Meet Nokia 2.4 - Sturdy build, basic and clean Android experience

One of the highlights of new Nokia devices is offering value-for-money specs without forgetting the build to satisfy those who have a limited budget.

Meet Nokia 2.4

One good example is this, the Nokia 2.4. This is the fourth device in the Nokia 2 series of phones that began in 2017.

Comparing to its predecessor, the Nokia 2.4 now has a fingerprint scanner at its rear, a more capable 2.0GHz 12nm MediaTek Helio P22 octa-core processor, with a 3GB/64GB configuration.

Noticeably, it is also an upgrade with a bigger 6.5-inch display and a beefier 4,500mAh battery.

Let's take a look at how it performs!

Meet Nokia 2.4

Unboxing the Nokia 2.4

The Nokia 2.4 device is placed inside a compact and neat-looking white box, along with its accessories. You'll notice that it was packaged with a clear silicone case, SIM tray tool, wall charger, micro-USB cable, basic earphones, documentation, and warranty.

We just wished that Nokia equipped this one with a USB-C cable plus fast charging support. But then, you cannot complain that much with this price point.

The good thing is that it included good quality earphones since that's a big thing for budget-conscious consumers.

The nordic and modern back panel design

The budget phone appears to be made of sturdy polycarbonate material. For options, it comes in 3 attractive colors: Charcoal, Dusk, and Fjord. The terms look tricky because they are derived from Nordic terms but they are basically grey, purple, and cyan.

The earthy Nordic colors combined with a subtle gradient look regal

The unit Nokia sent to us is in the lovely and modern Charcoal shade. Nokia has kept it thin and light so it weighs below 200 grams. We like the textured back because we can get a good grip even with its huge size. It's also low maintenance since it's not prone to dust or finger marks.

Top view

Moving on, there’s a 3.5mm headphone jack at the top frame alongside a primary microphone. 

Bottom view

You’ll find the secondary mic, a micro USB port, and the speaker grille at the bottom.

Left side

Meanwhile, there’s the trademark dedicated Google Assistant button plus the sim card and memory card slot on the left.

Right side

The volume and power buttons are placed on the right.  

720p creen for Netflix and casual browsing

The 6.5-inch 2.5D curved TFT screen of Nokia 2.4 has a 720p resolution at 270 ppi. Since the Nokia logo is placed on the phone's chin, so, understandably, it is thicker. There's a teardrop notch that houses the front camera.

Even though it's not full HD, the display is respectable with vivid colors. It's fairly detailed enough for checking out your photos and email or watching YouTube clips. It's just a bit underwhelming for us, but people will find it okay. If you would look at it closer, you would notice the lack of sharpness in images.

Furthermore, I noticed that the screen is on the warm side by default. But just like any typical smartphones, you can modify it according to your preference under the "White Balance" option in the settings menu.

Nokia 2.4's display can get bright enough indoors but I struggled using it in outdoor situations, especially in sunny areas.

Its audio prowess is not that impressive, it lacks power even at the maximum level. However, the sounds from the video clips are still clear and audible. I had a better experience when I played music with the basic earphones plugged in it.

At the back of the Nokia 4.2, you'll find a 13MP primary camera on the rear, coupled with a 2MP depth sensor. The main sensor has an f/2.2 aperture, auto-focus, and a LED flash. 

The smartphone's camera UI is quite simple. It features three modes for shooting: portrait, photo, and night. It does not have an expert mode which is a bit disappointing but understandable. In addition to this, this one is equipped with your usual HDR and beauty filter for portrait photos.

Rear Camera Samples

Daylight auto with HDR

Daylight shot without HDR

The main camera at 13MP is pretty great! We admit that we had a bit of a hard time shooting at first because of the slow focus. But, shutter speed is okay. Daylight shots are punchy in details and colors. You can clearly see the details but the colors are a bit undersaturated without the HDR.

Nice silhouette shot on a bridge

Clear contrast and details on this wall

We were able to use Nokia's camera for taking photos of old structures around the city. The results are hardly comparable to a few pricier devices. However, they are better than other smartphones within this price range.

Indoor photo inside a coffee shop

Vibrant colors of the subject

Another bright-colored sample

In well-lit indoor scenarios, the Nokia 2.4 gave out great results. The level of details in the sample shots kinda surprised me. There are just moments that it's a bit slow on focusing on the subject. 

Portrait mode sample

The Nokia 2.4 had an option for bokeh shots which produces a strong and unnatural blur in the background. We also noticed that its edge detection is not that good since inspecting the shot closely reveals a lot of blurred hairs and the likes.

Without Night Mode

Activating Night Mode

Not all budget devices sport a Night Mode while Nokia 2.4 has a good one. Unfortunately, we're not able to test this function in a really dark place.

So what we did is find the dimmest part of the room to find out what it can do with the poor lighting situation. I like how it illuminated the whole picture without overdoing it. The colors are still nice and it did not soften the details.

Its night mode feature does a good job at capturing images.

In front, the smartphone is equipped with a 5MP f/2.4 camera for selfies. The functions of this front camera are only limited to normal photos, portraits, and videos. There's an option to manipulate the level of blur for the portrait. 

Below are some pictures I took using the front camera of Nokia 2.4:

Selfie Camera Samples

Daylight selfie without filter

Considering that this phone is in the affordable range, the quality of photos from the selfie camera is notably decent. It was able to capture a lot of details during the outdoor setting. The downside I observed so far is that it made my complexion look washed out. 

Outdoor selfie with a beauty filter

Meanwhile, you can also toggle on the beauty filter to select the level you prefer. Personally, I won't go beyond 5 but it's totally up to the user. Going beyond that can make your photo look cartoonish or unrealistic.

An indoor selfie using its portrait mode

For the portrait mode, edge detection is not as good, similar to the portrait mode of its rear camera. The blur is too sharp so it looks unnatural. But it's still nice to have this function if you're the type of user who takes selfies in a crowded environment.

Selfie inside a dim area

Indoor and low light selfies are softer, with graininess more apparent. This is quite acceptable since the device only has a small 5MP f/2.4 sensor. You can use the screen flash during these occasions.

This budget phone can shoot 1080p 30fps videos using the main cam and selfie cam. It also has a Time-lapse function but lacks a slo-mo feature. 

It can capture average quality in terms of details in well-lit surroundings. It's also nice that it has a video stabilization feature, which can be a big help if your hands are shaky.

Performance

Geekbench and PCMark scores

HMD Global went with the MediaTek Helio P22 processor for the Nokia 2.4 and there's nothing quite impressive with this. I think it means that this processor paired with the 3GB RAM is good enough for the basic Android experience you are looking for.

In our benchmark testing, it got a single-core score of 137 and a multi-core score of 486 in Geekbench. Meanwhile, the PCMark scored this one with 525.

In actuality, this handset was able to handle most things well.  The phone does take some time but that wait is not long. Basically, most phones in this price range do work similarly when multitasking. 

The phone can manage to run Call of Duty Mobile but at the lowest setting. Gaming is not the strong suit of the Nokia 2.4, by which I mean that you reserve your gaming to light games on the phone.

The good thing is, this device got adequate storage of 64GB and you can expand it up to 512GB. This may be useful if you are a student and using this for research and your online classes.

11 hours and 27 minutes

Since this is equipped with a 4,500mAh battery, one might assume that it can last more than a day. Well, it only got 11 hours and 27 minutes during the PCMark battery life testing.

AND, it was able to last longer than that in actual usage with moderate web browsing, watching videos, and light gaming. 

The OS

This budget phone runs a stock Android 10 since Nokia is included in Google’s Android One program. The company already promised two years of Android and monthly security updates.

It looks clean and uncluttered, with no bloatware or ads. Because of that, it enhances the user's overall experience.  

In terms of connectivity, this device has WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, 4G LTE, Bluetooth 5.0, FM Radio, OTG, GPS, GLONASS, and dual SIM. It has a fingerprint scanner at the back and it's quite responsive.

Nokia 2.4 Specs

Display: 6.5-inch 2.5D curved TFT screen w/ HD+ 1600 x 720 resolution at 270 ppi

CPU: 2.0GHz 12nm MediaTek Helio P22 octa-core processor

GPU: PowerVR GE8320

RAM: 3GB

ROM: 64GB expandable via microSD card slot up to 512GB

Back Camera: 13MP f/2.2 w/ AF + 2MP w/ LED flash

Selfie Camera: 5MP f/2.4

Battery: 4,500mAh

OS: Android 10

Connectivity: WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, 4G LTE, Bluetooth 5.0, FM Radio, OTG, GPS, GLONASS, dual SIM

Sensors: Accelerometer, light, proximity

Others: Fingerprint scanner, face unlock, Google Assistant button, Colors: Dusk, Charcoal, Fjord

Dimensions: 165.85 x 76.3 x 8.69 mm

Weight: 189 g

Price: PHP 6,990

Quick thoughts

Nokia 2.4 is a well-designed and sturdy handset that can manage basic tasks like media streaming, web browsing, and research.

There are phones from other brands around this price range that delivers better camera specs and performance. But, not all can deliver a clean Android experience, decent battery life, and a robust yet handsome design. 

This may be a great option for those who have a tight budget but do not want to compromise on durability and build quality.

Do you guys agree?