With the Nokia XR20, Nokia may have found the sweet spot for “cheap rugged phones.” It’s a competitively priced, extremely durable phone that’s not too difficult to use.
That may sound as if I’m damning it with faint praise, but that’s not the case. Rugged phones are usually excellent at the ‘rugged’ part. But not so much at the ‘phone’ part, and with good cause.
As a tough phone producer, the amount of money necessary to make your smartphone resistant to drops, heat, dust, and water is quite significant. That implies you’ll have to make cuts on the internal specs. At least if you want your tough phone to be affordable to hardworking people.
What will you see here?
Specs at a glance:
- Colors: Granite(Black ) and Ultra blue
- Sunlit brightness boost (550 nits), Center punch hole, Wet hands, and gloves compatibility
- Size: 6.67 inches (16.94 cm)
- Resolution: FHD+ (1080 x 2400)
- Features: ZEISS Optics, ZEISS Portrait, ZEISS Cinematic Effects, SpeedWarp mode, Action Cam mode, Night mode, Cinema mode, HDR, Beautification, Panorama, Watermark
- Bluetooth: 5.1
- Headphone jack:3.5 mm
- Battery: 4630 mAh
- 2-day battery life
- charging: USB Type C Charging
- 18W wired fast charging and 15W wireless charging are compatible
- Qi wireless charging, Quick Charge 4.0, AI battery-saving technology
- Microphones:2
- Speakers:2
- Fingerprint sensor: Side-Power key
- Buttons: Google Assistant button, Programmable top button, Volume up/down, power button with a fingerprint sensor
- Sensors :
- Accelerometer (G-sensor)
- Ambient light sensor
- Barometer
- e-Compass
- Gyroscope
- Proximity sensor
Specs & Performance
We’ve come to expect rugged phones to let us down, and the Nokia XR20 is no exception. Because this is essentially the same Nokia X20, you’ll find the Snapdragon 480 5G processor inside.
Qualcomm has only recently introduced this feature, which is based on a manufacturing standard of 8 nanometers. Unfortunately, with just 4- or 6-GB of RAM instead of the X20’s 6- or 8GB, it’s still a moderate performer in terms of output.
The Snapdragon 480 5G, on the other hand, has 5G communication (as the name suggests). On the contrary, it will not be shattering any speed records.
Cameras
As noted before that the Nokia XR20 is built on the Nokia X20. But it doesn’t apply to the cameras, which is surprising. Nokia has chosen a quite different, more conventional dual-sensor setup. You get a 48-megapixel wide camera and a 13-megapixel ultra-wide sensor, and that’s about all.
The Nokia X20’s 2MP macro and depth sensors, which were essentially useless in the first place, don’t bother us. However, there is still no zoom lens accessible.
Rugged features
The Nokia XR20 is based on the Nokia X20, as previously stated. But this does not apply to the cameras, which is unexpected. Nokia has gone with a much more standard dual-sensor system. All you get is a 48-megapixel wide-angle camera and a 13-megapixel ultra-wide sensor.
The Nokia X20’s 2MP macro and depth sensors, which were essentially useless in the first place, don’t faze us. There is, however, no zoom lens available.
Design & Structure
What’s most impressive about it, though, is how easy it is to work with.
It’s no one’s notion of a small and pocketable contemporary smartphone, at 10.6mm thick and 248g. It’s somewhat smaller than the Defy, but it’s also 16 grams heavier. To put things in perspective, even the behemoth that is the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra is just 234g.
Notwithstanding this, the Nokia XR20 lacks the sensation of a battle-ready device. The color of my Ultra Blue model helps to lighten the military-industrial feel, although solid, angled metal breaches through the strong plastic case on the corners of the phone.
Display & Speakers
What’s most striking about it, though, is how easy it is to work with.
The Nokia XR20 is merely a highly portable version of the Nokia X20, with the same fundamental screen.
You’re looking at a reassuringly ordinary 6.67in IPS LCD with a 1080 x 2400 (Full HD+) resolution once you get past the amazingly tough Gorilla Glass Victus coating. It isn’t very bright – this isn’t an OLED display – but it achieves a degree of naked competency that the Motorola Defy’s display mainly misses the mark of.
Battery Life & Charging
The Nokia XR20 has a 4470mAh battery, which is a good capacity but not enormous. In comparison, the Motorola Defy seems to have a 5000mAh battery.
Besides that, it’s more than capable. If you don’t overload it with movies, games, and other distractions, you’ll be able to get by for two days on a single charge.
For an apparently mid-range phone, 18W wired charging is supported, which isn’t really fast. The Motorola Defy features a 20W charger too.
Price & Availability
The Nokia XR20 is now available in the United Kingdom and a few other European nations. In the United States, it will be published on August 24.
It will cost £399/€499, which is £100/€100 more than the Nokia X20 it is based on. This is for the 4/64GB basic model, although a 6/128GB version is also available for £449/€569.
At the present, it’s only available via Nokia or
That may appear to be a lot of money for a phone with entrance specs. Ruggedizing a phone, as noted, is expensive — the Motorola Defy and the identically specced Moto G9 Play have a similar price gap.
How strong is Nokia XR20?
A layer of Gorilla Glass Victus shields the screen, which is stronger than anything we’ve seen on a Nokia device before. The Nokia XR20 is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 processor as well as 4GB or 6GB of RAM.
What is special About Nokia XR20?
The Nokia XR20 has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 processor and 6GB of RAM. The phone also has an Octa-core Dual-core 2GHz Kryo 460 and Hexa-core 1.8GHz Kryo 460 CPU design, which ensures smooth performance. A non-removable Li-polymer battery with a capacity of 4630mAh powers the smartphone.
Is Nokia XR20 good for gaming?
The 6.67-inch full-HD+ LCD display is ideal for viewing movies and playing video games. It functions with gloves and moist hands, according to HMD Global.
Conclusion
The new Nokia XR20 is a phone designed to withstand life’s challenges. It’s another tough phone, which is already a niche market, but it’s by far the best-looking one we’ve seen so far. It’s a tough device that can resist drops, an hour underwater, and just about anything else you could throw at it – or at it.
