Nokia 3.4 Review

 

HMD Global recently launched two Indian smartphones, Nokia 3.4 and Nokia 5.4. We've already reviewed Nokia 5.4, which has some design features but has not been fully functional. When I got to Nokia 3.4, I wondered if it would sound the same. This budget-friendly model costs Rs. 11,999 in India. It has a very modest Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 processor and a small 4,000mAh battery, which can be risky compared to others at this price point, but what it works for is the promise of guaranteed, unconventional software upgrades. Should you consider Nokia 3.4? Let's find out.

Nokia Design 3.4

The first thing I noticed about Nokia 3.4 ₹ 10,999 is its build quality. It is made of polycarbonate but it feels solid on the hand. The display measures 6.39 inches and has a 19.5: 9 factor ratio that makes it taller and thinner. Holding Nokia 3.4 is not a big problem but I can't easily access the top of the display while using the same phone. HMD Global offers a hole-punch design while most of its competitors are still playing the front camera notch. There are visible bezels all around, but the thick chin with the Nokia logo will attract your attention.

The power button is located above the center of the frame and is easily accessible while holding the instrument. The volume keys are located above the power button, and this can be achieved without having to shove the phone in hand. On one side sits a dedicated Google Assistant button with a SIM tray on top of it. Nokia 3.4 has two Nano-SIM cables and a dedicated microSD architecture for increased storage.

The back panel has a engraved end that keeps it free of fingerprints. There’s a well-designed fingerprint scanner, and my finger rested on it naturally while I was holding the phone. The rear camera module on the back is not a standard design and is stand out. The Nokia 3.4 has a triple camera setting, and the ring is less noticeable, which is a good thing. This phone is not too big and cuts to 180g lighter than other smartphones in this price range.

The Nokia 3.4 has a USB Type-C port at the bottom and a 3.5mm headphone jack and speaker. IHMD Global sends 5W charger to box and clear case. Nokia 3.4 is available in three colors: Fjord, Dusk, and Coal. I had a Dusk color variation with only purple on it. You can choose Fjord if you like light color or charcoal if you like to keep things simple.

Nokia 3.4 specification and software

Nokia 3.4 has an HD + resolution that is usually made with a smartphone at this price, although there are a few such as Redmi 9 Power (Review) and Poco M3 (Review) both with full HD + displays. HMD Global has taken the Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 and paired it with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. There are no other types. Happily, storage is expanded using a dedicated MicroSD card slot. You get a 4,000mAh battery, which is a little smaller than most commonly cooked these days. HMD Global sold Nokia 3.4 for Rs. 11,999 which sets you up against some heated competition.

Nokia 3.4 has support for Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi, four satellite navigation systems, and 4G VoLTE. Depending on the software, it uses pure Android stock, and is part of the Android One app. It is currently shipping with Android 10 and my unit had a very good Android security clip for February. HMD Global says Nokia 3.4 is ready for Android 11, and according to Android One operating system, it will eventually get an update to Android 12. This puts Nokia 3.4 at the forefront of this competition, as budget smartphones rarely get anything beyond development. for one version of Android. There are no bloatware apps on the smartphone, and the UI is very easy to use. For someone who chooses Android stocks, Nokia 3.4 will appeal, but if you like to have more features and customization, you'll miss them on this phone.

Nokia 3.4 performance and battery life

Nokia 3.4 has enough computer hardware to handle day-to-day operations. With 4GB of RAM, you will not face any problems unless you have done a lot of work among heavy applications. The Spapdragon 460 is quick to load small apps but you will have to wait for it to load heavy. I found a fingerprint scanner to quickly turn on the smartphone and it never required more than one effort. There is also facial recognition, which works quickly even in different lighting conditions.

I have run our standard benchmark set to see where Nokia 3.4 stands compared to other phones in its price list. On AnTuTu, Nokia 3.4 handled 1,49,404 points, while earning 256 points and 1,289 respectively in Geekbench 5's single-core and multi-core test. These schools were lower than those of Redmi 9 Power and Poco M3. In terms of graphics, Nokia 3.4 received 37fps in GFXBench's T-Rex platform and 9.6fps in Car Chase.

I played Call of Duty Mobile on Nokia 3.4 and was unsuccessful at setting up high-quality graphics and medium frame rate. The game was played in these settings without any problems. After playing for 15 minutes, the phone showed a 5 percent decrease in battery performance. I also found that it warms the touch around the camera module.

Nokia 3.4 packs a small 4,000mAh battery but you'll still be able to pass at least one full day for one charge. However, charging is much slower when using a 5W integrated charger. I can only get the phone up to 16 percent in 30 minutes, and it only dials 33 percent after an hour. Charging the phone took entirely three hours, which is slower than modern standards. You can use the above-charged charger for best results. Other affordable smartphones like the Realme Narzo 30A ₹ 8,999 come with an 18W charger in the box.