Small but impressive
Mid-ranger Nokia 5.1 Plus generally does not compromise on performance, writes Balqis Lim
HMD Global has been pretty aggressive over the past year, launching one Nokia phone after another. The good thing about Nokia is that despite its attractive design and solid performance, it remains affordable. Among the budget offerings, the Nokia 5.1 Plus checks the right boxes.
DESIGN
The first thing I notice about the Nokia 5.1 Plus is how good it feels in the hand. The build is solid, and the 2.5D curved glass on the front and back makes it feel premium. The display is 5.8 inches, so it’s very easy to handle single-handed. It features a 19:9 HD+ display with a notch that houses the front camera, earpiece and sensor.
The Nokia 5.1 Plus comes with a USBC port at the bottom, and right next to it is the speaker and primary microphone. You’ll find the power and volume buttons on the left side, and a hybrid microSIM/microSD card port on the right.
On the top are the 3.5mm audio jack and a second microphone for noise cancellation. A fingerprint sensor, which is almost completely flat on the surface, is located below the camera housing on its back. It unlocks with decent speed. However, since the phone is rather small, you might accidentally touch the rear camera sensor before finding the fingerprint sensor.
PERFORMANCE
The phone’s brightness level is impressive and there are no visibility issues when shooting outdoors.
Despite its lower resolution of 720p, I did not find any issues with the panel when browsing the web or using apps, and watching YouTube videos. Even the colour production is quite good.
The phone is powered by octa-core MediaTek Helio P60 coupled with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. Software-wise, the review unit runs Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box but the latest unit will see the Nokia 5.1 Plus equipped with updated Android 9 Pie.
As an Android One device, the phone comes with a clean UI and essential Google apps that can be uninstalled.
Nokia has also implemented the ambient display that will show notifications as they arrive and a double tap to wake gesture to aid single hand usage.
After moderate use — which includes some light gaming, social media “stalkings”, playback of music videos and numerous photo sessions — I still have about 20 per cent left of the 3060mAh battery, which is pretty good for day use.
CAMERA
The Nokia 5.1 Plus features a 13MP + 5MP dual camera setup with AI assistance. Features include integrated Google Lens, face stickers, Beauty mode, Bothie and P-I-P modes, slow motion and time-lapse recording and even direct live streaming from the camera app to YouTube or Facebook.
The second camera allows for depth sensoring which creates nice shots with blurred background, and the Live Bokeh function enables users to adjust the blurry level before taking a photo. The photos weren’t really impressive but under good light, they turned out very sharp.
In low light situations, the colours tend to be over-saturated and the dynamic range is not that good. You’ll see shadows that are not properly rendered and overall the photo is neither bright nor sharp. The shutter speed is a bit slow which, at times, results in blurry photos. I had to wait a few seconds after pressing the button for the pictures to turn sharp.
The same goes for the 8MP selfie camera. There’s no problem taking good photos in well-lit situations but when there is a lack of light, there’s a lot of noise and the colours may not be accurate.
CONCLUSION
The Nokia 5.1 Plus is a sleek and comfortable device. Although the glass design makes me worry about dropping the phone, after a few days, I got used to holding it.
If the camera is not your main concern, the phone is a good choice. With its attractive design, great performance and stock Android One software, this mid-ranger retails at RM799, which is great value for money.
Verdict: 3.5/5