The Nokia X20 was the premium offering among Nokia’s budget-focused April 2021 launch, offering a great-looking design, long battery life, Zeiss cameras and three Android OS upgrades starting at just £299.

But while the Nokia X20 may tempt consumers with a stock Android experience, extended software updates and a three-year warranty to match, performance issues stop it from reaching its full potential.

Design and build

• Premium build quality
• Simplistic yet attractive design
• Non-remappable Google Assistant button

Nokia smartphones tend to sport the same form factor, and those looking for a change with the Nokia X20 may be disappointed. It’s very much business as usual from a Nokia perspective, offering a simplistic take compared to the likes of Realme and Xiaomi who tend to peacock with their offerings, offering shimmering finishes, curved displays and more to entice consumers.

That’s not to say it’s dull; the Nokia X20 sports a reflective matte finish on the rear that looks premium, feels great in the hand, and helps to negate those pesky fingerprints too. However, there’s no denying that it’s also among the thicker smartphones out there at 9.1mm, and it’s a little weighty at 220g too.

It’s the small details that help the X20 shine, like the premium metal band that runs around the exterior, matching the colour of the rear – either the bronze-tinted Midnight Sun or deep Nordic Blue – and the Zeiss-branded circular camera housing on the rear.

It’s clear that this isn’t an entry-level Nokia, although that line would’ve been more clearly defined if Nokia opted for a glass rear in place of plastic.

On the right of the 6.67in display, you’ll find volume rockers and a fingerprint reader, and on the left, you’ll find a SIM card tray and the Google Assistant button – another staple of Nokia smartphones. And, just like every other Nokia, it’s not remappable, so it’s pretty useless unless you actively use Google’s virtual assistant.

Nokia X20 Specs :

Verdict

The Nokia X20 tempts users with stock Android, three OS upgrades and a three-year warranty, but that’s not enough to make up for comparatively lacklustre hardware.