The Nokia X30 5G is a direct upgrade to 2021’s Nokia X20, and it’s clear there has been a shift in direction for manufacturer HMD not only in terms of overall design but performance too. This year’s model boasts a better display, a quicker processor, faster charging and although a downgrade on paper, there’s a boost to camera performance too.
Compared to the Nokia X20 that we found hard to recommend to anybody but the most die-hard Nokia fans, big changes are on offer.
The catch? It’s now £100 more expensive with a £399price tag, putting it up against big hitters in the mid-range space like the Google Pixel 6a, Nothing Phone (1), and OnePlus Nord 2T. The question is, does the Nokia X30 5G do enough to challenge those phones? The answer might surprise you.
DESIGN
It’s clear that the Nokia X30 5G represents a reboot for Nokia’s top-end mid-range line, and that’s most evident from the refreshed design. Gone is the big, bulky, simplistic (read: dull) X20 design, replaced by something that’s more slender, compact and all-around more premium.
The X30 is a smaller smartphone than its 6.7in predecessor in practically every way. It sports a slightly smaller 6.43in display and a much thinner body that measures in at a svelte 8mm, a 1.1 mm reduction, and it’s a whopping 35g lighter at 185g. The two phones couldn’t be more different, representing a serious change in Nokia’s design philosophy that makes for a much nicer in-hand feel.
More generally, the smartphone boasts a combination
