Nokia 8.3 5G review
We tried Nokia 8.3 5G, the top-of-the-range smartphone from HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones. The smartphone from the next James Bond movie has one 6,81 inch screen, a main camera from 64 MP and a light and snappy version of Android 10, which is soon to be updated. Has Nokia launched a smartphone that can compete with the best?
Perhaps with the best no, as we go to see. But Nokia 8.3 5G could be the perfect compromise between performance and price for many users.
Nokia 8.3 5G review: design
Nokia 8.3 5G is the smartphone bigger we've ever used. Or at least that's the impression the device gave us once we opened the box. In recent years, the size of the phones has increased dramatically: today's top of the range regularly exceed 6 inches diagonal, becoming real multimedia devices on which to enjoy even the streaming video and playing. However, the new Nokia smartphone is among the largest in circulation: the diagonal of the screen is from 6,81 inches, the thickness is of 9 mm and the weight of 220 grams.
The impression in your hands is that of a massive smartphone, perhaps not the most manageable but with a large one constructive solidity. The profile of the smartphone in metal houses on the left only the button to activate Google Assistant, while on the right we find (from top to bottom) the SIM slot, the volume keys and the power key, which also acts as fingerprint reader. A solution that is usually seen on lower-end smartphones but which we particularly appreciated: comfortable and snappy, cleverly positioned. Below we find the entrance USB-C and the ever popular headphone jack cable, along with speakers and a microphone.
On the back we find the Gorilla Glass, particularly bright in the Blue color that was given to us for this review. It gives the idea of the top-of-the-range smartphone, especially thanks to the circular rise for the camera, which shows the four sensors and the logo ZEISS. Next we find the flash.
The screen
Nokia has equipped this smartphone with a 6,81-inch display, with a proportion of 20:9. The result is a very tall smartphone, which makes the multimedia playback but it is not very convenient to access notifications, at least for those who are not used to it.
The screen is in Full HD +, with a resolution of × 1080 2400, which are equivalent to 386 pixels per inch. The difference with a QHD screen can be seen if you compare it directly or if you have a particularly trained eye to recognize the difference. For the vast majority of people, this is great. The difference in the refresh rate is more evident here in 60 Hz classics less and less adopted by the top of the range. Especially if you have recently put your hand on a smartphone like the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, which with its 120 Hz is much smoother.
The Nokia 8.3 5G does not have the best screen in this category and price range, especially due to the low refresh rate. This does not mean that it is not good, on the contrary: we enjoyed it color management and the clarity with which it displays images on the screen. The camera hole at the top and the small “Nokia” bezel at the bottom don't stop you from enjoying this large and well-crafted screen.
Nokia 8.3 5G review: performance
The most important news for the performance of this smartphone is undoubtedly the 5G, which unfortunately does not cover the area in which we tested the smartphone. However, HMD Global has announced that the Nokia 8.3 5G pretty much covers it all available frequencies for new technology, unlike what happens on many other smartphones. A novelty that perhaps now is not essential for everyone but that makes this smartphone a good buy for years to come.
To support 5G, Nokia has played it safe by equipping the device with one Snapdragon 765. It is not as fast as Qualcomm's top of the range, the Snapdragon 865 Plus. If you don't have any particular power requirements, however, you don't have to worry: in our daily use the Nokia 8.3 5G it has never slowed down, always switching quickly from one application to another without problem. Gaming doesn't scare this device either: we tested a bit of everything, from Pokémon Go to Call of Duty, without noticing any slowdowns.
We tested the version with 128 GB of memory, which has 8GB RAM. But even the 64GB version with 6GB of memory shouldn't give any problems: RAM usage remains well below that limit.
The credit for these performances also goes to the version little branded of Android 10, practically the same as the one you find on the Pixels. With this smartphone you have updates ensured up to Android 12, so you can be on the safe side: it will continue to perform well for at least the next two or three years.
Battery
The battery of this smartphone is from 4.500 mAh. Which are more than enough, even if considering the large size (and the far from low weight) of this device we would have expected something more. That said, even during the test phase where we played for a long time and made the most of the streaming we managed to get to the end of the day without too many problems.
In the box you will find a charger from 18 W, which does not allow for record recharging times but does its job very well. In one hour we charged the phone from 0 to over 90%, although it slowed down a lot for the last 10 percentage points, taking an extra twenty minutes to get to 100%.
However, we do not understand the choice of not include wireless charging, now a standard for several years.
Discount
Nokia 8.3 - Smartphone 128GB, 8GB RAM, Dual Sim, Blu,...
- Display: 6.81", 1080 x 2400 pixel
- Processor: snapdragon 765g 2.4ghz
- Camera: quad, 64mp + 12mp + 2mp + 2mp
Nokia 8.3 5G: the camera
The ZEISS optics on the back of the smartphone are very good on paper. The main sensor is from 64MP, with f / 1.89. Also find a 12MP f / 2.2 wide angle, a 2MP macro and a sensor of depth from 2MP. By now the difference in terms of technical specifications for smartphone cameras is lowering a lot, with even very cheap devices that have similar equipment. However, the good build quality of the sensors is noted.
By default you take 16MP images, to take full advantage of the 64MP you have to use the Pro Mode on the camera app, which is easy to navigate. The result is good enough to do good figure on social media even without special adjustments or changes in post production. By trying out the various functions, you can take great pictures.
Night mode
Selfie camera
La night mode is not bright like that of the Pixel but it is enough for some night shots. The macro is also not surprising, although it is sufficient for a few posts on Instagram. The videos are well done but the quality of the equipment shines especially when shooting with the main sensor and wide angle in good lighting conditions, even in portrait mode.
Nokia 8.3 5G: buy it or not?
The top of the Finnish range it has no real flaws: the screen is large and bright, the performance is very good even in gaming, the battery lasts all day and the camera does its duty. Furthermore the 5G and the operating system very similar to that of the Pixels make it a product that will live up to the next two or three years. The only problem is that in this price range it has many rivals who do the same and also shine in some respects. The already mentioned Samsung Galaxy S20 FE it has a great screen and a better processor, OnePlus 8T it has a really out of the ordinary battery. And the Pixel 5 receives the Android updates first of all, as well as having really great camera software.
At the price of 599 euros, Nokia 8.3 5G has everything you need has a top of the range, even if the competition in this price range it is really tough. We are happy to see Nokia return to compete with the best but something more is needed for it to emerge in this hyper-competitive market.
Nokia 8.3 5G
For 
- Big screen
- Operating System
- Full
Cons 
- It might be too big
- No wireless charging
