Meet Nokia C2 - An Android Go device with HD+ display, 4G LTE, and long battery life
A few months ago, HMD Global introduced the Nokia C2, an affordable entry-level smartphone for everyone.
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| Meet Nokia C2 |
When you talk about smartphones, state-of-the-art features and flashy designs always cross our minds. But when you come to think of it, not everyone has the money to purchase those high-end devices. Also, not everyone needs all of those features.
Enter the Nokia C2, a PHP 3,790 Android smartphone with basic functionalities. Could this be the call, text, and search device for you? Does the Nokia C2 fit the bill?
Let's find out.
Enter the Nokia C2, a PHP 3,790 Android smartphone with basic functionalities. Could this be the call, text, and search device for you? Does the Nokia C2 fit the bill?
Let's find out.
Meet Nokia C2
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| Unboxed |
The whole device kit is stored inside a compact, square box. This white box is printed with a photo of a Nokia C2 along with its details and specs.
Inside, you can find the smartphone and its accessories. For charging needs, there's a black power plug and a black USB cable included.
It's also nice that they added a silicone jelly case and a basic headphone, considering its relatively cheaper price. Of course, it also has documents like manuals and warranty.
Inside, you can find the smartphone and its accessories. For charging needs, there's a black power plug and a black USB cable included.
It's also nice that they added a silicone jelly case and a basic headphone, considering its relatively cheaper price. Of course, it also has documents like manuals and warranty.
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| The rear camera and single-firing speaker |
The back design of the Nokia C2 is made of polycarbonate material as expected. Even though it's made of plastic, it's surprisingly not cheap-looking because of its metallic finish. The texture is still matte so this won't attract so much smudge and fingerprint and it's pretty easy to clean.
I also like the fact that the Nokia logo is neatly embossed in silver and it's placed in the middle area. Instead of placing it on the bottom, the single-firing speaker is positioned on the lower left on the back.
There's no water splash resistance of Gorilla Glass protection so make sure to protect it from liquids or accidental slips. This entry-level phone is available in two colors only: Cyan and Black.
There's only a 3.5mm headphone jack placed on the top. Despite the fact that there are many wireless earbuds nowadays, it's still great to have this option.
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| Headphone jack at the top |
At the bottom, you can find the micro USB port for charging and a microphone.
The dedicated Google Assistant button is on the left side and I think it's a great idea to place it far away from the power button to avoid confusion since they both have the same size and color.
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| Bottom |
The dedicated Google Assistant button is on the left side and I think it's a great idea to place it far away from the power button to avoid confusion since they both have the same size and color.
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| The Google Assistant button on the left side |
The right side contains the volume rocker and below it is the power button. I noticed that this device lacks the slots for SIMs and microSD. That's mainly because you can access them if you remove its back cover.
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| The right side contains the power button and volume rocker |
Overall, the phone has a solid built although it feels a bit heavy and bulky at times. This is acceptable since the removable battery is thick and adds some weight.
As for the screen, Nokia was able to give this device a bright 5.7-inch IPS display. Its 2.5D curved TFT screen w/ HD has 1520 x 720 resolution at 295 ppi.
As for the screen, Nokia was able to give this device a bright 5.7-inch IPS display. Its 2.5D curved TFT screen w/ HD has 1520 x 720 resolution at 295 ppi.
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| Huge and vibrant screen |
The screen's viewing angle is also good so I had an enjoyable viewing experience even outdoors. So if you read a lot of PDFs or email, Nokia C2's display is suitable for you. I also find it great for social media lurking and watching video clips on Facebook because the colors on the screen appear pleasant.
Of course, don't expect phones with full HD screens at this price point.
Of course, don't expect phones with full HD screens at this price point.
Under the hood, the Nokia C2 has a 1.4GHz UNISOC quad-core processor coupled with a 1GB. Its built-in memory is 16GB but you can expand up to 64GB since it has a microSD card slot.
Even though this is an entry-level device under PHP 4K, I can still have a decent experience depending on the game genre. You can still play Mobile Legends in this phone under low settings, but the lags are consistent and noticeable. Unfortunately, this is not a good phone if you're into those multi-player online games.
Just be reminded that it's a good phone if you like to kill time by playing casual games like Zombie Tsunami. It's also a plus that the phone does not get too hot while charging and too much playing.
This device packs a battery capacity of 2,800mAh so it can last for hours of usage. I mildly used it for more than 8 hours, and it still has around 30 percent left on its battery.
Even though this is an entry-level device under PHP 4K, I can still have a decent experience depending on the game genre. You can still play Mobile Legends in this phone under low settings, but the lags are consistent and noticeable. Unfortunately, this is not a good phone if you're into those multi-player online games.
Just be reminded that it's a good phone if you like to kill time by playing casual games like Zombie Tsunami. It's also a plus that the phone does not get too hot while charging and too much playing.
Don't expect the phone to be that fast, but it isn't super slow as well.
This device packs a battery capacity of 2,800mAh so it can last for hours of usage. I mildly used it for more than 8 hours, and it still has around 30 percent left on its battery.
At the back, there's a 5MP f/2.2 single camera with w/ AF and LED flash. Apparently, it can carry out basic camera functions so we cannot expect too much from it. It only has two modes for taking pictures, the square and photo mode.
For daylight shots, it can capture images with plenty of details. It also produces realistic colors with enough punch and contrast.
Indoor shots can be somewhat grainy but overall this device can still capture the colors with accuracy.
The capability of Nokia C2's camera was challenged under low lit environments since the noise and blur are pretty obvious.
In front, there's also a 5MP camera for selfies but there's no beauty AI or effects.
Meanwhile, the indoor shot shows a bit of loss in detail. It tends to overexpose the image, making my complexion look paler than actual.
Taking a selfie in dim surroundings can be difficult because your selfies will be blurry just like the low light shots of its main camera. However, this is acceptable considering it has only a 5MP front camera.
For videos, it can record up to 1080p resolution and also has a timelapse function. Granted that the Nokia C2 lacks versatility in mobile photography, at least we know that its hardware can still capture photos and videos in a simple manner.
Rear Camera Samples
Nokia C2 has a respectable shooting and saving speed for an entry-level phone. Focus speed not that quick but it works pretty well. |
| Daylight shot |
For daylight shots, it can capture images with plenty of details. It also produces realistic colors with enough punch and contrast.
Indoor shots can be somewhat grainy but overall this device can still capture the colors with accuracy.
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| Indoor shot |
The capability of Nokia C2's camera was challenged under low lit environments since the noise and blur are pretty obvious.
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| Low light shot |
In front, there's also a 5MP camera for selfies but there's no beauty AI or effects.
Selfie Camera Samples
In daylight, the device capture selfies with nice details. It delivers great exposure while the dynamic range is not that bad. |
| Outdoor selfie |
Meanwhile, the indoor shot shows a bit of loss in detail. It tends to overexpose the image, making my complexion look paler than actual.
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| Indoor selfie |
Taking a selfie in dim surroundings can be difficult because your selfies will be blurry just like the low light shots of its main camera. However, this is acceptable considering it has only a 5MP front camera.
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| Low light selfie |
For videos, it can record up to 1080p resolution and also has a timelapse function. Granted that the Nokia C2 lacks versatility in mobile photography, at least we know that its hardware can still capture photos and videos in a simple manner.
The rest of the features
The device connects via WiFi and 4G LTE. It is one of the few with 4G LTE for the price.
It also has Bluetooth 4.2, OTG, GPS, GLONASS. Aside from those, it is equipped with an FM Radio and has two SIM card slots and a dedicated microSD card slot like we mentioned.
It includes sensors for accelerometer, light, and proximity. This budget phone does not have a fingerprint scanner or face recognition feature so you'll have to set your password combination.
Nokia C2 runs on the Android Go, a stripped-down version of Android that is designed for budget phones like this. Since this is meant for those phones with 512 MB to 1GB of RAM, it consumes less space.
It also has Bluetooth 4.2, OTG, GPS, GLONASS. Aside from those, it is equipped with an FM Radio and has two SIM card slots and a dedicated microSD card slot like we mentioned.
It includes sensors for accelerometer, light, and proximity. This budget phone does not have a fingerprint scanner or face recognition feature so you'll have to set your password combination.
Nokia C2 runs on the Android Go, a stripped-down version of Android that is designed for budget phones like this. Since this is meant for those phones with 512 MB to 1GB of RAM, it consumes less space.
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| Nokia C2's UI |
Devices running Android Go are also said to be able to open apps 15 percent faster than if they were running the regular Android software. So far, I did not encounter any lagging or problems when I tested Nokia C2 for web browsing and even YouTube.
And if you frequently use mobile data for Internet access, the Lite mode may probably be a useful feature for you. This acts like a "data-saver" to lessen mobile data consumption by default.
It works by simplifying a loading page or application so fewer data will be downloaded to your device. You can also see how much data you're saving if you've enabled lite mode. This is a great OS feature, especially if you want to stretch out your data allocation.
There is also a lite version of some applications that are pre-installed in this Nokia entry-level phone namely YouTube Go, Gallery Go, Maps Go, and others. They might be missing a feature or two, but running them will require less space in your RAM. So that's a good thing for you since your app usage is going to be efficient and faster.
Nokia C2 Specs
Display: 5.7-inch 2.5D curved TFT screen w/ HD+ 1520 x 720 resolution at 295 ppi
CPU: 1.4GHz UNISOC quad-core processor
RAM: 1GB
ROM: 16GB expandable via microSD card slot up to 64GB
Back Camera: 5MP f/2.2 w/ AF and LED flash
Selfie Camera: 5MP
Battery: 2,800mAh
OS: Android 9.0 Pie (Go edition)
Connectivity: WiFi 802.11 b/g/n,700MHz 4G LTE, Bluetooth 4.2, FM Radio, OTG, GPS, GLONASS, dual SIM
Sensors: Accelerometer, light, proximity
Others: Google Assistant button, Colors: Black, Cyan
Dimensions: 154.8 x 75.59 x 8.85 mm
Weight: 161 g
Price: PHP 3,790
Quick thoughts
At PHP 3,790, we think that the Nokia C2 is a respectable budget phone for everyday use. The device also has a sturdy material and stylish and minimalist look.
Performance-wise, it can manage your usual tasks of web browsing and social media tasks.
Performance-wise, it can manage your usual tasks of web browsing and social media tasks.
This phone's operating system is also suitable for optimizing the RAM so you can still launch apps with decent speed and multitask at times.
Overall, the Nokia C2 could be fitting for those looking for an affordable and uncomplicated smartphone.
Overall, the Nokia C2 could be fitting for those looking for an affordable and uncomplicated smartphone.
What do you think?
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