Gadget Review: Nokia 9 PureView

I have to admit that the first time I saw the Nokia 9 PureView, I was at a loss for words; kudos to HMD Global for silencing me (for a while) thanks to - count it - five camera lenses. But before we get started with the most interesting part of this edition, let's quickly do an intro.
The 5.99-inch Nokia 9 PureView is the latest flagship from the Finnish company, and it's clearly riding the wave of manufacturers suddenly becoming trigger-happy with camera lenses.
So, why five lenses? Well, they're not around just to stick it to the competition. For starters, all of them share the same 12MP resolution, though only two of them are in colour (the one dead centre and the one below it). The idea behind this is actually about brightness: combined, the five sensors gather 10 times more light versus one colour sensor on a smartphone. The other two are for the flash and proximity sensor. (Apparently, with the cameras' layout, there's a concern about trypophobia! Find out what that is yourself.)
Simply put, all five lenses do their part in taking photos and combining them to get the best possible shots (ala-HDR). The resulting snaps aren't as bright as other flagships in the market, but what's good about them is that they are well-balanced; I, particularly, like the way shadows are produced; plus, the balance of the light between subject and background.
Another benefit of this device's camera system: it allows you to take shots in the RAW DNG format, and lets you edit them on the device using Lightroom - the result of a partnership between Nokia and Adobe. DNG, by the way, is a format that basically allows you to open images irrespective of any proprietary software the shot was taken with. This is definitely an advantage for pro users.
And since Nokia is continuing its partnership with Google on its Android One programme, you can expect a stock Android experience with guaranteed updates for two years. HMD Global has been preaching this strategy for a while now, and that will work for users who get annoyed with bloatware (like me). Performance is A-OK; the only noticeable lags I got was when the camera was processing snaps.
Battery life, meanwhile, is middling. Our standard one-hour YouTube-at-full-brightness test drained 16 per cent of life, but it is enough to last you a whole day while doing a little bit of everything. It's enough to last as your alarm clock the following morning, but you'll definitely have to plug it in before you head out.
As for the rest: the volume and power buttons are to the right, the USB-C port is below and the SIM tray is atop. And, no, you won't be getting the 3.5mm audio jack or a microSD slot; for certain markets, the device has a dual-SIM configuration, and the second slot is only for a SIM. There's only one configuration: 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.
Also, don't look around for a fingerprint sensor, because it's an in-screen variety. Unfortunately, it's very inconsistent: you'll have to firmly press at the exact place, and its location is quite high too. And it's slower to recognise your 'print versus those in other devices.
When it comes to the front camera, Nokia went 'old-school': there's no notch or punch-hole, which would appeal to those who are irked by those designs. The bezel above houses a 20MP front camera, which does a decent job of taking shots.
AND SO.
HMD Global's Nokia 9 PureView signals a great start for them this year, and those cameras are enticing for photo buffs; the potential for this quintuple-lens system is promising, and some tweaks would really catapult it into serious conversation. I believe that this device is, to the strictest sense, an experiment of sorts. Remember, this smartphone is actually a limited-edition device. And, no, I'm not the only one who's imagining those cameras akin to spider eyes.
THE LOWDOWN
CPU
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, octa-core 4 x 2.8GHz + 4 x 1.7GHz
Platform
Android 9.0 Pie (Android One)
RAM
6GB
Storage
128GB, non-expandable
Display
5.99" QHD+ pOLED PureDisplay, 2K HD, Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Camera
Main - quintuple 12MP (2 x RGB + 3 x monochrome), f/1.82, TOF; front - 20MP HDR
Connectivity
WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC; USB-C
Battery
3320mAh, Qi wireless
Durability
IP67, water-/dust-resistant
Price
Dh2,299
Pros
Intriguing camera system; smooth operation; reasonably-priced
Cons
Inconsistent fingerprint sensor; battery life could've been better
Author's Rating
4/5
alvin@khaleejtimes.com