Coming with the Android One delivering a pure android software ready for Android 11 and beyond and currently retailing at about Kshs 23,000 in selected shops countrywide, the Nokia 5.3 really is a device worth your money. Here’s why:
Battery
One of the things I really look at while buying a phone is its ability to retain battery life. When announced, HMD Global said that the device comes with the signature two-day battery life promise thanks to the 4000mAh battery and AI-assisted Adaptive Battery which saves energy – which I can concur is actually true. I’ve used it for a month now and I’ve only charged it very few times.
Most phones I’ve used/owned go through a day of battery easy, and even then sometimes need the assistance of an external source of power, i.e a powerbank; the Nokia 5.3 however goes an easy two days
Design
I’m a big fan of simplicity. I would rather go for smooth finishes with durability over glass screens that can break, any day, which is why I really liked its design. The Nokia 5.3 has a scratch-resistant composite back and 2.5D glass front*.
At the front, the 5.3 somehow decided to come with large bezels (which I’m not a big fan of) and a waterdrop notch.
At the back, there’s the circular camera module (I didn’t know its name when we recorded this video lol) with a centrally placed LED flash which it brings out a certain flair to the simple design. The fingerprint scanner is just below the module and I was a bit skeptical about using it with my just-done nails since I thought it would fail me but it didn’t. I hope the ladies who are looking to purchase this device and have long(er) acryclic nails than mine don’t shy away from the 5.3
Camera
The quad-camera setup on the Nokia 5.3 is par for the course in the category. The primary shooter sports a 13MP sensor, which is paired with a rather lackluster 5MP ultra-wide camera. Additionally, there’s a 2MP macro sensor and another depth sensor.
I still don’t get why brands keep giving us multiple lenses of lower quality instead of concentrating on using one lens overall. But somehow, it still kinda works…
Here are some shots I took:
Software, performance and storage
From the get-go as I was first setting up the device, I got my first software update.
As part of the Android One partnership, the Nokia 5.3 is Android 11 ready and will receive guaranteed monthly security updates for 3 years and OS updates for 2 years, meaning you won’t have to keep checking for updates. The fact that it has AndroidOne also removes all the bloat from the installation and I didn’t notice any significant lagging especially on day-to-day tasks.
It’s also powered by a Snapdragon 665 chipset with 4GB of RAM backed up by 64GB of storage that can be expanded via a microSD card.
So should you go for the 5.3?
In this market, especially the Kenyan market where brands are not shy in launching devices almost all the time, the decision to buy a gadget is not one to be taken lightly. That said, the Nokia 5.3 is a solid performer when it comes to the pricing, the Android One experience where you get fast and regular updates for the next 2 years, the camera which is not shy in delivering impressive selfies, videos and night pics and of course the battery.
Some aspects of the device could be worked on, like the bezels but overall, the Nokia 5.3 is definitely worth your money!
