Nokia may sell this phone but you're the one to repair it
HMD, a Finnish technology firm, has garnered attention with its newest mobile device, the Nokia G22. The phone has been constructed with a strong emphasis on sustainability and repairability, positioning it as an eco-friendly alternative in the current electronics landscape. HMD's dedication to advancing environmentally conscious practices is evident in their design choices for the Nokia G22, which prioritizes longevity and recyclability.
As part of their efforts to promote a more sustainable and customer-centric approach to technology, HMD has joined forces with iFixit to offer an extensive range of resources for repairing the Nokia G22. These resources include tools, guides, and replacement parts, with the aim of empowering customers to repair their device and extend its lifespan.
How does it work, though?
Replacing the battery of the Nokia G22 is a swift and hassle-free process, taking only 5 minutes and requiring nothing beyond the SIM ejector tool, guitar pick, and screwdriver that are included in the device package. Similarly, replacing the display is not the hardest task, with an estimated completion time of 20 minutes. In the event that customers require professional assistance, HMD offers authorized service center repairs as an alternative option.
By utilizing recycled plastic for the G22's back cover and choosing FSC Mix material for the smartphone's packaging, Nokia has demonstrated its commitment to reducing waste and promoting eco-friendliness. Their focus on streamlining the repair process with practical measures such as removing the need for heat during back cover removal and eliminating the use of alcohol for battery removal, further cements the company's dedication to sustainability.
What about the specs of Nokia G22?
The Nokia G22 is a feature-packed smartphone. It comes with a 6.52-inch HD+ display with Gorilla Glass 3 and a 90Hz refresh rate. The device has an 8MP front-facing camera that supports face unlock, even while wearing a mask, and a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. It runs on a Unisoc T606 chipset with 4GB of RAM and is available in either 64GB or 128GB storage options. The device runs on Android 12 operating system and guarantees 2 OS upgrades, along with 3 years of security updates.
The Nokia G22 features a triple camera setup on its rear, consisting of a 50MP primary camera, a 2MP macro lens, and a 2MP depth sensor. It is also equipped with a 5,050mAh battery that supports 20W wired charging.
HMD is banking on user repairability to extend the lifespan of the Nokia G22, and has stocked replacement parts for five years to facilitate this. However, it is worth noting that the phone will receive software support for a shorter duration than rivals such as Samsung and Google. Specifically, the Nokia G22 will receive two years of Android updates, along with three years of security updates.
Affordable Nokia C-series are also presented:
- Nokia C22: It runs on Android 13 Go edition, which is optimized for low-powered devices. Priced at €109 (around $115).
- Nokia C32: It runs of runs on regular Android 13. Priced at €129 (around $137).
No mention of what’s repairable/replaceable? What is the point of this article!?
It’s not waterproof but it does look nearly as repairable as my S4 mini according to ifixit, which is cool for a new phone!! 3.5mm jack too.
USB-C for the port sucks but this looks genuinely interesting, fugly notch as well though – some pros and some cons I guess. One major con is battery replacement, shouldn’t take “35 minutes – 1 hour” for a phone that’s meant to be repairable, lol.
This is still steps in the right direction…
I’m only happy about it having a removeable battery. What I don’t understand is why it still has a SIM tray when the back can be removed and the SIM can be housed there like in the good old days.
I think more phones should return to having removable batteries and that crap about planned obsolescence should go away with it. Phones should be used by people until they get too old and slow to function, not when your battery dies, your display starts failing or your power buttons stop working.
The top reason people buy new smartphone is because the battery died. No way manufacturers will revert to removable battery. Apple even nerfed their phone further if the phone is too old.
Non removable batteries are the worst thing ever created. :S
Battery is not removable like in old phones.. You have to take apart the phone, which is glued/taped together, hence the use of the guitar pick. About the same as most other phones on the market. Nokia just claims it can be done a little quicker than their competitors.
Its a good start. Next up get rid of those idiotic notches on the screen.
If it had same security or similar as pixel and had factory support for alternative operating systems like grapheneos they would sellna ton of these. Since it does not many people will just keep buying pixels.
i wonder when will car companies have a non removable battery, especially ev’s. it has a huge impact on waste something i find confusing with all the talk about the environment and doing our bit as a member of society, yet big companies continue adding to environmental issues with no regard
As far as reparability, this phone falls far short of the Teracube 2e and the various Fairphones. Also the no name Unisoc SOC does not inspire confidence.