A Disappointing Sibling

Having been impressed by the Nokia 5’s smooth performance, I was expecting good things from Nokia. Alas, compared to it’s smaller sibling, the Nokia 6 is rather disappointing. Despite running a Snapdragon 600 series chip set, compared to the 400 series that Nokia 5 was running, the performance of the 6 seems to be a tad bit slower and less responsive compared to the 5. On it’s own it works pretty well, holding up to some abuse from running multiple applications and switching between apps. I can’t help but compare it with the 5, which was marketed as a entry level device, and feel a bit bummed.

Performance Dragging

If you are running single applications, it works perfectly fine. Any prolong use, or multitasking and the phone does lag significantly. Connections on the phone is fast – whether data network or GPS signals. However, if you are running several applications, and jam it with a few more games, it will very slowly give up. On the plus side though, the phone doesn’t heat up as easily as other phones on the market. Even when it feels slightly hot, it cools down very quickly. When comparing with other sub RM1000 phones in the market, though, the Nokia 6 stands out pretty well.

Shooter is the Saving Grace

One thing it does trump over the 5 though, is the camera. With a 16-megapixel camera, the camera shoots clear, detailed photos that works decently in low light. While it does take some time for the focus to get the right subject, the picture quality is impressive. While the colour does falter a bit in low light, it still holds up decently, with details captured clearly. The camera itself doesn’t come with as much gimmicky functions as well, so it’s just standard app, which works.

Chunky Metal

While the Nokia 5 was build to be very slim, slick and comfortable hold; the 6 in comparison seems a bit chunky and blocky. It didn’t feel as smooth as the Nokia 5. The design has some edge, not a rounded grip we see in both the 5 and the recently launched 8. With the 5.5-inch screen HD display, watching videos or playing games on the screen is a pleasure. The visuals are crisp and clear. Although if compared to the Nokia 8, which I happen to have one at the same time, the colours are less vivid. Of course, being a mid-range, it wouldn’t quite compete with flagships; it does have very good display when compared to other phones in the same price bracket.

Stock Android

One thing I appreciate across the entire Nokia lineup, is that they run stock Android. No bloatwares, no extra pointless apps that I have no use for. It really adds to the experience of using a phone – everything is streamlined and clean. The user interface is simple and intuitive, without too much additional distraction. This phone will be getting the Android O upgrade as well as soon as it becomes available.

Verdict

Slightly disappointing, especially compared to their other offerings, but still a solid phone for everyday use.