Nokia 7.2 Unboxing, Quick Review: Zeiss Goes Triple

Nokia 7.2 Unboxing, Quick Review: Zeiss Goes Triple

Triple the cameras, triple the fun

A month after the triple-camera toting Nokia 7.2 was unveiled in IFA, HMD Global has brought the new smartphone to our shores.

Armed with a Zeiss-branded, triple camera module headlined by a high-resolution 48-megapixel main camera, the Nokia 7.2 is the company’s contender in the highly competitive mid-range market.

Packaging and contents

HMD Global has been pretty consistent when it comes to the packaging and contents for its phones. You get a square box with a photo of the Nokia 7.2, along with an updated Android One branding at the bottom. Inside, you get the phone itself, documentation, SIM ejector tool, USB-C cable, 10w charger, and a headset.

Not your typical build

To make the phone look and feel like a premium device while still keeping the price low, HND Global used a unique construction method for the Nokia 7.2.

The phone uses a glass back on the rear with a smooth, matte finish, along with a special type of  frame that has a unique material – an aluminum-looking polymer that is stronger than usual plastic but is lighter than aluminum.

While the matte-finished glass back is a refreshing sight in the land of plastic-backed phones, it’s pretty smudge prone. Nonetheless, the Nokia 7.2 is less of a fingerprint magnet compared to phones with glossy glass backs.

Like the Nokia 3.2, the Nokia 7.2 follow’s HMD Global’s 2019 design DNA that includes a dedicated Google Assistant button, a power button with an integrated notification light, and a dewdrop display.

While the Nokia 7.2 joins the circular camera module bandwagon with its Lumia 830-inspired design, you’ll be dealing with a significant camera bump. We suggest that you get a case for the Nokia 7.2 first to protect the camera module from bumps and scratches.

PureDisplay at a lower price bracket

Aside from the Lumia-inspired camera bump housing three cameras, the Nokia 7.2’s other key feature is its PureDisplay IPS panel. First seen in the more premium Nokia 8.1, PureDisplay is a proprietary Nokia feature that makes use of hardware (Pixelworks’ imaging processor) and software (HMD Global’s display algorithm) to deliver a broader dynamic range and deeper contrast. Like its more expensive sibling, the Nokia 7.2 natively supports HDR videos and can upscale SDR videos through its imaging processor.

Aside from having a slightly larger display, the Nokia 7.2 has a taller display compared to the Nokia 8.1 with its 19.5:9 aspect ratio.

Great RAM/Storage combo, but processor is an old dog

The Nokia 7.2 is powered by a two-year-old Snapdragon 660 processor paired with 6GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. While the Snapdragon 660 is a tried-and-tested processor for mid-range phones, we find it puzzling at why HMD Global decided to use the same processor powering the 2017 Nokia 7 Plus in the year of our Lord 2019.

We asked HMD Global Country Manager Sancho Chak during the Nokia 7.2’s local launch on why the brand decided to use a two-year-old processor, and Chak explained that they’d rather use a dated processor that has very good software support than a new processor that hasn’t been optimized yet, software-wise. Chak’s statement make sense, especially with HMD Global’s stellar record when it comes to software updates.

That being said, we’re reserving our judgment until we thoroughly put the phone through its paces.

Triple Zeiss cameras are its crown jewels

Inside that Lumia-inspired camera bump are three Zeiss-branded cameras that consists of a 48-megapixel main snapper, 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera, and 5-megapixel depth sensor. Check out some of the initial shots we took:

The Nokia 7.2 is one of the first phones from HMD Global to offer an ultra-wide-angle camera. Based on our initial impressions, the detail and color reproduction of photos taken from the ultra-wide-angle camera is close to those taken using the main camera.

Inside the Nokia 7.2’s dewdrop notch is the same 20-megapixel camera found on the Nokia 8.1. While they share the same hardware, the Nokia 7.2 comes with more portrait mode features that let you play around with bokeh. You can select custom-shaped bokeh effects or signature Zeiss bokeh effects depending on your liking.

That’s it for our quick review for the Nokia 7.2. The full review will be up on the site in the coming days, so stay tuned. The Nokia 7.2 is priced at Php 15,990 and will be available on October 19.

Nokia 7.2 specs

  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor
  • 6GB RAM
  • 128GB internal storage
  • 6.2-inch Full HD+ PureDisplay IPS display; 500nits brightness, 96% NTSC Color Gamut
  • Triple Zeiss rear cameras: 48-megapixel f/1.8 main camera; 8-megapixel f/2.2 ultra-wide-angle camera; 5-megapixel f/2.4 depth sensor; dual-LED flash, EIS, 4K video recording, AI Scene detection, Portrait mode
  • 20-megapixel f/2.0 front camera with 0.9um pixels, AI bokeh effect, AI scene detection
  • Dual SIM
  • 3G, LTE
  • WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, A-GPS
  • USB Type-C, fingerprint scanner
  • Android 9.0 Pie (Android One)
  • 3500mAh battery with 10W fast charging

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