

Nokia 7.1 review: so much wasted potential

Nokia 7.1 review: so much wasted potential

HMD is back with a new mid-range Nokia smartphone: the Nokia 7.1, successor to the Nokia 7. Is this device a mid-range phone that can hold its own in a competitive price range? We'll explain everything in our review.



  • Successful design for a mid-range device
  • HDR-compatible


  • Screen is too blue
  • Android One with 2-month delay
  • Disappointing performance that makes everyday use difficult
  • Poor battery life

A serious opponent for mid-range smartphones

HMD Global offers the Nokia 7.1 with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage space or 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage space. The larger version is currently available on Amazon for $349.99. That's an affordable price, but it also means that the manufacturer had to make some compromises.

Classy and stylish

The design may not be able to compete with flagship designs or the beautiful light effects of OPPO and Honor, but for a price of around 350 dollars, the device offers very good workmanship. The back is made of glass, so the smartphone looks quite distinguished for a mid-range model . The surface is smooth and somewhat reflective, which will delight some fans out there. The camera's two rear lenses are aligned vertically, just above the fingerprint reader and Nokia logo (which are also vertically aligned).

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All the buttons on the same side. / © AndroidPIT

On the front you'll find the notch (yes, some people won't like it cause it's quite large, unlike the teardrop notch on the OPPO RX17Pro). The bezels aren't extraordinarily, but give the device an interesting design. The bezel on the bottom is a little too prominent for my taste and features the brand's logo.

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The fingerprint reader is located on the back. / © AndroidPIT

The glass is rounded on the front and rear and blends into the matte aluminum frame. At nearly 8 millimeters thick and weighing 160 grams, the Nokia 7.1 feels good in your hand. It is a very pretty device, and the blue version looks quite elegant.

I found the phone easy to handle and I really appreciated the fact that device remained compact enough that I could use it with just one hand (that of course depends on the size of your hands). Overall, the design felt more premium than the price would suggest. Unfortunately, it doesn't come with any IP certification against damage from water or dust.

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The Nokia 7.1 comes with a Type-C USB port. / © AndroidPIT

A good screen with a major flaw

It's no big surprise here. You won't find an AMOLED on this smartphone. Instead, there's a 5.8-inch LCD screen in 1080p resolution (1080 x 2280 pixels). The expectations are clear for mid-range devices: the screen doesn't have to be perfect, but it has to be good enough to ensure pleasant use.

I had mixed impressions because the main flaw is quite obvious as soon as you hold the device in your hand. The screen is too blue, and this comes at a time when blueish screens have a bad reputation. Ever worse, you can't adjust the color temperature, so it's as if the blue is being imposed upon users. I couldn't handle the screen when I tested the device , so I just left it on night mode all the time.

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It's not obvious in the picture, but the screen is really very blue. / © AndroidPIT

If you can get past the Nokia 7.1's tragic flaw, the screen itself actually looks quite good. The colors are generally well represented and the brightness is good enough to be able to use the screen in full sunlight. There's also one little extra: compatibility with HDR content. 

A steady supply of updates and no bloatware

The device is part of Google's Android One program, just like all Nokia brand smartphones (apart from those in the Android Go program). In theory, this means that Nokia 7.1 users will get regular security updates and faster access to new versions of Android over the course of 2 years, although in practice the device still runs on Android Oreo (8.1). The update date for Android Pie still hasn't been scheduled. As for security patches, our test device had the patch from September 1st, i.e. 2 months ago.

The up-to-date security patches is one of the greatest advantages of Android One, and it's unfortunate to hear that there's a delay in the release of patches, even if it's not such a dramatic delay. On the software side, there's nothing else particularly relevant. You'll find the same interface you see on all other Nokia devices, and of course no bloatware .

Performance: a real tragedy

This is the Achilles' heel of this smartphone : it's disappointing both on paper and in practice. Let's start with the technical features: you'll find a Snapdragon 636, an octa-core 1.8 Ghz processor that you probably already know from Xiaomi (Redmi Note 5 / Note 6 Pro), Asus (Asus ZenFone 5), Blackberry (Key 2 LE) or Motorola (Moto Z3 Play). The processor is supported by 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal memory.

The best way to explain the performance is that when I went on vacation I preferred taking another phone. The device freezes all the time and for a few seconds (variable duration) it's impossible to use it. Apart from this problem, the device is pretty much fluid most of the time (although it occasionally jerks for no apparent reason). But the problem with the screen has happened so often that I can hardly use the device.

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It's pretty, but it's slow! / © AndroidPIT

Since the 32GB of internal memory might not be enough for everyone, you can use a microSD card to store additional files. If necessary, you can also use a second SIM card instead of this external card. If you have high expectations in terms of gaming and 4K video, this smartphone is definitely not for you.

Nokia 7.1: Benchmark results

3D Mark Sling Shot Extreme 3.1 3D Mark Sling Shot Vulkan 3D Mark Sling Shot 3.0 3D Mark Ice Storm Unlimited GeekBench 4 
GeekBench 4
PassMark Memory PassMark Disk
949 749 1456 19746 1338 4902 10569 40790

Typical mid-range sound

There's nothing special about the audio. There's a unique mono speaker that provides average quality sound, but don't expect to use it to fill an entire room with sound. It's better to use the mini-jack.

The camera is a nice surprise

The Nokia 7.1 has a dual camera and the Zeiss logo, which brings back memories of earlier Nokia smartphone camera legends like the Lumia 1020. The two camera sensors have 12 and 5 megapixels (with apertures of f/1.8 and f/2.4 and pixel sizes of 1.28 µm and 1.12 µm). Nokia uses the second camera to reduce image noise and create an artificial bokeh effect. There’s also an 8-megapixel camera for selfies.

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The photo app is quite intuitive. / © AndroidPIT

The camera is surprisingly pleasant to use . We won't get carried away, it can't compete with the Pixel 3 or the Huawei Mate 20 Pro, but it'll still give you very high quality photos. You should note that the HDR mode is automatically activated and generally does a good job. The color representations are nice, and although the contrasts aren't always successful (for example between a clear sky and a tree) they're good enough to please an average user. On the other hand, the quality isn't good in bad lighting, but that's a problem for all smartphones.

In the front there's a very mid-range configuration: an 8 megapixel sensor (wide-angle lens) coupled with an f/2.0 aperture. The quality isn't bad and the portrait mode is interesting.

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The main camera is surprisingly good for a mid-range device. / © AndroidPIT

Enough stamina

This is the second weak point of this smartphone. If you want to take a lot of pictures and spend a lot of time on social networks, you'll have to change your habits because you may have trouble reaching the end of the day. If you're a low user, i.e. a few messages from time to time and surfing on some apps, you'll barely make it through the day.

The autonomy problem is partly due to the small size of the battery, which is 3060 mAh, but it's probably more of a software optimization problem. It's a pity, especially since the smartphone doesn't offer any fast recharging option.

Nokia 7.1 technical specifications

Dimensions: 149.7 x 71.18 x 7.99 mm
Weight: 160 g
Battery size: 3060 mAh
Screen size: 5.8 in
Display technology: LCD
Screen: 2280 x 1080 pixels (435 ppi)
Front camera: 8 megapixels
Rear camera: 12 megapixels
Flashlight: LED
Android version: 8.0 - Oreo
User interface: Stock Android
4 GB
Internal storage: 32 GB
64 GB
Removable storage: microSD
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 636
Number of cores: 8
Max. clock speed: 1.8 GHz
Connectivity: -
HSPA, LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 5.0
HSPA, LTE, NFC, Dual-SIM , Bluetooth 5.0

Final verdict

HMD is offering us a rather promising smartphone, which despite its obvious flaws, hasn't succeed in convincing us. Its design is pleasant, at least for its price range, and its camera and Android One are undoubtedly great assets, but these defects spoil everything and make the user experience appalling. The bugs are so annoying, to such an extent that you can't trust the device when you need it (the screen freezes when you're on Google Maps). These delays are sometimes painful. Even if you can live with it, it's quite possible that the autonomy may bother you. All in all, the device's potential has mostly gone to waste.

This article was edited on November 13, 2018. This is the final version of our review, but the previously posted comments have not been deleted.

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  • I know you said that this is a finalized version of the review, but it should really revise your review to reflect the current software, which has fixed most of the bugs. The only things that freeze now are occasionally my Bluetooth hangs, and the current version of Chrome. I think Chrome freezing occasionally probably isn't a Nokia issue... The screen is absolutely blue, however so is my Galaxy S8+. The S8+ has been in and out of the shop. Originally it was for a mother board replacement, but I got it back and the screen now has a red spot burnt into it.
    So it's back at Samsung again. This is why I had to buy the Nokia. As stated in the above review the 7.1 software has a night mode. You can lower the blue easily, and you can decide how much to lower it. My eyes are very sensitive to blue light. They sting and tear and fatigue quickly. If this phone does not look blueish to you, you probably aren't as sensitive. Hold the phone next to a sheet of paper. If it doesn't look blue and night mode isn't on then your unit is different than mine and the ones I've seen at the stores. This is my second 7.1. The first one's Bluetooth died after one hour of use. This one has occasional blue tooth issues also, but nothing jarringly bad... My suggestion to people interested in this phone, is to find a more updated review...

  • Not sure if the device is that bad or the review is just too harsh. The device screen is certainly not blue!!

  • From the Nokia specs: "Fast battery charging 9V/2A 18W"

  • GrossDad 10 months ago Link to comment

    I bought a 7.1 last week, to bridge a gap caused by having to send my main phone in for warranty service. That first day, I got the October security patch. If the screen is blue, I haven't noticed it. I just used Google Maps for a trip to Los Angeles, and the screen never froze once. Battery life, compared to my Galaxy S8, has been fine.

  •   24
    Deactivated Account 11 months ago Link to comment

    Was watching the launch yesterday afternoon. Looks like a good device. The snapdragon 636 is just a bit disappointing in my opinion, 3gig ram for the 32gig model. Would have thought they would have at least stayed with the 7 plus' 660 processor or better. And it seems nokia is struggling to get pie to everyone on time when I read their community forum. And I assume it might be the same for someone purchasing the 7.1 now and wait for pie too like the 7 plus users currently. They seem to go the same path as samsung too many models, too many different specs. In the future the One program will not be able to cope with nokia releasing so many models with different specs in less than a year.

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