Nokia has a long history of making phones, and while many thought the company was down, it has made quite the comeback, giving us some of the best affordable Android phones available today.
You won't really find flagship-level phones here; the best Nokia phones are aimed at the budget and mid-tier segments. Nokia devices feature a classic industrial design and clean Android software, ensuring fast updates and no bloatware. The Nokia XR21 stands out with a rugged design and solid internals that make it a great pick for someone who wants their phone to last for years. Its three years of OS upgrades also means that the software will keep up, too.
The best Nokia you can buy
The Nokia XR21 is an affordable premium midrange phone with flagship-level specs. The Snapdragon 695 brings solid performance, but you also get a 120Hz FHD+ display, a 64MP camera, OZO Spatial Audio capture, and three OS upgrades, meaning you'll be good for Android 15 when that rolls out in 2024.
Unlocked 5G performance
The Nokia G50 5G is a reasonably quick 5G smartphone powered by the Snapdragon 480 CPU. This phone boasts a 5,000mAh battery with 18W charging, so it can easily last two days on a charge. This unlocked phone has solid band support for fast speeds on T-Mobile. The 6.82-inch display is large and with a somewhat low HD+ resolution. The main camera is a solid 48MP shooter.
A solid budget option
The Nokia G100 comes with a big battery, a big screen, and a low price. You can get it with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage or with 4GB of RAM and 128Gb of storage. Either way, you get a microSD card slot for further expansion if you need it. The screen is a basic IPS panel, but it's large enough to easily read at 6.52 inches. The biggest downside is that is ships with Android 12 with no updates in sight.
Back to basics
A fantastic budget phone, the Nokia G310 is powered by a 5G Snapdragon chip that offers decent performance, paired with a large 5000mAh battery for multi-day battery life. This phone is also built to last, and it's incredibly easy to repair or replace the battery if something goes wrong. You also have a solid 50MP camera and OZO audio surround for improved video and audio capture.
Designed to last
The Nokia XR20 is a phone that has been built to endure, with water resistance and drop protection. It's ready for 5G and comes with a 4,630mAh battery with 18W fast charging. Nokia has also promised three years of OS upgrades with the XR20 launching with Android 11. The 6.67-inch display is sharp with a 1080x2400 resolution. With a Snapdragon 480, this is one of Nokia's most complete packages.
Budget with Android 13
Software support isn't a strength for budget phones, so it's a good idea to pick one up with a fairly modern operating system. The Nokia C210 can be had for right around $100 and ships with Android 13. Even so, Nokia states that this phone will get three years of updates, so it should have fairly recent security updates for the next couple of years.
Nokia sticks to durable budget phones
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Nokia has no shortage of great phones on offer — particularly in the budget segment. The brand's focus on industrial design and clean software with Android One has allowed it to stand out in a crowded market. The Nokia XR21 is the successor to the Nokia XR20, with a more modern design, updated specs, and a tough chassis. And thanks to the software promise, the XR21 will support Android 15 when that rolls around.
Then there's the Nokia G50, which sits a step above the Nokia G20. Although both are very similar in terms of design and specs, the G50 comes out on top with faster charging and a more capable Snapdragon 5G chipset. Nokia's latest budget phone has a lot to offer for the price, and the fact that you're getting a battery that can "last for days" is the cherry on top.
But no matter what phone you choose, you can be sure that it will have incredible battery life, a tough design, and a solid Android experience. It will also be kind to your wallet, with all the company's phones costing under $500.
