Nokia 2.3 launched: Android One into 2021 for US$121

The 2.3 is a new phone from Nokia. It is a decidedly budget offering, although it does have a dual rear camera, which consists of a 13MP main shooter and a 2MP depth-sensor. Its single selfie camera, found in a waterdrop-style notch, is a 5MP sensor, however. The slightly more extensive main cameras are housed in a polymer rear panel, which in a world of wall-to-wall glass is refreshing, at least.

This rear face has a "Nano-Textured" treatment that turns the surface into one with thin vertical raised furrows, somewhat like that of the top of the TicPod Free's charging case. This should improve the phone's grip, although its 6.2-inch HD+ display won't make carrying it much of a challenge. The front panel is completed with a Nokia logo in a restrained chin.

The screen in question has an up-to-date 19:9 aspect ratio; in addition, the OEM asserts that it has loaded the 2.3 with AI that maximises its 4000mAh battery capacity. It ships with Android 9.0 (Pie), but should get an update to 10 soon. This is due to its Android One status, which promises 2 years' worth of software updates, as well as regular security patch elevations.

Despite these advantages to rationalize its ~US$121 price-point, the Nokia 2.3 remains stuck with a microUSB port, the same one Samsung may phase out in its upcoming Galaxy A generation for 2020. In addition, the HMD Global model is powered by the Helio A22 SoC with 2GB of RAM, and makes do with "biometric face unlock" due to its lack of a fingerprint scanner of any kind.

Then again, this new 2-series phone does have a headphone jack. Therefore, the customer will have to decide if its looks (which come in appealing Cyan Green, Sand and Charcoal colorways) and UI outweigh these potential disadvantages.