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MagyarNokia XR20 smartphone review: Water-resistant phone with elegant case
Rugged phones are often subject to compromises: Protection against dust, water, and falls will usually come at the price of a bulky case, a weak SoC, or simply a lot of money in comparison to the features that you get.
Nokia is now introducing a new challenger that wants to address this issue: The Nokia XR20 is supposed to deliver good performance rates, decent features, and an elegant case, and the 64 GB version can be purchased for less than 500 Euros (~$590).
In our review, we take a closer look at the device, and we also want to find out where the differences lie compared with the Nokia X20, the XR20's non-waterproof counterpart, so to speak.
Possible contenders in comparison
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Drive | Size | Resolution | Best Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 81.1 % | 08/2021 | Nokia XR20 SD 480, Adreno 619 | 248 g | 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | 6.67" | 2400x1080 | |
| 78 % | 03/2020 | Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro Exynos 9611, Mali-G72 MP3 | 218 g | 64 GB UFS 2.0 Flash | 6.30" | 2340x1080 | |
| 81.6 % | 03/2021 | Blackview BL6000 Pro Dimensity 800, Mali-G57 MP4 | 273 g | 256 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | 6.36" | 2300x1080 | |
| 78.2 % | 10/2020 | CAT S62 Pro SD 660, Adreno 512 | 248 g | 128 GB eMMC Flash | 5.70" | 2160x1080 | |
| 80.6 % | 05/2021 | Nokia X20 SD 480, Adreno 619 | 220 g | 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | 6.67" | 2400x1080 |
Case – Well-protected Gorilla Glass Victus
With its 6.67-inch display and 10.6 millimeters of thickness, the Nokia XR20 is not a delicate device. However, if you compare it with other smartphones that feature protection against water and dust, the Nokia phone looks a bit slimmer and more attractive. The flattened edges make the case look thinner, and the CAT S62 Pro or the Blackview BL6000 Pro are even bulkier.
In addition, there's a textured back side in gray or blue that has a slight shimmer, and a matte metal frame that the Finnish designers have allowed to be visible on the sides. All this leaves an overall elegant impression that differs largely from the bulky and sometimes military-looking rugged smartphones that are often presented by other manufacturers.
The case is very well protected: IP68 indicates complete safety against dust penetration and against prolonged submersion in fresh water. Additionally, tests according to MIL-STD-810H were performed. The front bezel around the display protrudes slightly, so that the glass is further protected against breaking. Furthermore, it uses Gorilla Glass Victus, the latest version of the display glass at the time of testing, which can handle quite a lot.
Cleverly, there's also an opening for a wrist strap at the lower left corner, so that users can give the smartphone additional protection against drops.
Connectivity – With 64 or 128 GB of storage
There are two memory configurations of the Nokia XR20, with each being available in both colors:
- Nokia XR20 4 GB RAM / 64 GB storage 499 Euros (~$589)
- Nokia XR20 6 GB RAM / 128 GB storage 579 Euro (~$683)
However, our test device in Ultra Blue and with 128 GB of storage is a bit hard to get in Central Europe at the time of testing.
A dual-SIM feature is available and a microSD can also be used to expand storage, but the second SIM and the microSD share the same slot, so you have to decide between the two.
Thanks to Bluetooth 5.1 and NFC, the latest standards for close-range communication are also supported.
microSD card reader
At 22 MB/s in our transfer test, the Nokia XR20 performs averagely well. The reference Angelbird V60 microSD is written to at the usual speed. The Nokia X20 is a bit faster when writing in the CPDT, but both smartphones are pretty much on par otherwise.
| SD Card Reader - average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs) | |
| Nokia XR20 (Angelbird V60) | |
Cross Platform Disk Test (CPDT)
Software – Nokia phone with long-term update guarantee
Nokia uses Android One, which is a very pure version of Android that makes it comparatively easy to implement updates.
Android 11 is preinstalled out of the box, and the manufacturer fortunately promises three years of Android updates; we were even mentioned that there would be three future Android versions. In addition, there should be four years of security updates, which will be beneficial for users who want to keep their smartphone for a long time.
This is in line with Nokia's strategy to become more sustainable. The fact that a manufacturer goes through the trouble of promising long updates is still somewhat uncommon and generally very welcome. Another positive aspect is that the security patches are from August 2021 at the time of testing and consequently completely up to date.
The manufacturer preinstalls some third-party apps, but they can be uninstalled quickly and easily.
Communication and GNSS – Fast Wi-Fi 5
The Nokia XR20 is officially sold as a "Wi-Fi 6 ready" device, which means that it can communicate with Wi-Fi 6 networks, but it can't reach its full speed. In our test with the Netgear Nighthawk AX12 reference router, the smartphone achieves high transfer rates for a Wi-Fi 5 smartphone thanks to its 2x2 MIMO technology, but as expected, it's no match for true Wi-Fi 6 devices.
5G is on board, and the great number of 4G frequencies is also appealing. It makes the smartphone fit for traveling to faraway places, although some more exotic frequencies are still missing for it to be a true world phone. In our signal quality test, the Nokia XR20 proves to have quite a strong reception, offering full coverage in many places.
| Networking | |
| iperf3 transmit AX12 | |
| Blackview BL6000 Pro | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| Average of class Smartphone (16.9 - 1368, n=70, last 2 years) | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro | |
| CAT S62 Pro | |
| Nokia X20 | |
| iperf3 receive AX12 | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| Blackview BL6000 Pro | |
| Average of class Smartphone (32.7 - 953, n=71, last 2 years) | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro | |
| CAT S62 Pro | |
| Nokia X20 | |
Although our location can be determined quickly outdoors, the accuracy only improves after a few instants and increases to up to three meters. Multiple positioning networks are supported, and the smartphone also finds many satellites quickly; however, the additional SBAS system that provides more accuracy is not supported.
In order to be able to make more realistic statements, we take the Nokia XR20 for a short bike ride and compare it with the Garmin Edge 520 navigation device. The smartphone does a good job here, displaying the route quite accurately, and it even shows good accuracy in the old town's narrow alleys. Although the tracking results are not perfect, they are more than sufficient for everyday use.
Telephone and call quality – Sounds acceptable
Nokia uses Google's standard app for phone calls and supports VoLTE as well as VoWiFi with its smartphone.
The earpiece can deliver a powerful sound; after all, it's one of the two stereo speakers. That means it's good for loud environments. The problem is that just about everyone in the immediate vicinity can hear what the person on the other end is saying, and if you accidentally increase the volume too much, your ears will hurt.
There are noticeable background noises like hissing, but sound itself is quite clear. Our voice is also transmitted well to the caller, even when we speak a bit softer. The lower speaker is used in hands-free mode; the voice of the person on the other end of the line sounds slightly thinner, but our voice continues to be transmitted quite well.
Cameras – Zeiss dual-camera setup in the Nokia XR20
The camera system is a bit more basic than in the Nokia X20, but it also features optimized optics in collaboration with Zeiss and a wide-angle lens.
48 megapixels are the maximum resolution of the main camera, but you'll usually only take pictures with 12 megapixels since a higher light yield is achieved through pixel-binning here. This lower resolution is still sufficient for the vast majority of situations, and users can also use the full number of pixels in a special mode.
Image quality is pretty acceptable when it comes to objects, but there's a lot of pixel noise in larger areas and at the edges when taking photos of the surroundings. Details are still recognizable in very low light and high contrasts, but they become washed out in large sections of the picture. Overall, this is an average mid-range phone camera, but it's nothing to write home about.
The wide-angle lens takes decent pictures that shouldn't be enlarged too much, though, since details aren't displayed accurately. You can only toggle between the main and wide-angle camera directly, multi-level zooming is not supported.
Videos can be recorded at a maximum of 1080p and 60 fps, the autofocus function often needs a bit of time to adjust, especially with close objects, a scenario in which it clearly pulsates. Exposure is adjusted in a somewhat stuttery way. The image quality itself is decent, and sound quality is also decent for shooting occasional videos.
A camera with an 8-megapixel resolution is available on the front, and it can still reproduce fine details like hair to some extent, but it has some problems with sharpness.
Image Comparison
Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.
Main camera - FlowerMain camera - SurroundingsMain camera - Low lightWide-angle camera
Under controlled lighting conditions in the lab, it becomes noticeable that the image contrast drops a bit towards the upper right. Text stands out clearly against the colorful background, but it's somewhat fuzzy at the edges. Some larger areas show pixel noise.
Silhouettes are still partly recognizable at an illumination of only 1 lux, but the image is very blurry.
Accessories and warranty – No charger
There's no charger in the box. The manufacturer is relying on the fact that most customers have a USB power adapter at home anyway and intends to protect the environment. Naturally, Nokia also saves money this way, but in the event that someone buys an additional charger for 20 Euros (~$24), at least the manufacturer donates the proceeds.
The Finns also offer an extended warranty of three years, so that users can hopefully keep their smartphones for longer. On top of that, the manufacturer also offers the option to replace the display once within the first year in case of it breaking. Evidently, Nokia is using Gorilla Glass Victus as well as the additional protection mechanisms, such as the protruding edge.
Input devices and handling – Configurable button
Two additional hardware buttons are found in the case of the Nokia XR20: The upper button can be used to trigger an emergency call to predefined contacts, or you can even assign any other function that you want to the button as well. Moreover, a button for Google Assistant is found on the left side of the device.
The touchscreen can be made a bit more sensitive through software, so that it can also be used easily with gloves or in wet conditions. This actually works quite reliably in our test.
The fingerprint scanner is located in the standby button on the right side of the case. Although it needs a moment to unlock the phone, the overall performance is very satisfactory. The smartphone can also be unlocked quickly via face recognition.
Display – Bright and high-contrast
With its 1080p IPS display, the Nokia XR20 is on par with other outdoor phones. The average brightness of almost 600 cd/m² is also good, and it should be sufficient for spending time outdoors even on brighter days.
It's also good that the display is very uniformly illuminated, and that it offers a decent black level of 0.33 cd/m², which leads to a good contrast ratio of 1,815:1.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 99 %
Center on Battery: 599 cd/m²
Contrast: 1815:1 (Black: 0.33 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.52 | 0.55-29.43 Ø5.2
ΔE Greyscale 4.2 | 0.57-98 Ø5.4
128.3% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.279
| Nokia XR20 IPS, 2400x1080, 6.67 | Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro IPS, 2340x1080, 6.30 | Blackview BL6000 Pro IPS, 2300x1080, 6.36 | CAT S62 Pro LCD, 2160x1080, 5.70 | Nokia X20 IPS, 2400x1080, 6.67 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | -30% | -26% | -41% | -31% | |
| Brightness middle | 599 | 569 -5% | 583 -3% | 506 -16% | 646 8% |
| Brightness | 598 | 562 -6% | 518 -13% | 489 -18% | 617 3% |
| Brightness Distribution | 99 | 91 -8% | 83 -16% | 86 -13% | 89 -10% |
| Black Level * | 0.33 | 0.42 -27% | 0.6 -82% | 0.41 -24% | 0.7 -112% |
| Contrast | 1815 | 1355 -25% | 972 -46% | 1234 -32% | 923 -49% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 4.52 | 6.14 -36% | 4.78 -6% | 6.9 -53% | 5.71 -26% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 7.6 | 10.92 -44% | 8.7 -14% | 12.6 -66% | 8.9 -17% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 4.2 | 7.9 -88% | 5.5 -31% | 8.5 -102% | 6.2 -48% |
| Gamma | 2.279 97% | 2.256 98% | 2.22 99% | 2.4 92% | 2.122 104% |
| CCT | 7309 89% | 8696 75% | 6830 95% | 8818 74% | 8256 79% |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM detected | 1163000 Hz | ≤ 15 % brightness setting |  |
The display backlight flickers at 1163000 Hz (Likely utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 15 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting. The frequency of 1163000 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 18889 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured. | |||
Although we detect PWM at low brightness, it's at such a high frequency that it's actually negligible and shouldn't be a problem for anyone.
Color reproduction isn't perfect, but it's quite decent. A blue tint is only very slightly visible.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 16 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 5 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 11 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. » 28 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (22.3 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 36 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 19 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 17 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.25 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 40 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (35.2 ms). | ||
The smartphone also performs well outdoors in the sun, but using it in darker places is obviously more comfortable because of the reflections on the display.
The brightness fluctuations that appear when looking at the display from the sides are not very big, so we're happy with the viewing angles as well.
Performance – Nokia phone with mid-range power
You should keep one thing in mind when buying the Nokia XR20: You can get much more powerful smartphones like a OnePlus Nord 2 5G or a Motorola Moto G100 for 499 Euros (~$589). Therefore, you have to sacrifice some performance in exchange for the smartphone's protection.
However, with the Snapdragon 480 5G, the Nokia XR20 offers an SoC that is quite powerful compared to other outdoor phones, and it's also well equipped for everyday use. Sure, there might be stutters when multiple apps or very demanding applications are running, but the slower performance is rarely noticeable when scrolling through menus and in normal everyday use.
The Adreno 619 graphics unit is also definitely adequate for a mid-range smartphone.
| Geekbench 5.4 | |
| Single-Core (sort by value) | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| CAT S62 Pro | |
| Nokia X20 | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G (503 - 520, n=9) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (119 - 1885, n=241, last 2 years) | |
| Multi-Core (sort by value) | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| CAT S62 Pro | |
| Nokia X20 | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G (1618 - 1713, n=9) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (473 - 5538, n=241, last 2 years) | |
| Vulkan Score (sort by value) | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| CAT S62 Pro | |
| Nokia X20 | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G (925 - 1029, n=8) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (79 - 9992, n=178, last 2 years) | |
| OpenCL Score (sort by value) | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| CAT S62 Pro | |
| Nokia X20 | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G (1039 - 1099, n=8) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (368 - 10711, n=167, last 2 years) | |
| PCMark for Android | |
| Work 3.0 (sort by value) | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G (6928 - 9058, n=7) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (4780 - 28378, n=229, last 2 years) | |
| Work 2.0 performance score (sort by value) | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro | |
| Blackview BL6000 Pro | |
| CAT S62 Pro | |
| Nokia X20 | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G (6380 - 7713, n=2) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (5279 - 13282, n=28, last 2 years) | |
| GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 | |
| T-Rex Onscreen (sort by value) | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro | |
| CAT S62 Pro | |
| Nokia X20 | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G (58 - 84, n=6) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (22 - 165, n=187, last 2 years) | |
| 1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen (sort by value) | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro | |
| CAT S62 Pro | |
| Nokia X20 | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G (81 - 82, n=6) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (19 - 497, n=187, last 2 years) | |
| GFXBench 3.0 | |
| on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL (sort by value) | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro | |
| CAT S62 Pro | |
| Nokia X20 | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G (26 - 66, n=6) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (6.8 - 161, n=188, last 2 years) | |
| 1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen (sort by value) | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro | |
| CAT S62 Pro | |
| Nokia X20 | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G (41 - 42, n=6) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (9.2 - 331, n=189, last 2 years) | |
| GFXBench 3.1 | |
| on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen (sort by value) | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro | |
| CAT S62 Pro | |
| Nokia X20 | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G (26 - 54, n=6) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (3.7 - 143, n=189, last 2 years) | |
| 1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen (sort by value) | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro | |
| CAT S62 Pro | |
| Nokia X20 | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G (29 - 29, n=6) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (6.2 - 223, n=189, last 2 years) | |
| Antutu v9 - Total Score (sort by value) | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| Nokia X20 | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G (227632 - 325785, n=5) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (111952 - 1322448, n=163, last 2 years) | |
| AnTuTu v8 - Total Score (sort by value) | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro | |
| CAT S62 Pro | |
| Nokia X20 | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G (257336 - 264533, n=5) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (101336 - 725649, n=40, last 2 years) | |
| AImark - Score v2.x (sort by value) | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| Nokia X20 | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G (4707 - 4894, n=5) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (1043 - 286905, n=121, last 2 years) | |
| BaseMark OS II | |
| Overall (sort by value) | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro | |
| CAT S62 Pro | |
| Nokia X20 | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G (3197 - 3265, n=4) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (411 - 9585, n=163, last 2 years) | |
| System (sort by value) | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro | |
| CAT S62 Pro | |
| Nokia X20 | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G (6296 - 6330, n=4) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (2083 - 19657, n=163, last 2 years) | |
| Memory (sort by value) | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro | |
| CAT S62 Pro | |
| Nokia X20 | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G (3331 - 3847, n=4) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (670 - 11617, n=163, last 2 years) | |
| Graphics (sort by value) | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro | |
| CAT S62 Pro | |
| Nokia X20 | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G (3765 - 3843, n=4) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (697 - 30125, n=163, last 2 years) | |
| Web (sort by value) | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro | |
| CAT S62 Pro | |
| Nokia X20 | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G (1247 - 1360, n=4) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (10 - 2392, n=163, last 2 years) | |
The smartphone sometimes reaches the top spot in our browser benchmarks, and it's consequently quite fast when browsing the Internet considering it's a rugged smartphone.
In practice, this means that you have to wait a bit for pages to load, but images are usually displayed already while scrolling.
| Jetstream 2 - Total Score | |
| Average of class Smartphone (16.9 - 282, n=165, last 2 years) | |
| Nokia X20 (Chrome 90) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G (44.1 - 49.4, n=5) | |
| Nokia XR20 (Chrome 92) | |
| CAT S62 Pro (Chrome 85) | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro (Chrome 80) | |
| JetStream 1.1 - Total Score | |
| Average of class Smartphone (26.7 - 414, n=79, last 2 years) | |
| Nokia X20 (Chrome 90) | |
| Nokia XR20 (Chrome 92) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G (78.6 - 84.3, n=5) | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro (Chrome 80) | |
| CAT S62 Pro (Chrome 85) | |
| Speedometer 2.0 - Result | |
| Average of class Smartphone (13.3 - 375, n=154, last 2 years) | |
| Nokia X20 (Chome 90) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G (37.6 - 39.2, n=5) | |
| Nokia XR20 (Chome 92) | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro (Chome 80) | |
| WebXPRT 3 - --- | |
| Average of class Smartphone (28 - 292, n=145, last 2 years) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G (67 - 80, n=5) | |
| Nokia X20 (Chrome 90) | |
| Nokia XR20 (Chrome 92) | |
| CAT S62 Pro (Chrome 85) | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro (Chrome 80) | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score | |
| Average of class Smartphone (4633 - 74261, n=194, last 2 years) | |
| Nokia XR20 (Chrome 92) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G (15636 - 18774, n=6) | |
| Nokia X20 (Chrome 90) | |
| CAT S62 Pro (Chrome 85) | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro (Chrome 80) | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total Score | |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro (Chrome 80) | |
| CAT S62 Pro (Chrome 85) | |
| Nokia X20 (Chrome 90) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G (2383 - 2749, n=5) | |
| Nokia XR20 (Chrome 92) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (414 - 10797, n=168, last 2 years) | |
* ... smaller is better
UFS 2.1 storage is installed in the XR20, and the sturdy smartphone is also able to comfortably set itself from other phones in its class and achieve good transfer rates.
| Nokia XR20 | Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro | Blackview BL6000 Pro | CAT S62 Pro | Nokia X20 | Average 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AndroBench 3-5 | -31% | 14% | -61% | -1% | 1% | 68% | |
| Sequential Read 256KB | 485 | 508 5% | 873 80% | 304.2 -37% | 489.3 1% | 772 ? 59% | 1180 ? 143% |
| Sequential Write 256KB | 452 | 181.1 -60% | 198.5 -56% | 185.3 -59% | 462.7 2% | 297 ? -34% | 741 ? 64% |
| Random Read 4KB | 174.8 | 108.6 -38% | 190.2 9% | 79.4 -55% | 165.4 -5% | 151.6 ? -13% | 207 ? 18% |
| Random Write 4KB | 146.2 | 100.5 -31% | 181.9 24% | 12.43 -91% | 144.6 -1% | 130.9 ? -10% | 217 ? 48% |
Games – Reaching 60 fps is possible
The Nokia XR20 is anything but a dedicated gaming phone, but it handles our test course with good rates for a mid-range phone: Using GameBench, we determine that the 60 fps is maintained quite stably in the fast shooter Armajet.
In the more demanding PUBG Mobile, the smartphone at least reaches just under 40 fps at low details and quite stable 30 fps at higher quality.
Controlling the device via the touchscreen and position sensor also works smoothly. So if you lower your expectations a bit, you can play games decently.
Emissions – No throttling
Temperature
The case's maximum temperature increase of 41.3 °C (~106 °F) remains within limits, and it doesn't affect performance at all as 3DMark's stress tests show: Over 99% of the initial performance is still available after prolonged load.
| 3DMark | |
| Wild Life Stress Test Stability | |
| Nokia X20 | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
| Blackview BL6000 Pro | |
| Wild Life Extreme Stress Test | |
| Nokia XR20 | |
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 39 °C / 102 F, compared to the average of 34.9 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 52.9 °C for the class Smartphone.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 41.3 °C / 106 F, compared to the average of 33.7 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 24.2 °C / 76 F, compared to the device average of 32.6 °C / 91 F.
Speakers
The Nokia XR20 even comes with stereo speakers. Admittedly, you can't expect to see dedicated stereo speakers like previously with HTC; instead, the earpiece is also used as a second speaker, but it's something nonetheless.
The speakers can get quite loud when desired, but they sound very high-pitched and almost completely lack bass or low mids. In addition, highs often drone a bit unpleasantly in the ears when the volume is too high. All in all, the sound quality is only average.
It's better to use headphones or external speakers, which can be connected via Bluetooth or the 3.5 mm audio jack. Both work well, and there's even aptX HD for wireless sound delivery.
Nokia XR20 audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.9 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 32.9% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (14.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.4% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (5.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.1% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (24.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 60% of all tested devices in this class were better, 11% similar, 29% worse
» The best had a delta of 11%, average was 23%, worst was 65%
Compared to all devices tested
» 76% of all tested devices were better, 6% similar, 18% worse
» The best had a delta of 3%, average was 20%, worst was 65%
Nokia X20 audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.4 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 25.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (11.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 8% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (7.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 6.8% higher than median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (8.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (26.4% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 76% of all tested devices in this class were better, 6% similar, 18% worse
» The best had a delta of 11%, average was 23%, worst was 65%
Compared to all devices tested
» 84% of all tested devices were better, 4% similar, 12% worse
» The best had a delta of 3%, average was 20%, worst was 65%
Battery life – Long outdoor endurance
Energy consumption
The Nokia XR20 proves to be relatively frugal in our tests: The smartphone consumes an average of 4.9 watts under high load.
Since the device doesn't come with a charger, you should make sure to choose at least one with 10 watts to guarantee that the device can still be charged even under maximum load.
| Off / Standby |   0.1 / 0.2 Watt |
| Idle |  0.7 / 1.1 / 1.6 Watt |
| Load |
2.7 / 4.9 Watt |
    
| |
| Nokia XR20 4630 mAh | Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro 4050 mAh | CAT S62 Pro 4000 mAh | Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | -56% | -101% | -19% | -34% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 0.7 | 0.9 -29% | 1.68 -140% | 0.734 ? -5% | 0.884 ? -26% |
| Idle Average * | 1.1 | 1.8 -64% | 2.75 -150% | 1.552 ? -41% | 1.485 ? -35% |
| Idle Maximum * | 1.6 | 2.3 -44% | 2.8 -75% | 1.778 ? -11% | 1.699 ? -6% |
| Load Average * | 2.7 | 5.4 -100% | 4.84 -79% | 3.56 ? -32% | 4.27 ? -58% |
| Load Maximum * | 4.9 | 6.9 -41% | 7.79 -59% | 5.09 ? -4% | 7.08 ? -44% |
* ... smaller is better
Energy consumption: Geekbench (150 cd/m²)
Energy consumption: GFXBench (150 cd/m²)
Battery life
Thanks to its 4,630 mAh battery, the Nokia XR20 also offers quite a long battery life: 15:27 hours in our Wi-Fi test is certainly no record, but it's still quite decent. And many other outdoor phones lag behind in the other battery tests as well. You should easily manage several days without charging in everyday use, and it should at least be enough for a workday if you use it very intensively.
The smartphone charges with a maximum of 18 watts when using a cable, and it takes just under 2 hours for a full charge. Even wireless charging is supported using the Qi standard, in which case 15 watts of charging power is the maximum.
| Nokia XR20 4630 mAh | Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro 4050 mAh | Blackview BL6000 Pro 5280 mAh | CAT S62 Pro 4000 mAh | Nokia X20 4470 mAh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | -18% | -9% | -28% | -5% | |
| Reader / Idle | 1786 | 1259 -30% | |||
| H.264 | 895 | 802 -10% | |||
| WiFi v1.3 | 927 | 731 -21% | 846 -9% | 668 -28% | 879 -5% |
| Load | 301 | 268 -11% |
Pros
Cons
Verdict – Good rugged phone from Nokia
With the XR20, Nokia has put together an exciting package: A well-protected smartphone with a long warranty, a stylish case, a four-year update promise, good battery life, decent performance, and a bright display. In addition, you get fast Wi-Fi, no excessive heat development from the device, and a user-assignable button.
Sure, you can get faster and even higher-quality phones for just under 500 Euros (~$590), but they aren't as tough as the XR20.
All in all, Nokia offers a very compelling rugged smartphone that also convinces with small and well-thought-out details, such as the cutout for a wrist strap.
Although Samsung also offers a strong outdoor phone with a customizable button in the form of the Galaxy XCover Pro, it has to admit defeat in some areas, such as battery life and performance. The CAT S62 Pro is also a solid outdoor phone, but it's more of a niche product with its thermal imaging camera.
The Nokia XR20 is a stylish outdoor phone that convinces in many areas, while also offering extensive warranty and update promises.
This is a good deal for corporate customers who are looking for a reasonably powerful phone for their employees that won't immediately break, or for outdoor athletes who want a decent camera in their sturdy smartphone.
Price and availability
At the time of writing, the Nokia XR20 is available for pre-order directly from the manufacturer at a price of $549.99 (128GB/6GB model). You can also pre-order it on Amazon.
Nokia XR20
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08/27/2021 v7
Florian Schmitt