HMD today announced its latest Nokia smartphones, the most interesting of which is the Nokia XR20 - the manufacturer's most durable smartphone to date. While it might not quite survive a drop from a fourth-story window as with the original 3310, the Nokia XR20 is clearly about offering similar peace of mind.
It features IP68 water-resistance, 1.8m drop protection, a Gorilla Glass Victus display (the toughest glass you can currently get on a smartphone), and can survive intense temperature fluctuations. A HMD spokesperson told us he's confident the Nokia XR20 can even survive being frozen.
In addition to solid durability specs, HMD will also replace the Nokia XR20's screen for free if it breaks within the first year. This is also backed up by three years of major operating system updates and four years of monthly security updates, which is far longer than the average Android phone is supported for.
While the Nokia XR20 certainly has the credentials when it comes to durability, the phone's hardware is on the underwhelming side. Key specifications include a 6.67-inch 1080p+ display, Snapdragon 480 5G processor, at least 4GB of RAM, at least 64GB of storage, and a 4,680mAh battery. The rear camera configuration is made up of a 48MP primary lens and 13MP ultra-wide lens.
Those specifications aren't dissimilar to the OPPO A54 5G, a $399 device. That wouldn't be an issue if the Nokia XR20 had a similar price tag, but it will sell for $879 locally when it goes on sale on August 12. That essentially means the Nokia's durability and extended software life comes at a $400 premium.
Of course, it is worth noting that even when phones have seemingly identical components, factors such as RAM speed and software can all impact performance, so we'll be keen to see how the Nokia XR20 goes in day-to-day usage before making a proper judgement.
You'll be able to grab it through JB Hi-Fi, Officeworks, Harvey Norman, Big W, The Good Guys, and Nokia's website. It comes in a choice of Ultra Blue and Granite.
In addition, HMD also announced the Nokia C30, a new entry-level smartphone powered by Android Go. Android Go is designed for faster and smoother performance on entry-level hardware. Apps start faster, the operating system takes up less storage, and Google has redesigned many of its apps to be lighter and less data-intensive
Key specifications for the Nokia C30 include a 6.82-inch 720p+ display, Unisoc SC9863A, at least 2GB of RAM, at least 32GB of storage, and a 6,000mAh battery said to last up to three days. The rear-facing camera configuration is made up of a 13MP primary camera and a 2MP depth lens.
Internationally, the Nokia C30 will sell for €99, with local pricing and availability to be announced in due course.
Alex Choros
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