First impressions
The Nokia 5.3 is a simple yet sleek device which has got this monochrome theme in charcoal colour with a good grip to it. It has a nice scratch-resistant composite back which is made of plastic, but still doesn’t give the device the needed grip for you to opt out on using a phone case. Whichever your choice, the device pretty much remains lightweight at 185g.
Display
You’ve got a 6.55” LCD Display on this 2.5D glass front, with minimal bezels to accommodate the impressive screen real estate. This you enjoy even better when the screen is set in horizontal orientation.
A few hitches may be with the videos lacking vibrancy, as they can only be played at a maximum of 720p AND you may encounter a bit of interference with the dewdrop notch when watching videos in “zoomed to fill” option.
You may also want to turn off the “adaptive brightness” feature to enjoy a more balanced lighting display BUT (and it’s important to say this) it still makes for a worthwhile viewing experience.
Body
The volume on the device is decent thanks to two microphone speakers at the botm but seems to transmit more of higher pitches than lower ones, if you were hoping for a well-rounded audio quality. It however comes out better when listening via earphones in its 3.5mm jack.
Right beneath the volume rocker is the power button that features a built-in notification light which pulses for messages or notifications. This is probably an indicative way to differentiate between that button and an identical-looking button on the other side of the device. Which is the dedicated “Google Assistant” button.
The screen touch is also quite sensitive to prompting the “Google Assistant” command when trying to navigate your way around the device, so that should serve as useful feedback to the team.
Storage and Processor Speed
Onto probably the most impressive spec about the Nokia 5.3 – It is an Android One Device. Which means it is like the Google Pixel phones. So, this ensures regular and timely software updates with a guaranty to enjoying Android upgrades for up to 2 years.
The Nokia 5.3 is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 and operates on Android 10.
Apps run pretty smoothly on its 64GB worth of internal storage and decent 3GB RAM size.
This practically translates to how efficient it could be when carrying out tasks on the device, including gaming.
Alright. We’ve established that the speed of the Nokia 5.3 is great, the device is durable…I mean it’s hard to top a durability contest when it comes to Nokia-branded devices. However, the final piece in the puzzle of just how much value you would be getting for a budget mid-range smartphone just as this, is the camera quality.
Camera
Ok, so the Nokia 5.3 spots a versatile quad camera setup at the rear and boasts of Advanced AI imaging with its:
13MP primary lens, 5MP ultra-wide lens, 2MP depth sensor and 2MP Macro lens.
Giving my verdict on photos taken, I have to say that “It’s the rear camera for me”.
From the vibrancy in the photos, the colours, it may be lacking in detail BUT does a great job overall in capturing images that are worthy of being posted to the timeline.
In sharp contrast to this, images captured outdoor using its 8MP front-camera tend to look washed out but the results of images captured indoor tend to be more acceptable.
Battery life
The device boasts of a 2-day battery life while it hosts a 4000mAh battery.
The charger however, isn’t fast-charging so it’s important you know just long it’ll take to charge the device to enjoy the 2-day battery life it boasts of.
Judging by my time-watch in charging the device from 42% to 100% in an hour and 30 minutes, it should roughly take 3 hours to charge from total battery depletion to full charge.
I however got to enjoy 2-day battery life of moderate usage on the device that consisted: playing Asphalt 9, taking photos and watching some videos.
Price and Verdict
My verdict of the Nokia 5.3 is a blend of some hitches and impressive features about the device but I’ll say the pros definitely outweigh the cons. And this is because you get a decent-looking device and smartphone value for $199 which about N79, 600. So, it’s not just about the price but quality.
So, does the Nokia 5.3 cut it for you as an impressive mid-ranger or perhaps a leader of the pack?
