I’ve been actively using the Nokia 5.3 smartphone for some weeks now and as promised in a previous article before I used it at all, here are my thoughts based on user experience. The phone goes for about 23,000/- in the Kenyan market and with the features that it offers, I think that is quite fair.
Design
The back of the phone is made of plastic that does not feel all that pleasant right away but it works. I found that when you fit the free plastic cover that comes in the packaging though, then it frames the cameras and fingerprint scanner nicely and really improves the look.
Even better is the Kevlar 007 case which instantly adds tonnes of presence to the phone, gives it the James Bond aura and also gives a gamer feel to it. It even oozes some bullet proof air though we will not be subjecting it to a shooting test. But this case I must say is really really good. It is a special edition case in a partnership with HMD Nokia and 007 for the movie No Time To Die.
The phones power button is on the left just below the volume rockers and has a pulsing light for when it needs attention. Like when there is a message to be read. This comes in quite handy especially even for locating the phone at night. Then there is the dedicated Google Assistant button on the left just below the SIM card tray.
Camera
Right from the design, the looks and onto the performance, the cameras on this phone are not shabby at all. The phone spots a back quad-core camera with a barely there protrusion and this is one thing I really love about it. When encased in the protective cover, it looks really beautiful too. The back camera is 13MP with a 5MP lense for ultra-wide, a 2MP depth sensor, and a 2MP macro lens. The selfie camera checks in at 8MP. Here are some photos I took with the phone and I must say I was pleasantly surprised by how well it captured colours though I doubt anyone is still making overly crappy cameras anymore.
Android one
This is one of my most favourite features on the phone. For one, the complete absence of bloatware means a completely clutter free interface. Then there is the peace of mind that the regular software updates are safe and secure, and that when Android 11 comes about, the phone will get this too. This I think is a major selling point for this phone because let’s face it, with a bloatware laden phone you never know where security breaches might come from. Or when.
Security
The Nokia 5.3 has face unlock, fingerprint sensor and PIN. Any one of these or a combination should be enough security that is both safe and fast to operate.
The phone gives a fair warning that using the fingerprint scanner is more secure than face unlock because if someone has facial features similar to yours, then they can be able to access your phone. This is however something I found rather unlikely in my case but I do appreciate the heads up. Face unlock also comes subject to environmental issues like lighting. If say there is not enough lighting for example, then it will not work properly. For me face unlock works pretty well and pretty fast and I’ve also enabled the fingerprint scanner for good measure.
One thing I’ve really loved about the fingerprint scanner is that is also doubles up to operate the drop-down menu for the screen. Quite nifty I would say.
In short security is just simple and reliable which is really what one would require.
Battery
One of the things that the Nokia 5.3 promises with its 4000mAh battery is that a full charge will take you two days and yes, this has been possible in my case without having to take too much care about use. So this has been with average use which means taking some photos here and there, taking or watching a video here and there, some little gaming in traffic, and lots of social media especially twitter. I think this battery longevity is quite a plus since the phone is not a fast charge.
Budget aside, battery is one of the major reasons why people outside of urban areas and without access to full time electricity do not get drawn to smart phones. But we have since established that a smartphone is no longer a luxury item. For Nokia to have this kind of battery and to continue being battery considerate, I think the market outside of towns will be quite huge. At this time just about everyone could make use of a smartphone. This is where the world is presently at, and nobody deserves to be left behind.
Verdict
The Nokia 5.3 is a midrange smartphone and so users should purchase it with that in mind and keep expectations to a healthy level. With the features and advantages like secure regular updates and the undeniable Nokia quality though, it is one of the best value for money purchases in its range. It is a very fine every day phone but to be fair in consideration of the price, one should not expect a powerhouse.
