Nokia’s G60 5G is the company’s best attempt at a low-cost 5G smartphone so far. It comes preloaded with Android 12, has a massive display up front, and stands out thanks to its unique rear panel.
The phone’s main serious drawbacks are its lacklustre performance and the presence of two subpar cameras alongside its outstanding 50Mp choice.
All You Need To Know Nokia G60 5G
A major letdown seems unlikely, however, at the price (£249.99 or $329.99).
Design & Build:
- Superb handling.
- Alternately textured back panel
- Huge screen
Both the Nokia C21 Plus and the Nokia G21 that we tested last year weren’t quite hideous, but the Nokia G60 5G is in a class of its own. There is no audible creaking, and at 190 grammes, it’s the perfect weight—not so light that it seems cheap, and not so heavy that it feels like a rock.
The configuration is fairly typical, with a large 6.58-inch screen dominating the front and a camera nestled into the bezel for both selfies and facial recognition. The power button and volume rocker are located on the right side of the device, while the USB-C connector and headphone jack can be found on the bottom.
The three cameras on the back are vertically placed within a very polished hump, but the back panel is the real show stopper. Photos don’t do justice to the Black colorway review unit’s slightly rough finish, which appears to have tiny specks of reflective metal embedded into the panel.
Even though it’s not a conventional “feature,” it helps the Nokia G60 5G stand out in a sea of otherwise identical smartphones. The three-year warranty and the fact that the back is made from 100% recycled plastic (and the frame from 60%) are also nice touches. Another classification is IP52, which indicates merely splash resistance.
Display & Audio System
- 58-inch IPS display
- It’s a mixed bag, 120 Hz
- Nuance is lost in a monologue.
Larger screens are appearing on cheaper and mid-range 5G devices as the technology becomes more accessible, although the Nokia G60 5G does not use OLED technology. At a resolution of 2400×1080, the IPS screen is hard to criticise in comparison to the C21 Plus and G21 before it.
This is barely above Full HD. Blacks never quite have the correct depth (something OLED is wonderful for), but the colours are consistent throughout, making it much more enjoyable for YouTube or your recent Netflix binge on the train.
The 120Hz refresh rate is a great feature of the Nokia G60 5G, however the implementation could be better. At now, there is no way to force a higher refresh rate than what the phone itself determines is necessary.
That being said, you’ll need to rely on the phone’s ability to recognise what you’re doing in order to fully realise its potential, even though it works perfectly for casually skimming through webpages and social media feeds. Probably the biggest reason is to keep battery life from plummeting (more on that later).
Many Nokia phones, as well as mid-range models from other manufacturers, don’t do audio playback justice without headphones. The single bottom speaker is so weak that it’s impossible to make out subtle nuances in the music.
The bass and treble are mingled with the mids, making the whole thing sound muddy. But, it performs better with voice, so things like podcasts and speakerphone calls are good to go.
Specs & Performance:
- The Snapdragon 695
- RAM Size: 4GB
- About 128 GB of space
The higher network speeds and capabilities of mid-range phones, such as the Motorola Moto G82 5G, typically make up for a lack of on-device power. It’s true that the Nokia G60 5G can’t compete with flagships and high-end alternatives, but I’m relieved to report that it still packs a respectable punch.
This is because to the powerful combination of the Qualcomm mid-range Snapdragon 695 processor and either 64 or 128 gigabytes of storage. Don’t try to run too many programmes in parallel; 4GB of RAM is all that’s available.
Emails loaded instantly, tweets went out without a hitch, and text replies were instant, but it was the gaming performance that really blew me away.
While you won’t be able to reach 120 frames per second on such a large display, I had no trouble playing Genshin Impact, Wild Rift, Legends of Runeterra, or Marvel Snap as a way to unwind at the end of the day without experiencing any noticeable lag.
Cameras Quality:
- Main 50MP Camera
- 5 Megapixel Ultra-Wide
- 2 Megapixel Depth Camera
- A strong showing for the evening
- The primary camera is excellent for the price.
Even while there appear to be three cameras on that attractive rear panel, there is, however, a clear frontrunner. The 5MP ultrawide works nicely, providing adequate framing of the subject and background detail, but the depth camera isn’t really useful for portraits.
Fortunately, the 50Mp primary sensor lives up to expectations and then some. I put it through its paces in Montreal’s snow and was pleased by how well it captured details both during the day and at night. It does take some practise to get the timing down for those shots in the dark mode, though.
Pictures shot with the 8Mp front-facing camera sensor are about on par with those taken by comparable handsets.
How Long Do Batteries Last?
- Capacity: 4500 mAH
- 20W power supply
- Adapter not supplied.
The Nokia’s PCMark 3.0 battery life test of 14.5 hours of screen-on time pleased me, but in practise, it seems to keep going and going. I got over two days of use out of it, and that’s with a 4500 mAh battery, which made me wonder if the phone’s size precluded a 5000 mAh battery. But, this is a minor quibble.
In an effort to minimise electronic waste, the only accessory included is a USB-C to USB-C cable; unfortunately, there is no included charger. You may take advantage of quick charging at up to 20W if you invest in a charger. In my experiments, I found that 15 minutes after inserting the phone into an adapter resulted in a 14% charge, and that 30 minutes resulted in a 26% charge.
Software & Apps
- Purist Android 12.0
- There will be updates for the next three years
Nokia’s approach to cheaper hardware is great in part because it doesn’t include bloatware. Many manufacturers preload their devices with a plethora of unnecessary software, from social networks you’ve never heard of to oddball apps from unsavoury third-party partners.
The Nokia G60 5G is still quite user-friendly, with a pure version of Android 12 (although 13 is the latest version). The apps remain clean and straightforward even after first configuration, which is a major plus.
The lack of a distinguishing feature, such as Moto’s minimalist overlay, is a drawback, but I’d rather have the reliable structure than any number of questionable extras. The three years of software updates that Nokia guarantees is longer than what is offered by many more expensive smartphones. Usually, inexpensive phones don’t get assured upgrades.
The Cost and Availability:
The Nokia G60 5G is available directly from Nokia for a very reasonable £249.99. It is also sold by UK retailers Amazon, Argos, and John Lewis. An international edition can be purchased for $329 from Amazon, despite the fact that it is not officially released in the United States.
There are two different storage capacities to choose from: 64GB and 128GB. You can choose between Black and Ice, and the price goes up if you want more storage space, but it’s still an excellent deal. All models come standard with 4GB of RAM.
That means the basic model is right at home in our budget phone section. There are, however, a plethora of excellent mid-range phones available for not much additional money.
