Nokia 6.2 Smartphone Review - Android One with real dual-SIM and SD card slot
Nokia has unveiled the successor of the Nokia 6.1 at this year's IFA exhibition. At first glance, it is hard to distinguish between the sister model Nokia 7.2, which we have already tested, and the Nokia 6.2. They both share the same weight, dimensions and even the 6.3-inch IPS display with HDR support and waterdrop notch. The Nokia 6.2 is available starting at around 200 Euros (~$223) for the model with 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage space or about 230 Euros (~$257) for a configuration with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage space.
Competing Devices
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Drive | Size | Resolution | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
77.6 % v7 (old) | 01 / 2020 | Nokia 6.2 SD 636, Adreno 509 | 180 g | 64 GB eMMC Flash | 6.30" | 2340x1080 | |
79.2 % v7 (old) | 11 / 2019 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 SD 665, Adreno 610 | 190 g | 128 GB eMMC Flash | 6.30" | 2340x1080 | |
80.7 % v7 (old) | 11 / 2019 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro Helio G90T, Mali-G76 MP4 | 200 g | 128 GB UFS 2.0 Flash | 6.53" | 2340x1080 | |
79.8 % v7 (old) | 04 / 2019 | Samsung Galaxy A50 Exynos 9610, Mali-G72 MP3 | 166 g | 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | 6.40" | 2340x1080 | |
78.3 % v7 (old) | 05 / 2019 | Huawei P30 Lite Kirin 710, Mali-G51 MP4 | 159 g | 128 GB eMMC Flash | 6.15" | 2312x1080 | |
88 % v6 (old) | 05 / 2019 | Xiaomi Mi 9 SE SD 712, Adreno 616 | 155 g | 128 GB UFS 2.0 Flash | 5.97" | 2340x1080 |
Case - Nokia Smartphone with Notch
The case of the Nokia 6.2 largely consists of 3rd generation Corning Gorilla Glass. The construction quality of our test sample relative to the price is good. Similarly, the volume rocker and power button have well-defined actuation points. The Nokia 6.2 comes with a dedicated Google Assistant button, which directly invokes the virtual assistant. Additionally, the status LED of the Nokia smartphone resides inside of the power button.
The top and bottom bezels of the IPS panel are fairly large. While more specifically, only 80% of the front is occupied by the display, this is still decent for a budget smartphone.
Features - Nokia 6.2 with 3.5-mm Audio Jack
The internal eMMC storage has a capacity of 64 GB, although only 48 GB is available to users ex-factory. Those who need more space can expand the storage with an additional microSD card. However, the file system exFAT is not supported. Additional peripherals such as USB thumb drives can also be connected to the USB Type-C port via an OTG adapter. Data can be transferred over the USB port at 2.0 speeds.
On top of that, Miracast is available for wirelessly sharing screen content. Thanks to the DRM Widevine L1 certification, DRM-protected content can be played at HD resolution.
Software - Nokia Smartphone with Android One
For the operating system, the manufacturer relies on the Android One platform. Thus, the security patches for the Nokia 6.2 will always be up-to-date.
Communication and GPS - Nokia 6.2 with NFC
The integrated Wi-Fi module supports the IEEE-802.11 standards a/b/g/n/ac for 2.4 and 5 GHz compatibility. While the transfer rates between the Nokia smartphone and our reference router Linksys EA 8500 are below those of the mid-range Redmi phone, they are still good for a 200-Euro (~$223) smartphone.
The dual-SIM smartphone can connect to mobile LTE networks with up to two nanoSIM cards. As per usual in this price category, the number of bands supported by the Nokia 6.2 is low. The mid-range phone can only access 10 LTE bands. However, users will not be limited when it comes to domestic use.
For wirelessly communicating with peripherals, an NFC chip has been integrated as well. Furthermore, the Nokia phone supports Bluetooth version 5.0.
Networking | |
iperf3 transmit AX12 | |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro | |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 | |
Nokia 6.2 | |
Xiaomi Mi 9 SE | |
Samsung Galaxy A50 | |
Huawei P30 Lite | |
iperf3 receive AX12 | |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro | |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 | |
Nokia 6.2 | |
Xiaomi Mi 9 SE | |
Samsung Galaxy A50 | |
Huawei P30 Lite |
In order to test the real-world locating capabilities of our test device, we record the track with the GPS navigation system Garmin Edge 500 in parallel for comparison. The discrepancy between the GPS modules is small and only amounts to around 130 meters between the Nokia 6.2 and the professional Navi at the end of the 9 km test track. The position is determined via the satellite systems GPS, GLONASS, Galileo as well as BeiDou.
Telephony and Call Quality - Nokia Smartphone with VoLTE
When making calls inside of the German Vodafone mobile network, both the call quality and the maximum volume are decent. The integrated microphone does not negatively affect the experience either. Calls can also be made over Wi-Fi and VoLTE.
Cameras - Nokia 6.2 with Dual-Camera Setup
The main camera of the Nokia 6.2 has a resolution of 16 megapixels. While the light-sensitive f/1.8 aperture guarantees sufficiently bright pictures even in low-light scenarios, they turn out noisy and often lack sharpness. However, the mid-range smartphone is able to produce appealing results under good lighting conditions, although there is a noticeable red tint. Additionally, the camera could do a better job at expressing the contrast and dynamic range of a scene.
The wide-angle lens has appealing color accuracy as well. That being said, wide-angle shots suffer when it comes to details and sharpness. Video can only be recorded at 1080p and at 30 FPS.
Similarly, the front camera only supports FHD resolution in videos as well. Selfies taken with the 8-MP front camera in scenarios with good lighting conditions look good. While they lose sharpness and details compared to the main camera, we still like the Nokia 6.2's pictures.
Accessories and Warranty - Nokia 6.2 without Surprises
The scope of delivery includes a modular 10-watt charger, a USB cable, earphones and the smartphone itself.
Nokia offers buyers of the smartphone a 24-month warranty.
Input Devices & Handling - Nokia Smartphone with Rear Fingerprint Sensor
The capacitive multi-touchscreen registers inputs precisely and the anti-fingerprint layer hides smudges well.
The active fingerprint sensor on the back is somewhat slow, but it is reliable. Although there is a FaceUnlock feature that relies on the front camera on top of that, it is only a 2D-based facial recognition and also relatively slow.
Display - Nokia 6.2 with IPS Panel
The IPS liquid crystal display measures 6.3 inches diagonally. At a resolution of 2340x1080 pixels, this amounts to a pixel density of 409 ppi, which results in sufficiently sharp display content during regular use and at common viewing distances.
The measured maximum brightness level of 611 cd/m² is satisfactory for a mid-range smartphone and it decreases to 544 cd/m² when the ambient light sensor for controlling the Nokia 6.2's brightness is disabled. The APL50 test (average picture level), which aims to mirror real-world conditions, includes evenly distributed bright and dark areas and returns an almost identical maximum brightness level of only 608 cd/m².
At a brightness level of below 24%, Nokia's model 6.2 uses pulse-width modulation for regulating the display's brightness. At 2,336 Hz, the frequency is very high, however.
|
Brightness Distribution: 91 %
Center on Battery: 611 cd/m²
Contrast: 1528:1 (Black: 0.4 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 5.2 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.93
ΔE Greyscale 6.1 | 0.5-98 Ø5.2
100% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.21
Nokia 6.2 IPS, 2340x1080, 6.3" | Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 IPS, 2340x1080, 6.3" | Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro IPS, 2340x1080, 6.5" | Samsung Galaxy A50 AMOLED, 2340x1080, 6.4" | Huawei P30 Lite IPS LCD, 2312x1080, 6.2" | Xiaomi Mi 9 SE AMOLED, 2340x1080, 6" | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Screen | 23% | 4% | 22% | 7% | 31% | |
Brightness middle | 611 | 656 7% | 669 9% | 644 5% | 451 -26% | 583 -5% |
Brightness | 582 | 643 10% | 630 8% | 628 8% | 430 -26% | 577 -1% |
Brightness Distribution | 91 | 95 4% | 87 -4% | 91 0% | 90 -1% | 97 7% |
Black Level * | 0.4 | 0.54 -35% | 0.42 -5% | 0.55 -38% | ||
Contrast | 1528 | 1215 -20% | 1593 4% | 820 -46% | ||
Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 5.2 | 1.1 79% | 4.8 8% | 2.64 49% | 1.4 73% | 1.6 69% |
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 10.2 | 2.4 76% | 9 12% | 9.23 10% | 4.4 57% | 3.9 62% |
Greyscale dE 2000 * | 6.1 | 2.2 64% | 6.2 -2% | 2.5 59% | 2.5 59% | 2.7 56% |
Gamma | 2.21 100% | 2.2 100% | 2.24 98% | 2.024 109% | 2.22 99% | 2.27 97% |
CCT | 8100 80% | 6263 104% | 7846 83% | 6649 98% | 6422 101% | 6267 104% |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
Screen flickering / PWM detected | 2336 Hz | ≤ 24 % brightness setting | |
The display backlight flickers at 2336 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 24 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting. The frequency of 2336 Hz is quite high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 17146 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured. |
The IPS panel's black value of 0.4 cd/m² results in a good contrast ratio of about 1,500:1. The realistic APL50 measurements put the black value at 0.41 cd/m² for a slightly reduced contrast ratio.
We determine the color accuracy of the Nokia 6.2 with the help of the X-Rite spectrophotometer i1pro 2 and the analysis software CalMAN. The IPS panel covers most of the sRGB color space. At an average deltaE for the grayscale and colors of 6.1 and 5.2, respectively, the deltaE deviates significantly from the ideal range of <3.
Display Response Times
↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
---|---|---|
22 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 6 ms rise | |
↘ 16 ms fall | ||
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 44 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (21 ms). | ||
↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
53.2 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 24.4 ms rise | |
↘ 28.8 ms fall | ||
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 89 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33 ms). |
The liquid crystal screen is bright enough to remain readable even on sunny days. The viewing angles are large and the perceived brightness only drops by a small amount even at extreme angles.
Performance - Nokia 6.2 with Snapdragon 636
Nokia installs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 in its mid-range model. The mid-range processor stems from the American semiconductor manufacturer that resides in San Diego and integrates eight 64-bit processing cores in the manufacturer's own 14-nm Kryo 260 architecture. The Adreno 509 graphics chip complements the aforementioned package. It offers support for the modern APIs Vulkan and OpenGL ES 3.1.
The system runs well thanks to the lean Android One UI. The Snapdragon 636 combined with 4 GB of RAM makes using the system on a daily basis a smooth experience for the most part. However, the performance level noticeably drops as soon as the processor is stressed and during multi-tasking in particular.
The Nokia smartphone performs well in our benchmarks. With that in mind, there is a substantial difference between the results of the Snapdragon 712 inside the Xiaomi Mi 9 SE or the MediaTek Helio G90T inside the Redmi Note 8 Pro and the Nokia 6.2.
The internal storage is about as fast as other eMMC competitors. The access times are slow due to the type of memory used, however. By contrast, the microSD card slot is faster than the average of other smartphones.
Basemark GPU 1.1 | |
1920x1080 Vulkan Medium Offscreen (sort by value) | |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 | |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro | |
Samsung Galaxy A50 | |
Xiaomi Mi 9 SE | |
Vulkan Medium Native (sort by value) | |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 | |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro | |
Samsung Galaxy A50 | |
Xiaomi Mi 9 SE | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 () | |
1920x1080 OpenGL Medium Offscreen (sort by value) | |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 | |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro | |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro | |
Samsung Galaxy A50 | |
Xiaomi Mi 9 SE | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 () |
Jetstream 2 - Total Score | |
Average of class Smartphone (13.8 - 387, n=160, last 2 years) | |
Xiaomi Mi 9 SE (Chrome 73) | |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro (Chrome 78) | |
Huawei P30 Lite (Chrome 74) | |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 (Chrome 78) | |
Nokia 6.2 (Chrome 79) | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 (26 - 26.4, n=2) |
Speedometer 2.0 - Result | |
Average of class Smartphone (15.2 - 569, n=147, last 2 years) | |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro (Chrome 78) | |
Xiaomi Mi 9 SE (Chrome 73) | |
Samsung Galaxy A50 (Chome 73) | |
Huawei P30 Lite (Chrome 74) | |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 (Chrome 78) | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 (25.5 - 27.4, n=2) | |
Nokia 6.2 (Chrome 79) |
WebXPRT 3 - Overall | |
Average of class Smartphone (38 - 347, n=84, last 2 years) | |
Xiaomi Mi 9 SE (Chrome 73) | |
Huawei P30 Lite (Chrome 74) | |
Samsung Galaxy A50 (Chrome 73) | |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro (Chrome 78) | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 (46 - 61, n=9) | |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 (Chrome 78) | |
Nokia 6.2 (Chrome 79) |
Octane V2 - Total Score | |
Average of class Smartphone (2228 - 100368, n=197, last 2 years) | |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro (Chrome 78) | |
Xiaomi Mi 9 SE (Chrome 73) | |
Samsung Galaxy A50 (Chrome 73) | |
Huawei P30 Lite (Chrome 74) | |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 (Chrome 78) | |
Nokia 6.2 (Chrome 79) | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 (8163 - 9746, n=12) |
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
Nokia 6.2 (Chrome 79) | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 (4105 - 5066, n=12) | |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 (Chrome 78) | |
Huawei P30 Lite (Chrome 74) | |
Samsung Galaxy A50 (Chrome 73) | |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro (Chrome 78) | |
Xiaomi Mi 9 SE (Chrome 73) | |
Average of class Smartphone (277 - 28190, n=159, last 2 years) |
* ... smaller is better
Nokia 6.2 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro | Samsung Galaxy A50 | Huawei P30 Lite | Xiaomi Mi 9 SE | Average 64 GB eMMC Flash | Average of class Smartphone | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AndroBench 3-5 | 82% | 215% | 21% | 80% | 45% | 14% | 867% | |
Sequential Read 256KB | 296.8 | 297.6 0% | 535 80% | 507 71% | 293.2 -1% | 492.5 66% | 274 ? -8% | 1808 ? 509% |
Sequential Write 256KB | 158.5 | 160.5 1% | 193.5 22% | 192.1 21% | 158.6 0% | 190.1 20% | 176.2 ? 11% | 1400 ? 783% |
Random Read 4KB | 78.8 | 84.8 8% | 156.2 98% | 98.9 26% | 71.6 -9% | 115.8 47% | 59.4 ? -25% | 272 ? 245% |
Random Write 4KB | 14.88 | 91.2 513% | 180.4 1112% | 18.2 22% | 87.3 487% | 21.86 47% | 32 ? 115% | 302 ? 1930% |
Sequential Read 256KB SDCard | 83.4 ? | 71.6 ? -14% | 71.6 ? -14% | 73.9 ? -11% | 76.8 ? -8% | 77.4 ? -7% | ||
Sequential Write 256KB SDCard | 61.5 ? | 52.8 ? -14% | 57.3 ? -7% | 60.7 ? -1% | 67.8 ? 10% | 58.3 ? -5% |
Gaming - Nokia Smartphone Adreno 509
While the integrated Adreno 509 does not offer a lot of performance, even more-demanding 3D games are still playable. With the Nokia 6.2's GPU, demanding Android games from the Play Store run fairly smoothly at minimum settings, although users will consistently experience drops in terms of the frame rate, as our measurements of the Adreno 509 show.
Both the touchscreen and the gyroscope controls were precise and responsive in our tests.
Emissions - Speakers of the Nokia 6.2 with Weaknesses
Temperature
The surface temperatures according to our measurements are low and the heat development of the Nokia 6.2 remains largely unnoticeable even under load.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 37.7 °C / 100 F, compared to the average of 35 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 63.2 °C for the class Smartphone.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 36.5 °C / 98 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 27.5 °C / 82 F, compared to the device average of 32.8 °C / 91 F.
Speaker
During daily use, the Nokia smartphone's mono speaker on the bottom of the case, which is able to reach a maximum volume level of 84 dB according to our measurements, only begins to distort at higher volume levels. As expected, the audio experience is defined by relatively imbalanced mids and highs.
The 3.5-mm audio jack allows for clean audio output for traditional headphones without any adapters.
Nokia 6.2 audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.9 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 29.5% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (8.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 7.6% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (9.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 9.2% higher than median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (7.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (31.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 78% of all tested devices in this class were better, 4% similar, 18% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 37%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 89% of all tested devices were better, 2% similar, 9% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro audio analysis
(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (79.3 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 23.2% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (11.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.5% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5.3% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (3.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (25.6% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 59% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 33% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 37%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 76% of all tested devices were better, 5% similar, 19% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Battery Life - Nokia 6.2 with 3,500 mAh Battery
Energy Consumption
The strong 3,500-mAh battery can be charged via the USB Type-C port on the bottom of the Nokia 6.2. The energy consumption is nothing out of the ordinary and similar to other Snapdragon 636 smartphones.
Off / Standby | 0.01 / 0.11 Watt |
Idle | 0.72 / 2.22 / 2.23 Watt |
Load |
3.98 / 6.86 Watt |
Nokia 6.2 3500 mAh | Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 4000 mAh | Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro 4500 mAh | Samsung Galaxy A50 4000 mAh | Huawei P30 Lite 3340 mAh | Xiaomi Mi 9 SE 3070 mAh | Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 | Average of class Smartphone | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Power Consumption | 15% | -11% | -5% | -14% | 35% | -13% | -12% | |
Idle Minimum * | 0.72 | 0.62 14% | 0.79 -10% | 0.8 -11% | 0.91 -26% | 0.53 26% | 0.944 ? -31% | 0.898 ? -25% |
Idle Average * | 2.22 | 1.77 20% | 2.32 -5% | 1.5 32% | 2.41 -9% | 1.18 47% | 2.22 ? -0% | 1.442 ? 35% |
Idle Maximum * | 2.23 | 1.8 19% | 2.38 -7% | 1.7 24% | 2.43 -9% | 1.2 46% | 2.54 ? -14% | 1.602 ? 28% |
Load Average * | 3.98 | 3.42 14% | 4.72 -19% | 5.9 -48% | 4.57 -15% | 3.04 24% | 4.51 ? -13% | 6.3 ? -58% |
Load Maximum * | 6.86 | 6.14 10% | 7.68 -12% | 8.3 -21% | 7.57 -10% | 4.83 30% | 7.37 ? -7% | 9.48 ? -38% |
* ... smaller is better
Battery Life
The Nokia phone lasts more than 10 hours in our Wi-Fi test with the brightness level set to 250 cd/m². This is a decent runtime, although the Redmi competition is able to last significantly longer.
Nokia 6.2 3500 mAh | Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 4000 mAh | Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro 4500 mAh | Samsung Galaxy A50 4000 mAh | Huawei P30 Lite 3340 mAh | Xiaomi Mi 9 SE 3070 mAh | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Battery Runtime | ||||||
WiFi v1.3 | 611 | 824 35% | 864 41% | 701 15% | 515 -16% | 510 -17% |
Pros
Cons
Verdict Nokia 6.2 - Subtle, but Good
The Nokia 6.2 delivers a convincing performance thanks to its modern design, high-quality feel and bright IPS panel. The full-featured dual-SIM functionality and smooth system performance combined with the cheap price of about 200 Euros (~$223) make the latest offering from Nokia's 6-series an interesting proposition. Unfortunately, Nokia once again uses pulse-width modulation for regulating the display's brightness and although the frequency is high enough for it not to affect many users it may still cause issues for PWM-sensitive people.
The Nokia 6.2 is a good choice for price-conscious Android purists.
That being said, the Redmi Note 8 is a strong competitor, particularly due to the price, which is currently lower and the fact that it does some things better than the Nokia 6.2. In return, the latter offers longer update support and security patches that are always up-to-date.
Nokia 6.2
-
01/03/2020 v7 (old)
Marcus Herbrich