Nokia 2.2 brings the waterdrop notch down to the $100 price segment
While it's obviously far too early for the high-end Nokia 9 PureView to get a sequel (especially without sorting out all those camera issues first), the brand's build-up to a big announcement event today made us expect at the very least a nice mid-range device with a modern design and respectable specifications.
That's... not quite what we got in the end, but the entry-level Nokia 2.2 still seems to deserve our attention for a number of key reasons. First and foremost, the price point, which is naturally set lower than the 3.2 and 4.2, at the rough equivalent of $100 (and up) in India. Unfortunately, there's no word on US availability, but you may not want to give up all hope just yet.
Secondly, this might just be the most affordable smartphone from a major brand with a decent US presence to keep up with the latest design trends. Well, not the latest latest, as the Nokia 2.2 sports a discreet waterdrop-style notch instead of going the hole punch display route or adopting a motorized selfie camera of some sort. Still, that notch is not something you often see in this ultra-low price segment.
Another thing that sets the Nokia 2.2 apart from your typical budget-friendly soldier is its participation in the Android One program. That means you'll be getting some silky smooth Pie-based software out the box and a guaranteed Android Q update in the fall.
The rest of the specs and features are understandably modest, including a MediaTek Helio A22 SoC, 1520 x 720 pixel resolution for a 5.7-inch screen with a relatively thick chin, a single 13MP rear-facing shooter, a 5MP front cam, and a 3,000 mAh battery. The battery, by the way, is easily removable, which naturally means the handset is entirely made from plastic. A dedicated Google Assistant button resides on the left side of the phone, which does not come with a fingerprint reader, supporting however facial recognition technology.
Two variants are scheduled for a June 11 commercial debut in India at prices of $100 and $115 with 2GB RAM/16GB storage and 3/32 gigs respectively, with European availability in the pipeline as well. Since Nokia's official US smartphone portfolio is ever-expanding, a stateside 2.2 launch is not entirely out of the question. But you probably shouldn't hold your breath.
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