With an expanding product portfolio, HMD Global enjoys success in India this year, launching over nine Nokia smartphones. However, the new Nokia 3.1 Plus, touted as a budget smartphone, surprises with its starting price of Rs. 11,499, comparatively high within its budget segment.
Scratching my head at this decision, you can delve into Nokia’s peculiar pricing strategy here. For now, let’s assess if the phone justifies its price.
I’ve used the Nokia 3.1 Plus for just over a week. Let me tell you if it can compete with its Chinese rivals.
What’s in The Box
- Nokia 3.1 Plus
- Micro USB to USB-A cable
- 5V/2A Charger
- Standard earphones
- Instruction leaflets
- SIM Ejector Tool
Nokia 3.1 Plus Specifications
| Dimensions | 156.68 x 76.44 x 8.19 mm |
| Weight | 180 grams |
| Display | 6-inch HD+ IPS LCD |
| Processor | MediaTek Helio P22 |
| RAM | 2/3GB |
| Storage | 16/32GB, expandable up to 400GB |
| Rear Camera | 13MP (f/2.0)+5MP (f/2.4), PDAF, single LED flash |
| Front Camera | 8MP (f/2.2) |
| Battery | 3,500 mAh |
| OS | Android 8.1 Oreo, under Android One program |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, A-GPS, GLONASS, 3.5mm headphone jack, microUSB port |
| Sensors | rear-mounted fingerprint, accelerometer, gyroscope, e-compass, proximity, ambient light |
| Colors | Blue, White, Baltic |
Now that you have a good idea about the internals in the Nokia 3.1 Plus, let’s see how it performs in the real world.
Design & Build Quality
Nokia-branded phones, known for wishy-washy performance, consistently excel in design. The Nokia 3.1 Plus is no exception. The highlight is its in-hand feel, thanks to a die-cast metal casing on the back, ensuring comfort during use.
The Nokia 3.1 Plus excels in ergonomics, boasting curved edges and easily reachable buttons. The fingerprint scanner is positioned perfectly, offering both speed and accuracy.
The Nokia 3.1 Plus feels exceptionally premium for its price!
The silver accents surrounding the dual camera setup and fingerprint scanner on the Blue variant elevate its design above competitors. These accents, in my view, strike a balance, unlike those on the Nokia 7 Plus, which I find too garish. Ultimately, it’s a matter of personal preference.
Gladly, Nokia has opted for a classic aesthetic over a notch, presenting a tall 18:9 display that outshines competitors like the Redmi 6 Pro.
While some may perceive the Nokia 3.1 Plus as having a dated appearance, I, for one, disdain notches, thus find its design acceptable.
Nokia 3.1 Plus Front Design
Prior to delving into the display specifics, it’s noteworthy that the Nokia 3.1 Plus features a 3.5mm headphone jack, a dedicated micro SD card slot, and two SIM card slots. Additionally, its bottom-firing speakers impress, albeit with a micro USB port.
Display
The Nokia 3.1 Plus features a 6-inch HD+ IPS display with 2.5D curved glass. However, there’s no Gorilla Glass, and scratches are already noticeable after just a week of use.
Regarding the display, I appreciate Nokia’s classic no-notch design. The colors are vibrant, the viewing angles are good, and it’s bright enough for outdoor use while also dimming adequately for low-light conditions. However, the lower resolution panel may deter some users.
Overall, the Nokia 3.1 Plus display is good, but it isn’t the best for the price.
I mentioned concerns about ghosting on texts in night light mode initially, but it’s less noticeable now. However, it shouldn’t heavily influence your purchasing decision.
Cameras
Photos and videos on the Nokia 3.1 Plus feature a 13MP+5MP dual-camera setup on the rear and an 8MP front camera. The primary 13MP lens boasts an f/2.0 aperture, while the secondary 5MP lens offers an f/2.4 aperture. These cameras utilize Phase Detection Auto Focus and a single LED flash. The front camera has an f/2.2 aperture.
Regarding camera performance, Nokia’s efforts are evident but room for improvement remains. In favorable lighting conditions, photos exhibit satisfactory detail without noticeable over-saturation, which is commendable. However, the camera struggles to capture images with optimal dynamic range and sharpness.
Daylight Photos
Nokia 3.1 Plus
Lowlight Photography
While the images fared well in daylight, those captured in low light disappointed. The camera illuminated the scene adequately, yet the resulting images were excessively soft.
Nokia 3.1 Plus
Nokia 3.1 Plus
Portraits
To my surprise, portrait shots were satisfactory. Edge detection matched that of comparable budget phones, yielding some impressive results. Additionally, the front camera supports Bokeh mode, producing decent outcomes.
Self-Portraits
The 8MP selfie camera on the Nokia 3.1 Plus isn’t my favorite. It doesn’t cater to selfie enthusiasts, but the photos generally have decent detail and good color balance.
Notably, the Nokia 3.1 Plus cameras struggle to lock focus. There were instances when I nearly missed shots due to this issue. Additionally, the camera is annoyingly slow. Whether this issue is unique to my unit remains uncertain, but I hope the frustrating shutter lag gets addressed promptly with a software update.
The camera app is straightforward. It offers various modes to explore, including 1080P video capture with the rear camera and 720P recording with the front camera. Additionally, you can create time-lapse and slow-motion videos.
Software
The Nokia 3.1 Plus features Android One, ensuring a Pure Android experience. It comes with Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box and guarantees timely OS and security updates for the next three years.
The stock Android is devoid of bloatware, promising a streamlined experience. Yet, users familiar with skinned versions like Xiaomi’s MIUI may perceive it as basic, albeit ad-free.
Performance
Regarding the Nokia 3.1 Plus, if asked about its drawbacks, I’d point to its MediaTek octa-core Helio P22 processor. This choice is typical for budget phones but hasn’t left a lasting impression on me. However, I remained open to surprises during testing, given the Android One badge.
An octa-core processor is matched with up to 3GB RAM and 32GB of internal storage, placing it on par with most other budget phones. Having tested the 3GB RAM variant, I can attest that the performance of Nokia 3.1 Plus is merely decent.
For those interested in benchmark results, here are the Antutu and 3D Mark scores for the Nokia 3.1 Plus – Antutu (left), 3D Mark (Right).
Despite the inclusion of 3GB of RAM, the Helio P22 fails to deliver smooth performance on this device. Frame drops and hiccups occur even during casual browsing, which is highly disappointing.
Multi-tasking? Don’t even start. There were instances when I waited multiple seconds for each app to load while jumping between them. Surprisingly, this sluggish performance is on a stock version of Android.
Despite the subpar performance, I tried playing games like PUBG Mobile and Asphalt 9: Legends on the Nokia 3.1 Plus. Why? Well, after about 20 minutes, I concluded that gaming on this phone isn’t enjoyable. Games take time to load, and you’ll encounter occasional stutters and frame drops. PUBG Mobile runs on low settings.
Connectivity
In this review, the Nokia 3.1 Plus features dedicated slots for two SIM cards and a micro SD card. The SD card is useful for the 16GB variant. Other connectivity options include Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, A-GPS, GLONASS, and FM Radio.
VoLTE on the Nokia 3.1 Plus is enabled out of the box.
Battery Life
The Nokia 3.1 Plus boasts a 3,500 mAh battery. During my moderate to heavy usage, I consistently achieved nearly 6 hours of screen-on-time (SoT) per day. While lighter usage could yield even more SoT, I was impressed with its performance given my usage habits. Battery Performance of Nokia 3.1 Plus
The Nokia 3.1 Plus provides sufficient battery life to last an entire day.
In terms of charging, the Nokia 3.1 Plus reached full capacity, from 0% to 100%, in just over two hours using the included 5V/2A charger. However, it’s worth noting that charging times may vary if the device is in use while plugged in.
Should You Buy the Nokia 3.1 Plus?
While I’d love to see this sleek phone in everyone’s hand, my answer to that question is a definite no. Let me explain –
The Nokia 3.1 Plus starts at Rs. 11,499, which, as I mentioned, is on the pricier side. Yes, it’s one of the best-looking devices at this price point, but let’s be real, looks can be deceiving. You should aim for a phone with a capable processor that can last 2-3 years without issues. Frankly, in its current state, it doesn’t seem like the Nokia 3.1 Plus will achieve that.
Here’s an alternative – Consider the Redmi 6 Pro priced at just Rs. 10,999 for better performance. Or, opt for the Nokia 5.1 Plus also available at Rs. 10,999 for a superior stock Android experience.
Nokia 3.1 Plus Pros & Cons
Pros:
Nokia 3.1 Plus: Ambition Derailed
Frankly, HMD Global’s ambitious push to shake up offline markets with the Nokia 3.1 Plus, despite its premium pricing, feels like a squandered chance. At its current cost, the Nokia 3.1 Plus finds itself in an awkward position.
The Nokia 3.1 Plus falters primarily due to its mediocre performance, hampered by the Helio P22 processor. It struggles to keep pace, leaving the phone lagging behind competitors boasting superior specifications.
With widespread online availability from platforms like Flipkart or Amazon and a sensible price below Rs. 10,000, the Nokia 3.1 Plus could have been a promising offering from the Finnish manufacturer.
The Nokia 3.1 Plus boasts great design and an uncluttered software experience, but you may experience frustration with its performance.
If you want to learn more about the phone, leave a comment below or connect with us on social media. We’d love to hear your thoughts.
Check out the Nokia 3.1 Plus on the Nokia Store for Rs. 11,499.
Pritam Chopra is a seasoned IT professional and a passionate blogger hailing from the dynamic realm of technology. With an insatiable curiosity for all things tech-related, Pritam has dedicated himself to exploring and unraveling the intricacies of the digital world.
