Nokia 6.1 Plus Review: Mid-Range Phone That’s Good Value for Money

The Nokia 6.1 Plus is a mid-range phone with stock Android and dual rear cameras.

HMD Global is slowly, but gradually, adding new devices to its Nokia lineup. It has covered its bases starting with the Nokia 1, going up to Nokia 8 earlier this year.

Now the phones’ nomenclature is headed into the Plus segment, with the Nokia 6.1 Plus being its first, notch-totting mid-range phone.

For Rs 15,999 you get stock Android out of box, with basic hardware for regular needs and it is expected to suit every user. So, does this Nokia phone offer everything that a Xiaomi or Motorola does? This review gives you the details.

Pros:

• Easy-to-use, compact form factor
• Bright and crisp display
• Dependable performer
• Stock Android is slick
• Good value for money

Cons:

• Average cameras for the price
• Average battery life
• Screen calibration is off

What’s Good?

The moment you hold the phone, there’s a Nokia touch to it. It’s probably the most good-looking phone in the sub Rs 20,000 segment, even though Nokia hasn’t used glass materials to design it. The sleek edges and sharp finishing of the phone, gives you the feeling that it costs much more than its actual price tag.

The form factor is another aspect of the Nokia 6.1 Plus that’ll leave you impressed. While most phone makers are gung ho about big-screen phones, it is refreshing to see Nokia moving in the other direction.

With notch and full-screen phones becoming the standard, it’s time phone makers found ways to make products in a compact form factor. 

The 5.8-inch screen with full-HD+ or 2280x1080 pixels is bright enough to see content outdoors. Videos on this 19:9 screen can look sharp with natural colours on offer (none of the high contrast stuff). Using the Snapdragon 636, I was at first sceptical as to whether the Nokia 6.1 Plus will be able to handle the regular tasks of a mid-to-power user.

As it turned out, the phone, aided by stock Android managed to meet most of our usage needs, even though gaming is not likely to be its forte. We opened over 10 tabs on Chrome, and using social media apps like WhatsApp, Twitter and Instagram frequently, still we didn’t come across any lag.

You get the phone with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, which is sufficient enough for casual users, and it can be expanded further via the microSD slot (switching from the second SIM).

The rear dual cameras aren’t going to blow your mind, but given the right amount of light, you’ll be able to get some good, detailed pictures out of the snappers.

What’s Bad?

While everyone raves about the stock Android version, I have qualms about its ability to tune the screen brightness depending upon the condition. Very often, I saw the screen’s brightness lowered, even when I was sitting in a dim lit area. We’ve got nothing against the Nokia 6.1 Plus here, but this issue tends to irritate after a point.

For Rs 16,000, the Nokia 6.1 Plus isn’t going to wow you with its shooting capability. With the right light, you get decent pictures, but in low-light, the standards drop to some extent. Comparing this with the Mi A2 from Xiaomi with its optics, the Nokia 6.1 Plus could use some software tweaks to get better.

With a 3060mAh battery, we felt the Nokia 6.1 Plus will last you through a regular working day. Anything beyond that becomes a challenge and we feel that in order to make its ergonomics lighter and compact, Nokia has cut corners in this department.

Why Buy It?

If you’re still attracted to the Nokia tag and looking for a mid-range phone with all-round capabilities, then the Nokia 6.1 Plus has to be on your list.

It has got the right size, right amount of performance, ample storage, and decent cameras if you aren’t keen on the low-light stuff. It comes with stock Android, keeping things simple and a battery that’ll last you through a day.