At MWC 2014 Nokia finally gave the world what many folks having been asking for, Nokia handsets that run on the power of Android.
Unfortunately, none of three Nokia Android devices are exactly what we
think of when it comes to a typical Android device, due to a very
customized Android-based UI and the lack of Google apps
Although we will be taking a look at the Nokia XL a bit later today,
let’s first dive in and take a look at the Nokia X. While there is also
an X+ model, the only real difference is that it bumps the RAM from
512MB to 768MB
Design
The build quality here is very reminiscent of devices like the Nokia 928,
bringing us a blocky design that sits nicely in the hand. All around
the design is very simplistic and not overly flashy, despite the fact
the handset rocks bright colors such as yellow and green.
On the right you’ll find a power button and the volume rockers, and on the front is a single capacitive key.
Hardware and Performance
The Nokia X is no powerhouse by any means, featuring a 1Ghz Qualcomm
Snapdragon S4 dual-core CPU and just 512MB of RAM. There’s also a 4-inch
display with an 800 x 480 resolution, a 3MP camera and dual-SIM
support.
The specs probably won’t impress anyone, but they should be more than
enough to provide a decent smartphone experience. When flipping through
the UI, navigation seems smooth enough and the interface itself is very
simplistic and well-organized.
Software
As previously mentioned, the Nokia X has a look that is very
different from stock Android or even manufacturer customized UIs like
Touchwiz and Sense. The whole design mimics Windows Phone 8, giving us a
“Metro” tiled look.
Whether you like the Nokia X UI or not is probably a matter of
personal taste, though at the heart of the Nokia X lies Android, and
that means it is more than possible to sideload just about any Android
app and the handset should even work with third-party stores like the
Amazon AppStore. There are even ways to change up the UI using 3rd party
launchers like Nova Launcher.
Unfortunately, there are no Google Play services present such as
Music, Gmail and the Play store. Instead, you get Nokia HERE maps and
several Microsoft-centric apps.
Wrap Up
It’s nice to see Nokia finally at least exploring Android as an alternative to Windows Phone, even if it seems way too late in the game to make any difference.
The Nokia X probably won’t appeal to most Android fans due to the lack
of Google services and the customized WP-like UI, but it could be
perfect for first-time smartphone users or those just looking to pick
one up for tinkering with.
The Nokia X is expected to arrive at a sub-$200 price point and will
be launched worldwide, though at least for the moment, there is no planned release for North America. What do you think of Nokia’s first attempt at an Android smartphone, like it or not?
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