HMD Global unveiled quite a number of new devices here at MWC 2018. There’s the reimagined Nokia 8110, the flashy Nokia 8, and this phone right here: the unassuming Nokia 7 Plus. Even though it’s “only” a mid-range smartphone, the 7 Plus may very well be HMD Global’s most interesting phone yet.
Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 chipset, the Nokia 7 Plus is comfortably an upper mid-range smartphone. It’s also packing a 6-inch 18:9 Full HD+ IPS display with minimal bezels, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of expandable storage, and a 3,800mAh battery. Nothing groundbreaking, but certainly good for a smartphone of its class.
Interestingly, the 7 Plus shares the same camera system as the higher-end Nokia 8 Sirocco: its dual-camera system is made up of a 12MP primary shooter and a 13MP telephoto lens. The front-facing camera, on the other hand, is a 16MP shooter – all three cameras come with Zeiss optics.
Unlike the extravagant design of the Nokia 8 Sirocco, the Nokia 7 Plus is much more utilitarian. It’s a comfortable device to hold, the aluminium chassis gives it a solid feel, and the “ceramic-feel” coating on the back of the phone is pretty nice to the touch too. In fact, I really like the 7 Plus’ no-nonsense design.
Speaking of design, the 7 Plus is also Nokia’s first 18:9 smartphone, and it comes with pretty small bezels; it reminds me quite a bit of the Pixel 2 XL’s display, which has similarly-sized bezels. As for the display itself, it is bright and vibrant, and given the phone’s 1080p resolution – combined with the 7 Plus’ generous 3,800mAh battery – I imagine it will have very respectable battery life.
Beyond the design and display of the 7 Plus, arguably the most interesting aspect of the device lies in its software. Much like the Nokia 8 Sirocco, the 7 Plus is also an Android One smartphone. Not only will users get speedy Android updates with this phone, its software experience is as stock as it gets. It feels responsive, it’s minimalist, and it will definitely appeal to Android purists.
As mentioned, the 7 Plus shares the same camera system as the Nokia 8 Sirocco. The 12MP primary shooter can take some really good looking shots – though the 13MP telephoto lens isn’t quite as capable – the camera interface isn’t sluggish, and of course, it also comes with the new Pro Camera mode, which is very similar to what you would find on older Nokia Lumia phones. Chances are, more tech-savvy users will appreciate the mode’s intuitive user interface.
The Nokia 7 Plus is an unassuming phone, but it offers a very enticing package. It boasts a rather sleek, utilitarian design, it has a clean software experience, its large 3,800mAh battery should provide great battery life, and it also offers the same camera system as the more costly Nokia 8 Sirocco at a lower price point. However, retailing at 399 euro (that’s about RM1,915), it’s still slightly more expensive than your typical mid-ranger.
But if you want a reliable upper mid-range smartphone, the Nokia 7 Plus is certainly a promising choice, and we’re definitely excited to put it through its paces in a full review. If it delivers excellent battery life – and it likely will – as well as good camera performance, the Nokia 7 Plus may just be a winner for HMD Global.
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