For those opposed to the glitz and glamour offered by $1,000 and up smartphones, the HMD Global's Nokia 4.2 is a great midrange option, and good news: it's coming to the United States for less than $200.
Announced back in February, the Nokia 4.2 is available to preorder now in the country for just $189, with shipping expected in May. The phone has midrange specs, of course, but does run Android One and has an interesting approach to the dedicated voice assistant button. Pressing it once will trigger Google Assistant, as on other phones, but users also have the option of pressing it twice to open up Google's visual snapshot. Holding the key, on the other hand, will command Assistant to listen to the user's voice outright.
Nokia 4.2 Specs
Don't expect anything fancy on a $190 phone, of course. Surprisingly, though, the specs sheet is far from disappointing. It's got a weak but still respectable Qualcomm Snapdragon 439 processor that's paired with 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of local storage. As for the juice, a decent 3,000 mAh will keep everything up and running.
The camera situation could be better, but what does one expect from a midranger? Again, there's nothing earth-shattering in this department, but the dual-lens 13-megapixel setup might be decent enough for taking vacation shots; less decent in low-light situations, though. There's a 5.71-inch display on the front with a resolution of 1,520 x 720. There's a notch, as well, although the bezels are still a bit chunky here — if anything the notch was likely added to make it look more modern.
Other Features
There's a fingerprint scanner onboard, a rarity on phones in this price range. NFC support is onboard, as well, mostly for contactless payments. That's also something not found on most budget devices. Android One will ensure timely software and security updates over time. There's a LED notification light embedded in the power key, which allows the user to check if there's a notification regardless if the phone is facing up or down.
"At HMD Global, we believe that everybody should have access to the latest in mobile technologies regardless of their budget," says HMD America VP Maurizio Angelone. "With cutting-edge experiences, incredible craftsmanship, AI innovations with a dedicated Google Assistant button, dual-rear cameras, pure Android, and much more, Nokia 4.2 brings everything you would expect from the top-line smartphone for a fraction of the price."
Customers can choose between black and pink. The Nokia 4.2 will start shipping on May 15, according to HMD Global.
