Nokia 5.1 Plus (Nokia X5)

Performing in style could be the statement of Nokia 5.1 Plus, the budget phone from the trusted brand. Priced at Rs. 9,999, Nokia 5.1 Plus delivers on all aspects making it a phone with enough competitive strength to take on the budget flagship market.

Nokia 5.1 Plus can be one of the most stylish flagships from their budget line-up. It has an average camera, but it makes it up with a competitive processor and a capable battery that makes this a charming power-pack to use and show off to friends simultaneously.

Nokia 5.1 Plus looks premium with the high-gloss treatment that it has undergone. It weighs around 160 grams, which is not quite light but makes it sturdy. The gloss finish makes the phone look stunning, though it is also the reason why the phone can be quite slippery. A rare addition at this price range is the 2.5D curved glass at the back, which accentuates to the beauty of the phone. The phone has the Nokia-style durability, and even after slipping out of hand, it does not acquire scratches or dents. 5.1 Plus does not come with reinforced glass, and while it might be durable, it is best to install an external screen guard.

It has a 5.86-inch display with a 19:9 aspect ratio and a resolution of 720×1520, which is lower than Nokia 5’s 1080×2160 pixels.  However, the display is not weak. It has adequate brightness with enough sunlight legibility to read texts outdoors. The colours are vibrant and punchy. Dark tones appear deep. The screen notch, however, may seem annoying since it is quite bright and occupies more space than necessary. The bezels are thick too, and there is a good amount of chin in the bottom leading to less screen space to work with.

Nokia 5.1 Plus has a capable MediaTek Helio P60 octa-core SoC, which is a notch higher than the Helio P18 powering Nokia 5.1. It is more powerful than most Snapdragon 636 phones coming at this price range.  General task including GPS and Uber runs fast. However, there is a slight buildup of warmth around the LED flash especially when a game is started. Even simple games can get it warm. While it does not spread out much, heavy games like PUBG can get the whole set warm. However, it is not a stinging warmth and can be managed.

Nokia 5.1 Plus has downgraded from the 16MP rear camera of 5.1 to a 13MP rear camera with an f/2.0 aperture lens. However, it remains a good performer. It has Phase Detection Autofocus which works quite fast, and there’s a second 5-megapixel depth sensor. Ample lights can help the camera to capture detailed landscape shots easily. However, macros can suffer a bit due to a bit of shutter lag, and this may cause a bit of ghosting around the edges.

The exposure is not always accurate, even with Auto HDR on. Portrait mode is available due to the depth sensor of the secondary camera though it is quite average. The blur applied in the portrait mode is aggressive and can make it look artificial. In low-light situations, the focus speeds fall making the quality of landscape drop. Decent macros could still be salvaged under artificial lighting. The front 8MP camera can click decent selfies, under ample light. However, HDR does not always kick in. In low-light or night time, a screen flash is required, though it is not quite effective.

Video shooting can go up to 1080p and has a default stabilisation which cannot be turned off. While in good light, there is a shimmer effect due to the lack of visibility of electronic stabilisation, in low light, the quality of videos goes down a lot. Slow-motion shooting is also available, at 720p capturing 120 frames per second.

It has a mediocre sized battery of 3060 mAh, but it works quite well. It can  last a full day easily on a single charge, and if you use it for light purposes, it can get you a few more hours as well. An HD video loop test found it running for about 14 hours and 36 minutes, which is an excellent time for a phone at this range. However, it does not come with fast charging technology and can take an hour to go to 56%. 0-100% may take a little more than 2 hours.

Nokia 5.1 Plus can be called as one of the few best-looking phones in its price range. It is also fitted with a capable battery and a powerful processor making it a phone that fits everything in it. However, video shooting may be a bit unsatisfactory. At its price range, it is a decent phone that delivers on almost every aspect. Due to the famous brand name, it can be recommended as a good buy against the Honor 7X.