The 6.5in screen with a 20:9 aspect ratio results in a phone that’s about the right size for the specially trained test hands we use for reviewing phones, which are a little larger than average. It’s a little low-res compared to other phones on the market, though for the niche it inhabits this is par for the course. The 90Hz refresh rate means things scroll nice and smoothly too. Once you’ve got a video streaming on it at a sensible viewing distance there's little to complain about, though it’s not a phone you’re going to be able to easily read in direct sunlight. It’s certainly a responsive phone. We were never left waiting for an egregiously long time for an app to open. Battery life is a harder thing to quantify, however, as the standard test we use to compare phones wouldn’t run. The longest we managed to keep it going for was about six hours, which took it down to around 50%. Nokia claims three days of use from a charge, and as long as your usage is light and you make careful use of the battery-saver mode that turns off things like 5G and location services, then that’s not out of the question.

The advent of right-to-repair legislation will make this style of phone more common, and the G42 is Nokia’s second handset you can take apart and fiddle with, after the lower-spec G22. The phone gets noticeably warm with a maximum of 43.1 °C under a longer load, but it is not a critical temperature increase. This is also shown by the long-term tests, which certify a similar performance after 20 runs of the same benchmark.This apparently durability is only augmented by an official partnership with iFixit. In theory, this is a phone that can be taken apart and have its internals replaced with only a repair kit, no need for a technician. It’s a feature that was first revealed on the Nokia G22, with the G42 now joining its ranks. It says more about the state of the phone market than the phone itself, but the fact that the Nokia G42 is purple is enough to make it notable. Brightness on the whole was decent, the phone getting bright enough for most conditions if not the most intense moments of the summer sun. Conversely, it got easily dim enough to read at night. Colours were a mixed bag and generally a little washed out, a consequence of the LCD tech used. Where the ‘eye comfort’ mode on many phones tends towards more orange hues, that on the G42 goes for urine yellow. Cameras Video shooting is decidedly less impressive, but it’s reasonable enough. Shooting 1080p at 30fps, the footage is reasonably detailed, with effective, if sluggish, exposure adjustments when moving from well-lit to darker areas. There’s no stabilisation technology included, so you can expect to see some mild shaking in the footage, but it’s not dramatic enough to be a real mark against the phone.

Night photography is usually a non-starter on phones in this price range, but the Nokia G42 5G surprised with some relatively decent shots. There’s more lens flare than I’d like, but otherwise the image is effectively brightened with a decent amount of detail in the clouds and boats. For everyday use, Nokia's G42 is a cheap and reliable companion that should get long updates and can also be used sustainably due to its relatively easy repairability. The 5,000 mAh battery enables Nokia's G42 5G to run for a decent 15:33 hours in our WLAN test. There are phones in this price range that last much longer, but the phone generally cuts a good figure in everyday use and usually accompanies you through the day without a charging stop. Even with these differences, performance is mostly the same across all the devices that we’ve used here for comparison. In practical terms, I found the G42 5G to be efficient enough with opening and switching between apps, and was able to run multiple apps simultaneously without any drastic lagging.

coverage is limited and might not be supported by your network service provider. Actual speed depends on network and other factors. The 3-day battery testing was conducted using a real-life usage test by HMD Global. The test included active usage of a device for 5 hours per day with a new battery. Usage included e.g. gaming, video streaming, calling, sending SMS, browsing and using apps (such as social media, news, navigation and music). The test was conducted with normal device settings in a lit indoor environment. The device was left on standby overnight. Nokia's G42 does have a few special features: Besides a daring color option, it is relatively easy to repair for tinkerers, has a share of recycled materials, and comes with an update promise from the manufacturer despite its low price. It is a pity that the Nokia G42 cannot currently be rented from Nokia as part of a circular subscription. None of this puts the G42 at a disadvantage against the competition, which have their own issues, but this is a phone with a passable camera (improvable with software), not a great one. Performance

The camera bulge on the G42 is the same ‘50MP AI camera’ cluster that we’ve seen on Nokia phones since 2022’s G21. It produces nicely warm images, and the main camera is generally fine, though nothing special. It’s best in good light, where there's a nice amount of detail and colour to be found in its snaps. Darken things down a bit and you start to get smearing. The picture becomes a little muddier when it comes to the issue of fast charging. Thankfully it can fast charge, but at only 20W it is slower than the likes of Realme, Xiaomi and others offer even at a lower price point. Maybe in future we will see pink, yellow or another Lumia mainstay, red, return, but for the moment the Nokia G42 represents a little whimsy in a world ruled by monochromatics. The G42 also comes in ‘So Grey’, but that seems beside the point. Starting with the app, it is the now standard Nokia app which borrows heavily from the Google Camera interface. It is clean and easy to navigate. They’re actually very decent, putting the phone in the same ballpark as various Samsung Galaxy A-series phones, OnePlus Nords and a whole lot of Redmi and Realme handsets. The thing they all have in common is that they’re budget models, but the Nokia does beat the Google Pixel 5 from 2020, a phone that originally cost three times the amount you’ll shell out for the G42.Coming to the display, compared to the competition it has some interesting downgrades. Its refresh rate is fast enough at 90Hz (though some of the competition are offering 120Hz) but its resolution, at 720p, is a little low. Full HD, or 1080p, has been the mainstay on most smartphones since at least 2018, offering a balance between resolution and power requirements. Next on the list is the AKABEILA Leather Case for Nokia G42 5G. Crafted from high-grade leather and quality materials, it offers both durability and an elegant appearance. The soft TPU inner case holds the phone securely without scratching it, providing all-around protection against everyday usage scratches. Compared to the Nokia G50, the G42 5G has had a minor shuffle in the camera department. The main lens has dropped slightly from a 50MP number to 48MP, though the aperture has stayed put at f/1.8. Next up is the Generic Case for Nokia G42 5G. The inner surface of this case adopts a soft TPU design, thin and durable. The outer surface of the protective shell adopts a textured design and non-slip and scratch-resistant material design which does not fade. The four corners strengthen the protection design. The protective shell is higher than the screen and camera, which can protect the phone more effectively.

Nokia is a registered trademark of Nokia Corporation. OZO is a registered trademark of Nokia Technologies Oy. Android is a trademark of Google LLC. Snapdragon is a product of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Next, we have the YZKJSZ Case for Nokia G42 5G. Made from environmentally-friendly plastic with an ultra-thin design, it offers a lightweight and non-bulky feel. The precise holes in the case ensure a perfect fit for the phone’s volume buttons and wake/sleep function, and all ports and connections remain accessible without removing the case. The raised edges and four-corner gasbag design protect the phone from scratches and collisions in case of accidental drops. I found that after 30 minutes I was able to regain 40% battery, while a full charge took 1 hour and ten minutes. That isn’t the strongest showing around, but it is an improvement over standard 5W charging at the very least.

Communication, software and operation - Modern mobile communications on board

Third on the list is the WXPPJ Case for Nokia G42 5G. This silicone phone cover provides full-body protection, safeguarding the phone from light scratches and dust during everyday use. The high-quality and easy-to-care-for TPU material keeps the phone lightweight and unaffected in use, with no unpleasant rubber smell. The Nokia G42 5G is still on a par with the Moto G53 5G and the Nokia G50, but as with those two, keep expectations low here. You can get away with low-intensity games such as Candy Crush and Angry Birds easily enough, but the G42 5G is not made for seamless 3D gameplay. When it comes to battery life, things are promising. With a 720p screen, a low-power processor and a large 5,000mAh battery, the Nokia G42 has all of the ingredients necessary for a strong showing.