Nokia 4.2 review: A lightweight, good-looking device stuck in a time warp

The 4.2 is that solid idea Nokia forgot to build on

Compare the specification sheets of sub-12k phones and Nokia 4.2  (Rs 10,990) won't even make it to the top 5 in its price segment. It's not the best screen or the camera, neither does it have the fastest processor or the biggest battery. But somewhere in its mediocrity lies its unique strength. One that only a few can appreciate. 

Design (4/5)

It is clear that we are enamoured by the beautiful, fragile and reflective properties of glass. Stick it on every phone — front and back. And then what, cover it? The 4.2 follows the said design in demand. But where its maker, HMD Global, excels is that the phone just weighs 161 grams. It is so light and inspires such confidence without a cover that it could have been the phone of a distant future where people are sick of big, bright and bulky phones in shock-proof covers that rule the market today. But only if the 4.2 was future ready in terms of performance, too. (More on that in a minute).

The phone has a waterdrop (or just drop) notch to house the front camera that would have ideally meant a full screen display. But a lot of the display space is hogged by think bezels on top and bottom. Result: the 5.7-inch screen, smallish by current standards, feels even smaller. Old school? No, just old. 

The thin glass back vertically rests a dual-lens camera module in the middle, which is aligned with a fingerprint sensor right under it. If you are used to bigger phones, you are likely to hit the camera lens more often and wonder why the phone doesn't unlock. The fingerprint sensor, though, when pressed correctly, is extremely responsive. I love the design, which is perfect for single-hand use, but here's why I can't buy the phone. 

Performance (2.5/5)

Load it with WhatsApp, Facebook and a music app. The Google basics, such as Maps, Gmail come pre-installed on this clutter-free stock Android 9 OS. Lovely so far. Add to it, a Subway Surfer or a Candy Crush Saga. It's still golden. Try a PUBG or a video editing software and the phone starts to crumble. The 4.2’s budget Snapdragon 439 SoC (system on chip) and 3GB RAM is meant for day-to-day use and not for consistent gaming of any kind. The IPS LCD display is tuned well at 720x1520 pixels and 19:9 aspect ratio. Just don't watch a Quentin Tarantino, Christopher Nolan or a Guy Ritchie on it. It's better suited for Woody Allen kind of visuals.

The 3,000 mAh battery will see the phone through 24 hours, but it takes over three hours to charge. No fast charging with its outdated microUSB charging port. A poor call to keep the cost low. 

Camera (2/5)
 

The 13MP lens at the back paired with a 2MP depth sensor for bokeh effect does a satisfactory job in good light. The 8MP selfie camera is nuanced to use the light well, but except no AI wonders here. And it gets noisy and dull in the dark. Camera, too, is to capture the moments, but you'll need filters to flaunt them.

Verdict (3/5)
 

The heavyweights in this price segment from Samsung, Xiaomi and Vivo will overrun this timid device. But for some people who like a thin, light phone that gets basics right — and don't burden their handhelds with the responsibility of keeping them sane — will be happy to own the Nokia 4.2. You get an instant Rs 500 off before June 30. Vodafone and Idea users get free recharge worth Rs 2,500 over and above it. Like I said, it's tailor-made for some. For the rest of us, it's a secondary phone at best.