When You Need a Rugged Budget Phone, Think Nokia 3. Check Out Full Review

October 28, 2024 Fouad

Nokia 3 is one of the first three Nokia Android phones released by HMD – the company now responsible for Nokia smartphones production.

The other two smartphones are Nokia 5 and Nokia 6.

Nokia 3 is one of the best budget and rugged smartphones in Nigeria right now. If premium looks and cheap prices are important to you, then this is a good choice for you.

It’s basically an entry-level smartphone and really great as a backup smartphone or for those who are buying their first smartphone.

This review answers the most important question: “Is Nokia 3 worth your money?”

Follow me in this review as I talk about every important aspect of the phone; cameras, design, display, battery life, and performance and processors. And find out if the Nokia 3 is really worth your money.

I believe you should know what you’re getting for your money no matter how little you are paying for it. I held nothing back in this review.

I discuss everything here; its features and how good or bad they are compared to other smartphones in the same price range. This way, you will make an informed purchase.

Build and Design

Nokia 3 features a 5-inch display with a screen resolution of 720p, which fits comfortably in the palm of your hand. The screen might be a little dark sometimes, especially when watching videos, but you probably will not notice it. So, this wouldn’t be a major problem.

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The build follows the body of the Lumia series – it’s basically a rectangular block with small curve edges, which let it sit comfortably on the hand.

The smartphone is built compact with a polycarbonate material, with a rounded aluminum frame surrounding the body. This gives it a premium look not found in any smartphone in its price category.

Overall, the phone has a premium appearance and looks like something a tank can run over without being crushed.

Camera

If you’re looking for a smartphone with a top-of-the-range camera, then you probably should look elsewhere. Maybe save more money and go for a more expensive phone like the Tecno spark or Tecno Camon X.

Nokia 3 sports an 8MP for both the rear and selfie cameras. Both cameras, especially the selfie camera, are great in normal lighting conditions but don’t expect them to be overboard. After all, the device is a budget smartphone.

Battery Life

For a phone of its price range, the battery life isn’t the worst out there. Although it could be better, that will probably mean an increase in its price.

It features a 2630mAh battery. With a single charge, you can get through the day with it even with heavy video streaming and gaming.

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Storage and Performance

The performance is probably the only defect of the phone. Most smartphones in the same price category could perform better.

Nokia 3 sports a 2GB RAM which I was really impressed with but coming with a MediaTek MT6737 processor was a bit disappointing.

Even the massive 2GB RAM couldn’t help the low-grade processor and as such, multitasking isn’t all that smooth. Whatsapp and Instagram take a longer time to load and while scrolling, they often get stuck and you’ll have to close and reopen the apps again.

This is kind of stressful but if you don’t plan on installing too many apps, you could use the phone without much hassle.

The internal storage of the Nokia 3 is impressive and I immediately loved it. It features a 16GB internal storage. More spaces than you’ll need and it can also be expanded up to 256GB with a micro SD card.

Software

I believe everyone hates bloatware – those pre-installed apps with annoying notifications.

Good news is the Nokia 3 is devoid of them since it runs on stock Android (Android version 7). So, you won’t find two music apps and other bloatware on the device.

Who Should Get the Nokia 3?

It is targeted at first-time smartphone buyers and basically anyone who wants a backup smartphone with all the apps they need.

If you’re looking for a cheap smartphone that you won’t be using much then go for the Nokia 3. But if you’d like better performance, going for the Nokia 5 might be a good idea.

Get it here: Nokia 3

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Nokia 3 Specifications

General Features
Announced	February 2017
Operating System	Android 7.0 Nougat
SIM	Dual or Single SIM
Display
Type	IPS LCD Capacitive Touchscreen (16 million Colors)
Size	5.0 inches
Resolution	1280 x 720 pixels
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass
Body
Dimension	143.4 x 71.4 x 8.5mm
Colour	Silver White, Matte Black, Copper White, Tempered Blue
Weight	140g
Connectivity
Network	3G, 4G LTE
WLAN	WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, WiFi Direct, Dual Band, Hotspot
GPS	A-GPS
USB	MicroUSB v2.0, OTG
Bluetooth	v4.0, LE, A2DP
Storage
ROM	16GB
RAM	2GB
Processor	1.3GHz MediaTek MT6737, Cortex A-53 Quad-core
Card Slot	MicroSD, Up to 256GB
Camera
Back	8MP, LED Flash, Auto-Focus
Front	8MP, Auto-Focus
Battery
Capacity	(Non-Removable) 2630 mAh
Others
Sensors	Compass, Proximity, Gyro, Accelerometer
Price	Starting from ₦35,000