Nokia launches DIY repairable budget Android phone
Nokia has announced one of the first budget Android smartphones designed to be repaired at home allowing users to swap out the battery in under five minutes in partnership with iFixit.
Launched before Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on Saturday, the Nokia G22 has a removable back and internal design that allows components to be easily unscrewed and swapped out including the battery, screen and charging port.
Nokia phones manufacturer HMD Global will make “quick fix” repair guides and genuine parts available for five years via specialists iFixit, in addition to affordable professional repair options.
“People value long-lasting, quality devices and they shouldn’t have to compromise on price to get them. The new Nokia G22 is purposefully built with a repairable design so you can keep it even longer,” said Adam Ferguson, head of product marketing for HMD Global.
The G22 is partially made of recycled plastic and has a 6.53in screen, large-capacity battery, 50-megapixel camera and a fingerprint scanner. It runs Android 12 and will be supported for three years of monthly security updates and two major Android version upgrades.
HMD Global hopes to ride the wave of increasing consumer desire for longer-lasting and more repairable devices. It follows in the footsteps of pioneers such as the Dutch manufacturer Fairphone, but at more affordable prices and with far simpler processes than Apple’s recent DIY repair programmes.
The Nokia G22 will cost from £149.99 shipping on 8 March with replacement parts costing £18.99 for a charging port, £22.99 for a battery and £44.99 for a screen.
Alongside several other low-end smartphones, HMD also announced it would begin the first steps of manufacturing 5G devices in Europe in 2023. Though light on detail, it aims to reduce the carbon footprint of locally sold devices and to enhance security, starting with a device for security-conscious industry before progressing to consumer devices.
“The Nokia brand has a proud history within the European market, and with this move we are continuing to strengthen our position as the only major European smartphone provider,” said Jean-Francois Baril, co-founder and chief executive of HMD Global.