Nokia 7.1 review

Taken with the design, performance, and quality of this device, all of these caveats seem out of place. This is, after all, among the best mid-range phones available and the caveats don't stop it from holding that status. But the Nokia 7.1 could have been a real contender to top that list if not for these small flaws. Despite those flaws, it is still extremely easy to recommend this device. It simply won't be perfect for everybody because of those.

Less

The Nokia 7.1 was already an exceptional value with consideration for what users get. It also currently happens to be on sale via Amazon for $100 off the typical Amazon price of $350. Not only does this phone have one of the best mobile cameras I've laid hands on in its price bracket. The Nokia 7.1 one of the most powerful-feeling and well-optimized handsets I've had the pleasure to test out. That's setting aside that it's easily one of the most beautifully designed too.

Less

The Nokia 7.1 offers a winning combination of great performance, killer looks, and up-to-date Android software for a reasonable price.

Less

Despite some frustrating issues with the software, I've found the Nokia 7.1 to be a very enjoyable phone overall. I can breeze through almost everything I do on it, the screen is absolutely beautiful, and the camera usually produces very pleasant results, with vibrant colors that make pictures feel really alive. I also love the simple, but attractive design of the phone, with the silver accented edges really adding the right amount of flair to an otherwise plain look.

Less

The Nokia 7.1 is tough to recommend because of its performance issues that left a dark cloud over my enjoyment of it, but it’s still worthy of some consideration.

Less

At $350, this is the phone to beat going into 2019. The design feels significantly above what you pay for it, and it delivers performance that can get pretty close to matching phones double its price. You’ve got a ton of storage (64GB, with a microSD card slot), it has a headphone jack, and the camera’s not bad. The phones that do these things better are going to cost quite a bit more, and in some cases, you’re losing either the headphone jack or microSD card, if not both.

Less

If you want a mid-range phone then the Nokia 7.1 won't disappoint, just don't go expecting the world. It's best to have a good look around at what else is in the same price range especially with all the offers various retailers and operators tend to tout.

Less

It isn’t a powerhouse, to be honest, and there are a bunch of options on the market that are definitely going to get better numbers on benchmark tests, but with the 7.1, HMD Global is yet again focusing on experience rather than specifications, Pair that with the reliable Nokia brand name and you have an interesting recipe on the table

Less

Overall, Nokia 7.1 is an impressive phone, but its battery fails it.

Less

This isn’t a powerful smartphone for the price, but it compensated with a great display and a good camera. In general, one would look out for an all rounding performance rather than a specific set of features. In this case, Nokia 7.1 at this price point, bites the dust.

Less

This is an amazing phone! The calls I made after the purchase were PERFECT and CLEAR, and unlike my previous high-end smartphone, it didn't drop any despite the fact I was in a relatively remote area. Moreover the build is excellent, providing the look and feel of a high-end smartphone without the high-end price.

The screen is crystal clear and sharp; far more than I expected of a sub $300.00 (USD) phone. It also came with an excellent camera to boot!
As for battery life, if you "live" on your smartphone, you might need to carry an extra battery pack. But for me that's not the case, with the phone having ample battery life for surfing, checking emails, calling, texting and taking photos.
Photos are a big thing. Though I'm nowhere near a professional or even amateur photographer, I love taking pictures of scenery during trips, as well as monuments, historic markers and, of course, people.
The ability to do that even reasonably well has always been a consideration, pushing me into the market for so-called flagship phones as a result. I was, therefore, pleasantly surprised by quality of photos I was taking with the Nokia 7.1 which, though they may lack the super-fine detail that some 'expert' reviewers love to complain about, are still great for people who take photos for the sake of documenting their life experience and posting to social media too.
Indeed, after much use, about the only things I am disappointed with in this phone (and why it doesn't get a 10 rating) are the fact that the Nokia 7.1 lacks wireless charging capability and water resistance (beyond cursory or superficial wetness as a result of rain or sweat).
Now if you're even just half the klutz I am, this can be problematic and costly. Fortunately Amazon sells some apparently good Nokia 7.1 cases that can compensate for at least the dropping part, leaving me to be extra careful around puddles or the bathroom sink, which I've been known to drop my phones in (ugh).
In summary, therefore, if you're just an average 'Joe' who wants a reliable smartphone that keeps him or her connected to the world through emails, web surfing, texting and photography (along with making actual calls), do yourself (and your wallet) a favor and forget all the bells and whistles that so-called "flagship phones" that Samsung and Apple are trying to push on you. Instead save yourself a pile of cash and grab this diamond-in-the-rough from a revived brand that offers premium value and a very reasonable price. Then quickly buy a klutz-proof case, an extra memory card to put in the expansion port (especially if you are a shutterbug), a screen protector, and you're pretty much set.
Twenty years after I smashed my last Nokia phone to bits in a fit of anger, it's nice to know this legendary (and once-dominant) brand is building high quality phones that not only exceed customer expectations but won't break the bank either.
Welcome back Nokia! Sorry about the old phone, too. I promise that this one won't suffer the same fate as that one; at least not on purpose :) .
P.S. UPDATE - over a month after the initial purchase and review, this phone is still amazing! Everything I said above still stands. I still get great phone reception, battery life lasts me a full day+ with moderate use and tweaking screen brightness, there is little to no lag (all my games play great!) perhaps due to the 4Gb of ram memory, photos are top notch, and the case and screen protectors I bought have saved it from the odd scratch and drop (remember...klutz!). The phone charges rapidly (100% in about an hour) though I still wish it had wireless charging capabilities. To save wear on the charging port from plugging it in and out, I bought some magnetic USB C cables that both charge and transmit data. Beyond this all I can say is that I'm still thrilled to own this phone and highly recommend it for those wanting a quality build and, of course, to save themselves a pile of cash too!