Nokia G42 5G: The smartphone landscape continues to evolve rapidly, with manufacturers constantly striving to deliver compelling devices across various price segments.
In the increasingly crowded budget 5G market, HMD Global’s Nokia G42 5G emerges as a distinctive contender with a focus on longevity, repairability, and practical functionality.
This comprehensive analysis explores how the G42 5G balances essential features with unique selling propositions to create a meaningful experience for budget-conscious consumers seeking sustainable technology without sacrificing modern connectivity.
Nokia G42 5G: Design Philosophy and Build Quality
The Nokia G42 5G embraces a design approach that blends nostalgic Nokia durability with contemporary aesthetics.
Unlike many competitors focusing on glossy finishes or imitation glass, the device features what Nokia calls a “Repairable Design” with a matte polycarbonate unibody construction.
Available in So Purple, So Grey, and So Pink colorways, these finishes incorporate subtle speckled patterns reminiscent of recycled materials, aligning with the device’s sustainability narrative.
The device maintains substantial dimensions at 165 x 75.8 x 8.55mm, with a slightly thicker profile than many contemporaries—a deliberate choice that accommodates both the substantial battery and the repairable internal architecture. At 193 grams, the weight distribution feels balanced despite the robust construction.
The frame incorporates reinforced corners that provide additional drop protection without resorting to unsightly protective bumpers.
What truly distinguishes the G42 5G’s design philosophy is its commitment to repairability.
In collaboration with iFixit, Nokia provides official repair guides and affordable replacement parts for critical components including the display, charging port, and battery.
This approach represents a meaningful counterpoint to the sealed, disposable nature of many modern smartphones, extending potential device lifespan well beyond the typical 2-3 year cycle.
The front panel features Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection—not the newest iteration but providing reasonable resistance against everyday hazards.
While lacking official IP certification, the manufacturer claims “splash resistance” through internal gaskets and port covers, providing basic protection against occasional exposure to moisture.
Button placement follows conventional arrangements with volume controls and power button (doubling as a fingerprint sensor) positioned along the right edge, offering satisfactory tactile feedback with appropriate resistance.
The bottom edge houses the USB-C port, speaker grille, and microphone in a symmetrical arrangement, while the top edge retains the increasingly rare 3.5mm headphone jack.
Display Technology
The centerpiece of the G42 5G experience is its 6.56-inch LCD display, delivering visual performance that aligns with expectations for its segment.
The panel offers HD+ resolution (1612 x 720 pixels) with 90Hz refresh rate capability, creating noticeably smoother scrolling and transitions compared to standard 60Hz alternatives.
The 180Hz touch sampling rate further enhances responsiveness during interactive tasks.
Brightness capabilities reach 450 nits under maximum manual adjustment and approximately 560 nits with automatic brightness enabled, providing adequate visibility under most lighting conditions though occasionally struggling under direct sunlight.
Color reproduction approaches 95% of the sRGB gamut, offering natural visuals without excessive saturation that might compromise accuracy.
The display incorporates several eye comfort features including Night Light mode with adjustable color temperature and Reading Mode that simulates paper-like viewing conditions for extended text consumption.
Widevine L1 certification ensures full HD streaming capability across major platforms including Netflix and Amazon Prime.
The waterdrop notch houses the front-facing camera while maintaining reasonable screen real estate for content consumption.
Despite using LCD rather than AMOLED technology, the panel demonstrates respectable contrast with decent black levels for its category, though naturally falling short of the perfect blacks achievable with OLED alternatives.
Performance and Hardware
Powering the G42 5G is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 480+ chipset, manufactured using an 8nm process technology that balances performance with power efficiency.
This octa-core configuration combines two Kryo 460 performance cores clocked at 2.2GHz with six efficiency-focused cores operating at 1.8GHz. The Adreno 619 GPU handles graphical tasks with reasonable competence for mainstream usage scenarios.
| Variant | RAM | Storage | Price (Approximate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 4GB LPDDR4X | 64GB UFS 2.1 | ₹15,499 |
| Enhanced | 6GB LPDDR4X | 128GB UFS 2.1 | ₹16,999 |
Memory management benefits from Nokia’s implementation of virtual RAM expansion, allowing allocation of up to 5GB additional RAM from storage when required.
Storage utilizes UFS 2.1 technology, delivering acceptable data transfer speeds for everyday usage.
The microSD slot supports expansion up to 512GB, providing flexible storage options for media-heavy users.
Thermal management implements a conventional cooling system that maintains reasonable temperatures during typical usage periods.
While not incorporating advanced cooling solutions found in gaming-oriented devices, the system proves adequate for preventing throttling during everyday tasks and light gaming sessions.
Benchmark performance places the device appropriately within the entry-level 5G segment, with AnTuTu scores hovering around 290,000 points and Geekbench 5 delivering single/multi-core scores of approximately 510/1500 respectively.
These numbers translate to smooth everyday performance with occasional stutters only during the most demanding applications or multitasking scenarios.
Camera System
The imaging system represents a pragmatic approach to photography within budget constraints, featuring:
-
50MP primary sensor with f/1.8 aperture
-
2MP macro lens for close-up photography
-
2MP depth sensor for portrait effects
-
8MP front-facing camera for selfies and video calls
The primary sensor implements pixel-binning technology, combining multiple pixels to create 12.5MP images with enhanced light sensitivity in typical shooting scenarios.
The resulting daylight images exhibit reasonable detail preservation and dynamic range, with color science that tends toward natural rather than oversaturated representation.
Edge detection and texture rendering demonstrate acceptable accuracy in well-lit environments, though fine details can appear somewhat softened upon closer inspection.
Low-light performance aligns with expectations for this segment, with the Night Mode requiring approximately 2-3 seconds of exposure and steady hands to deliver usable results.
Images display reasonable detail in moderate lighting but struggle with both noise and detail preservation in challenging conditions.
The auxiliary cameras provide specific functionality rather than versatility, with the macro lens offering creative close-up opportunities despite its limited resolution, while the depth sensor assists with portrait mode photography.
The absence of an ultrawide lens represents an understandable compromise at this price point.
Video capabilities include 1080p recording at 30fps from both main and selfie cameras, with basic electronic stabilization providing adequate smoothness for casual recording in well-lit environments.
While lacking 4K options found in some similarly priced alternatives, the quality of the implemented 1080p capture prioritizes consistency over resolution claims.
The camera application offers a straightforward interface with essential shooting modes including Portrait, Night, and Pro modes with manual controls.
While not competing with computational photography leaders, the system delivers respectable results that align with expectations for its price category, particularly in favorable lighting conditions.
Battery Life and Charging
Battery performance stands as a definitive strength, with the substantial 5000mAh cell consistently delivering power for extended periods.
Typical usage patterns—including social media browsing, messaging, occasional photography, and moderate media consumption—reliably provide 1.5 to 2 days between charges.
More demanding scenarios involving location services, streaming, and gaming naturally accelerate power consumption, though even intensive use rarely exhausts the battery before day’s end.
The 90Hz refresh rate option adds approximately 10-15% additional power draw compared to the 60Hz setting, though the option to manually switch between refresh rates provides user control over this balance.
Charging capabilities include 20W wired charging support, delivering approximately 50% capacity in 35 minutes and full charge in approximately 110 minutes.
While not matching the 33W+ solutions found in some competitors, this charging speed represents adequate convenience for overnight charging patterns, particularly considering the extended battery endurance.
Software Experience
The device ships with Android 13, featuring Nokia’s commitment to a near-stock Android experience with minimal modifications.
This approach results in a clean, uncluttered interface free from redundant applications and services that often plague budget devices from other manufacturers.
HMD Global commits to two major Android version updates and three years of monthly security patches—an impressive longevity promise for this price segment that enhances the device’s overall value proposition.
This extended support timeline aligns perfectly with the repairable hardware approach, creating a cohesive narrative around device longevity.
The software experience benefits from Google’s standard suite of applications without duplicate alternatives, reducing confusion and storage consumption.
Additional features include basic Digital Wellbeing tools, streamlined notification management, and simplified privacy controls.
Key Advantages
-
Repairable Design: Official repair guides and available replacement parts
-
Exceptional Battery Life: 5000mAh capacity delivers reliable multi-day endurance
-
Clean Software Experience: Near-stock Android with minimal bloatware
-
Extended Software Support: Two OS updates and three years of security patches
-
Capable Main Camera: 50MP sensor provides satisfactory photography in good lighting
-
Comprehensive Connectivity: Full 5G support with solid band compatibility
-
Headphone Jack: Retains the 3.5mm connector increasingly absent in modern smartphones
-
Expandable Storage: MicroSD support allows cost-effective capacity increases
Areas for Improvement
-
HD+ resolution falls below the FHD+ standard increasingly common at this price point
-
Secondary cameras offer limited utility beyond specific scenarios
-
LCD technology, while adequate, lacks the contrast and power efficiency of AMOLED alternatives
-
Charging speed, while practical, lags behind many competitors
-
No official IP rating beyond basic splash resistance
-
Video recording limited to 1080p/30fps resolution
-
Single speaker implementation limits media immersion
-
Older Snapdragon 480+ platform despite the “+” designation
Nokia G42 5G
The Nokia G42 5G represents a thoughtfully executed product that addresses the evolving needs of budget-conscious smartphone buyers seeking sustainable technology.
By prioritizing repairability, battery endurance, clean software, and extended support—elements that meaningfully impact long-term ownership satisfaction—while making calculated compromises in less critical areas, the device creates a compelling value proposition that respects both financial constraints and environmental considerations.
While not without limitations, particularly in display resolution and charging speed, the G42 5G delivers a balanced experience that acknowledges the realities of its price segment without unnecessarily compromising the elements that most significantly impact daily satisfaction.
The focus on repairability and longevity represents a refreshing counterpoint to the disposable nature of many contemporary smartphones, potentially establishing a meaningful differentiation in an increasingly commoditized market segment.
For consumers seeking reliable performance, modern connectivity, exceptional battery endurance, and the ability to maintain their device beyond typical replacement cycles, the Nokia G42 5G presents a rational choice that delivers tangible benefits in daily use while supporting more sustainable consumption patterns.