able to notice any difference from flagships in the most high-end games
Camera
- Very good dual camera setup on the rear - take some very good images, especially in daylight conditions - you will get very good detail and vibrant colours - the camera is also quick to lock focus and fun to use - live Bokeh shots too come out looking great
- Videos are crisp and sharp too, again especially so in daylight - and optical image stabilisation definitely makes a difference
- The front camera is pretty good too, in all sort of lighting conditions, and has a good portrait mode as well
- Overall, the camera experience on the Nokia 8.1 is right up there with the very best in this price bracket
- Low light performance from the rear cameras, for both stills and videos, is decent, but could have been a little bit better
Audio
- Good speaker - sound through the single mono speaker is very loud, and is not too harsh or tinny
Battery
- Good battery life with a 3500mAh battery - you will comfortably get a day of use and more
- Fast charging support
Verdict
- The Nokia 8.1 is undoubtedly a strong new choice in the mid-range - it does not rely on gimmicks or fads to try and woo you - at its core, this is a phone that focuses on the essentials and delivers a great camera, good performance, excellent battery life and an absolutely clean build of Android with a promise of long-term support - for people who are looking for an uncluttered software experience and fast updates, the Nokia 8.1 will be an excellent, reliable choice
