Nokia 800 Tough

amazon Nokia 800 Tough reviews

If you seek any durability, it will most certainly be found in the Nokia 800 Tough. With a rugged-as-nail design as US military standards, it is immediately appealing to those who would care for the most indestructible basic phone in existence.

The new strategy of Nokia is obvious; on the one hand, they want to hit smart devices as mid-range as low-cost. These two actions also would supplement reviving their name with quality devices associated with superior features and capabilities-numbers at this level.

Externals

You could see most clearly conceptualized the design of Nokia 800; simply put, it is a basic phone with a screen, T9 keyboard, speakerphone, camera, then put in a box with a durable frame sure with the necessary components will be exposed, and that is the Nokia 800 Tough.

When you first pick up the 800 Tough, it comes off feeling more like a protective case than a phone. They hard plastic encase the Nokia 800 ’embedded’ inside this hard plastic frame, which has three types of plastic finishes, the frame being hard plastic with a soft coating. The edges are covered with hard plastic using engraved motives to hold the user’s hand more; the back is a lumpy plastic with military gray tones, it looks like a large piece of metal covered.

The 800 Tough is proclaimed by Nokia to be impact resistant to a drop height of 1.8 meters and bears the IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.

At the top edge is a 3.5mm jack, micro-USB port for charging or connecting to computer and housed here is also a rubber seal to keep the water at bay; to the right edge is going to be the position of the SIM slot.

With a tough outer shell, the weight of the 800 Tough is matched with only some of the existing smartphone devices, 161g, considerably lighter to feel compact in the hand while lugging around.

Another highlight on the back is scratched metal covering the camera, LED flash, and speakerphone. This part is also placed a little lower than the back to protect the camera better and create a unique look for the device.

The bottom edge will make quite a significant ledge that seems hooked to a backpack or worn around the hand during excursions or picnics.

Display

The Nokia 800 Tough sports a 2.4 inch QVGA display, having a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels. It is a basic display among modern smartphone features but fits quite well within the context of use for this device. The screen is topped off with toughened glass, giving it resistance against scratches and minor impacts.

It is not too bright but can largely be read in varying light conditions. The issue, however, is very bright sunlight, which makes it quite difficult at times to view the screen well-as is often the case with lower-resolution displays. Also, small display means that one is not able to show an extensive content view at once, hence scroll down for viewing the entire content.

But all failings considered, the display is good enough. Functional and reliable, this is in perfect accordance to the over-all design philosophy of the Nokia 800 Tough. It was a screen designed to hold only essential information, such as calls, messages, and navigation, not one that was made to watch videos and surf the Internet extensively.

Performance

Powering the Nokia 800 Tough is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 205 processor; a dual-core chipset clocked at 1.1 GHz. This is coupled with 512MB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage that can be expanded via microSD up to 32GB. Modest this us, even for a feature phone-but sufficiently enough to perform the simplified functions that the handset has been designed to deliver.

The phone runs on KaiOS, a lightweight operating system for feature phones-running a simple user interface jacked full with large icons and easy menus that offer navigation ease. It boasts such basic applications as a web-browser and messaging service, basic productivity tools, to name a few. Also, this OS gets limited access to some apps in the KaiStore, for example, a couple of social media apps i.e. Facebook, WhatsApp.

In terms of performance, the Nokia 800 Tough makes a good hand for basic tasks such as making calls, sending messages, and browsing the web. The phone is expressly not designed to be used multipurpose or for running very heavy applications where some users may notice a delay when switching from one app to another or when a webpage is loaded. However, for the above intended use, the performance here is reasonable.

One of the key features of the Nokia 800 Tough is the support of vast LTE 4G connection to enable the user to achieve high-speed data transfers other than the old 2G and 3G technology speeds. Using this feature, one can browse, access social networks, send, and even stream music or videos. The activities, however, may leave a blemish on the experience because the screen size and processing power may not be the best available.

The phone features Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, and GPS. Thus, connectivity features are available with all the essentials. Considering outdoor activities, GPS becomes important, as it enables the user to navigate and track locations in remote areas.

Battery Life

Battery life is one of the tremendous features of the Nokia 800 Tough. This phone has a relatively big battery compared with feature phones, rated at 2100mAh. This was made possible because of power efficient Snapdragon 205 and the not so greedy Kai operating system.

In one’s typical usage scenarios, the Nokia 800 Tough can easily stretch into several days on a single charge. HMD Global promotes up to 43 days in standby on a 4G network, which is impressive. Even with fairly active usage, including calls, messaging, and occasional web browsing, the phone will last for days before needing to be recharged.

Notably, the phone charges from the older micro-USB port, which is inferior to the increasingly used USB-C standard. However, considering the target audience and purposes of the phone, this becomes less of a drawback. The charging speed isn’t all that fast and can be overlooked considering the length of battery life.

They are, in fact, strongest at one of their features, so the battery life in the Nokia 800 Tough is as favorable as possible to those willing to endure the phone days sans a charger.

Camera

The N bezelled Nokia 800 Tough weighs an ultra-modern and single-in nature two-megapixel rear imaging camera. This phone does not have a front camera meaning there are no selfies, and the possibility of making video calls is out, although this might not mean anything to the common devices’ target audience.

Taking simple snaps from the 2MP camera would indeed suffice. The average quality of images can be termed contestable, with little detail and little dynamic range. One gets usable photos under good light conditions but a terrible decline in quality during low light, with evident noise and lack of clarity.

The camera app is quite simple and easy to use, and comes with very basic things like zoom, timer, and switching between movie and photo modes. There are no advanced features like HDR or high resolution as well as panorama, which most smartphones offer.

Video recording is, however provided, with the standard being almost the same. The camera records video at a maximum resolution of 480p, which sounds low in this new 21st century, with most smartphones able to boast HD and even 4K capabilities. This kind of video quality can be used to document happenings and small recordings but is not at all good enough to be used for video shoot.

There is nothing great about the camera in an overall aspect of the Nokia 800 Tough but it works and it is designed to meet the overall philosophy of the product. The camera is made for basic income and not for a professional photography-oriented design.

Software and Usability

The Nokia 800 Tough runs on its very lightweight operating system known as KaiOS, intended specifically for feature phones. KaiOS is built on the Linux kernel and has its ancestry traced from the defunct Firefox OS. It offers a relatively simple and intuitive interface for end users to navigate easily even by those who may not be used to smartphones.

Home screen divides into a grid of wide icons exposing phone’s different functionalities like Calls, Messages, Contacts as well as Apps. The navigation is simple as the interface is to be used in conjunction with the physical keypad. The D-Pad can be used to move between the icons while the center button selects any option. The soft keys then provide extra features as menu access or a back.

KaiOS allows a limited choice of apps to be downloaded from the KaiStore. While it does not boast an extensive choice like Android or iOS, it has some popular apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and Google Maps. These apps have been optimized for the KaiOS platform and function well on the Nokia 800 Tough, albeit with limited functionality compared to smartphones with more power behind them.

The phone also features a basic web browser which allows users to surf the internet and browse websites. The browser is functional, but with a smaller screen size and limited processing power on the Nokia 800 Tough, the whole web-browsing experience is not as smooth or enjoyable as on the smartphone. It comes in handy nonetheless for quick searches or checking information on-the-go.

An important feature of KaiOS is that the Google Assistant resides on the phone. To activate Google Assistant, the user needs to press and hold the dedicated button located on the side of the phone. This brings up voice control options that would permit the user to make calls, send messages, search the web, or even access other features without having to go through the phone menus. The functional limitations of the Google Assistant on KaiOS when weighed against its capabilities on fully-fledged smartphones still allow hands-free operation that proves to be quite convenient on the Nokia 800 Tough.

Another interesting thing is that KaiOS is trying to get feature phones and smartphones to meet somewhere halfway. By providing access to essential apps and services, KaiOS allows users of devices like the Nokia 800 Tough to be informed and have access to important digital tools without requiring the full capabilities of a modern smartphone. This, in turn, makes the Nokia 800 Tough especially appealing to users who are looking for a high level of durability and simplicity while still wanting some sort of connectivity and online service access.

Durability and Rugged Features

The Nokia 800 Tough’s main selling point is its durability and ruggedness, and with this in mind, it totally delivers. The device is engineered to withstand extreme conditions and meets military standards for durability. The MIL-STD-810G certification means the phone has survived tests for shock, vibration, humidity, extreme temperatures, and more. For that reason, the Nokia 800 Tough is an ideal companion for outdoor enthusiasts, workers in demanding environments, and anyone who needs a phone that will withstand trauma.

Besides the MIL-STD-810G certification, it also features an IP68 rating concerning water and dust resistance. That means the phone can be submerged in water about 1.5 meters deep for 30 minutes without incurring damage. It is also absolutely dustproof, allowing for work in environments like a construction site, desert, or elsewhere with high particulate matter.

The Nokia 800 Tough adopts an extremely rugged design and comes with practical features such as reinforced corners, a textured back panel to improve grip, and a reduced chance of slips and drops from the hand. The rubbery outer skin of the phone helps absorb shocks and is all the more assisting in protecting the device. The design, with all seals and ports locked, assures the user that this phone is, in all respects, capable of weathering through almost any harsh environment.

Connectivity and Network

On the connectivity aspect, Nokia 800 Tough presents a reasonable array of connectivity despite rugged and feature phone embodiments. The device runs on 4G LTE, which allows data speeds and network performance much higher than the antiquated 2G and 3G terains. This becomes an important boon for users who are in need of connectivity in fretting environments where network strength can be questioned.

Apart from 4G LTE, the Nokia 800 Tough has Wi-Fi, which means that when a Wi-Fi network is available, it can connect to it. Using Wi-Fi should help the phone conserve on mobile data and allow more interesting connectivity for web browsing or downloading apps from KaiStore. The phone supports Bluetooth 4.1, which can be used to connect to wireless accessories like headsets or speakers.

GPS is another important feature of the Nokia 800 Tough. It can save the day for users who spend a lot of time outdoors or in unfamiliar areas, as it provides for accurate location tracking and navigation. The addition of GPS makes the Nokia 800 Tough a highly appropriate tool for hiking, camping, or traveling in secluded regions.

Generally, it boasts good call quality, clear audio, and strong signal reception. The loudspeaker of this phone is so loud and clear that it is audible even in noisy environments, thus helping users out in outdoor activities or industrial works. Network performance is consistent with the entire phone functioning without any major problems while taking voice calls, sending messages, and utilizing data.

User Experience

Because the Nokia 800 Tough can be treated as a basic phone with features added from its older siblings and more recently from the Nokia 2720 Flip, it shall still remain KaiOS with a familiar interface, familiar setting buttons, and something similar in features.

It features a 2.4-inch display with a T9 keyboard that doesn’t offer much novelty from what was seen on the 2720 Flip, but the 800 Tough actually has the raised surface of keys giving a better pressing feel in comparison to the 2720. All said, the 2720 Flip serves to accompany a range of products from the better end towards harsher environments, which stress more on durability and less on comfort unlike the 2720 Flip.

For normal use requirements, the device has also been fitted in utility applications like the virtual assistant Google Assistant, Google Maps, Facebook, and Youtube. It works pretty well for the Wi-Fi playback feature also, with fairly good battery life from the 2,100mAh battery which can just about take you through a day or would give about 43 days of standby time.

The camera of the Nokia 800 Tough does not give very good pictures, but it is adequate for use or as a temporary solution for long journeys when your primary phone has gone flat.

Conclusion

Nokia 800 Tough will stir interest, along with the 2720 Flip, one tough and the other soft and thin. Not a great experience compared to a smartphone, but a classic experience nonetheless for those who treasure a sturdy product on long trips. It will take on anything the weather throws at it, even Wi-Fi without blinking for a full day.

where can you get a Nokia 800 Tough online

Nokia 800 Tough 2.4″ 4GB 512MB RAM 2100mAh IP68 Rugged Cell Phone (GSM Only, No CDMA) Factory Unlocked – 4G LTE International Model No Warranty (Black): Buy it now