HMD Global makes it easy to repair your smartphone. It has announced the Nokia G22 as the first phone to qualify under its new ‘QuickFix’ programme, which aims to reduce the effort, know-how and expense usually involved in replacing a broken screen or outdated battery.
The company also has a couple of other new Android phones aimed squarely at budget-conscious buyers, all part of the company’s big Mobile World Congress 2023 launch lineup. Here’s a look at what’s new.
Nokia G22
For the Nokia G22, HMD Global has partnered with iFixit to provide the official spare parts and basic tools required to complete the job. While it may seem daunting at first to break down your phone and start pulling out the components, it seems that HMD Global really has made the job a lot easier than you might expect.
During a presentation of the Nokia G22 prior to its announcement, an HMD Global representative demolished the Nokia G22 and replaced the battery with a new one in a few seconds less than five minutes, all while still giving a presentation. The job was done with three tools: the included SIM tray removal tool, a 00 screwdriver, and a guitar pick to help separate the back cover from the chassis. The screwdriver and socket can be purchased from iFixit, along with a new battery.
The cost is reasonable at €30/$31 for the battery, or €50/$52 for a new screen, with the kit adding an extra five euros/$5. While replacing the battery takes five minutes, changing the screen is more complicated and is estimated to take 20 minutes. These costs about 30% cheaper than paying a company to do it, and HMD Global says the process has 50% fewer steps than before. It takes professional companies about 45 minutes to swap out a battery in a competing phone, according to HMD Global.
All of this adds to the longevity of the Nokia G22, but is it a phone you’ll want to buy and keep for a long time? It’s not a flagship phone and costs only €179, or about $180. For this, you get a 6.5-inch display, a 100% recycled plastic case, a 5050mAh battery with an estimated three days of use, and a Unisoc T606 processor. It comes in two colors, Lagoon Blue and Meteor Gray. It has an IP52 water and dust resistance rating, which is not affected by any repair, provided the instructions are followed correctly.
Unfortunately, it comes with Android 12 installed, which HMD Global says is due to the phone’s extended development time, and getting it to Android 13 will take care of one of two guaranteed major updates. It also comes with three years of security updates, which is pretty good for a smartphone at this price. It’s also a 4G only phone, which again affects longevity. The rear camera on the back has 50MP and is next to a 2MP macro camera and a 2MP depth camera.
The specs aren’t what makes the Nokia G22 exciting; It’s the relative ease of repair at a low entry price, from a brand already associated with durability. Outside of Fairphone, this level of overhaul is rarely seen, and it’s another addition to HMD Global’s growing list of similarly environmentally conscious initiatives. We hope to see more models soon.
Nokia C22
The Nokia G22 and QuickFix are some of HMD Global’s most interesting announcements at MWC 2023, but it also has two other phones to show off. Nokia C22 is a simple 4G smartphone with Android 13 Go Edition installed, 1.6GHz Unisoc octa-core processor, 5000mAh battery for three days of use. There is a choice between 2GB or 3GB of RAM, and each comes with 64GB of internal storage and a MicroSD card slot as well.
On the back there is a 13-megapixel main camera and a 2-megapixel macro camera, as well as an 8-megapixel selfie camera at the top of the screen, along with a fingerprint scanner on the back of the phone. The polycarbonate body has an IP52 water resistance rating, there’s 2.5D tempered glass above the screen, and even a 3.5mm headphone jack on the body. It comes in Midnight Black or Sand and will cost just €109, which is about $115.
Nokia C32
The Nokia C32 is another 4G phone, but this time it’s made of tempered glass for a premium look, which is unusual considering its €129 (about $136) price tag. It runs entirely Android 13 and comes in Charcoal, Autumn Green, or Beach Pink colours.
It’s another 1.6GHz Unisoc processor with either 3GB or 4GB of RAM inside, plus 64GB or 128GB of internal storage. The 5,000mAh battery should last you three days between charges. There is an IP52 water and dust resistance rating, a 6.5-inch screen, and a 50MP main rear camera.
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