After several months, smartphone buyers in Kenya have yet another option when it comes to smartphones, and, since 5G sites keep popping up everywhere, yet another 5G phone to consider: the Nokia G60 5G.
The smartphone was first announced all the way back in September last year – and there are tens of reviews of it on YouTube – and is, in every way, yesterday’s news.
That doesn’t sound like a worry to the folks at HMD Global, though, as they are pitching the device as a longevity champ, given its 5G credentials and all and are pitching it as something that is future-proof: when 5G network access picks up, you’ll already be good to go. Hmmm.
Why do we say this? Well, since its announcement, we have entered a new year and seen several devices launch and become available in our market that will be a headache to it. I mean, look at the Reno8 T 5G from Oppo that we reviewed the other day. It is an excellent mid-range smartphone that even manages to undercut the Nokia where it matters the most: the price. Never mind that, in every sense, it has the superior features and specifications.
Enough with the Oppo detour, if you’re still interested in the Nokia for one reason or the other (we understand all of you nostalgic folks who remember the good old Nokia), here’s what you’re getting with the G60 5G:
- A 6.58-inch Full HD+ display with 120Hz refresh rate and protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass 5
- A Snapdragon 695 5G chipset
- 6GB RAM
- 128GB onboard storage
- A 50-megapixel main camera at the back that’s backed by a 5-megapixel ultrawide camera and a 2-megapixel depth sensor; an 8-megapixel selfie camera on the front
- A 4,500mAh battery with support for 20W “fast” charging
- A range of connectivity options including Bluetooth 5.1, Wi-Fi 6 and NFC on the wireless side and a USB Type-C port and a 3.5mm headphone jack on the wired side
- An IP52 rating that sees it shielded from dust to a certain level and water sprays
The device’s back is made from recycled plastic with 60% of the same material being used to make up the frame that holds up the 190 grams it weighs.
The Nokia G60 5G runs on Android 12 and there is a promise of at least 3 major operating system upgrades from HMD Global which should mean that it will be getting Android 13 within the year and there’s a promise of Android versions 14 and 15 over the next 2 years. This is part of what HMD Global is calling a “3-3-3” approach. That is to mean, according to them, three years of software updates (OS), three years of security updates and a three-year warranty period.
It also comes ready for enrolment in the Android Enterprise Recommended program for any businesses that are looking for newer devices in the market to add to their MDM options or for corporate employees looking for solutions that work with existing setups at their workplaces.
The Nokia G60 5G is going for Kshs 53,000 (Safaricom has an offer price of Kshs 49,000 at the moment – that won’t last long) and comes in Black and Ice colour options. Safaricom is a launch partner for the device with HMD Global and, what we know at this time is that the device is available through the telecommunication company’s retail outlets across the country. That, of course, means that you can also find the device online on Masoko, Safaricom’s mobile tech e-commerce platform. There, for some reason, it is going for Kshs 2,000 less than the mentioned recommended retail price but which is a hair higher than the deals you’re getting offline from the same vendor.
