cheap tablet with premium housing

Nokia presented its first tablet in the fall of 2021, a low-cost model called the ‘Nokia T20’. The Finnish brand says it sees a lot of potential in Android tablets and is therefore entering the market. But is the T20 immediately a high flyer? Read it here in the review.

Nokia T20

Google spoke of the revival of its love for tablets last month and of course we know that with Android 12L a special update is on the way that is aimed at tablets. Not only Google is focusing its attention on tablets, but Nokia is also noticing that the demand for tablets has increased, the HMD Global brand told Androidworld last year.

The Nokia T20 is aimed at the low price segment, but within that price range the device should be versatile. Durability plays an important role with its long update support, metal housing and rugged accessories. Our AW Beta tester Michael got to work with the T20.

High-quality housing

The Nokia T20 is a tablet with a premium appearance that you would not expect with its price tag of 219 euros. The back is made of aluminum and it not only looks good, but also feels very solid. Although most tablets nowadays also disappear in cases, the T20 has nothing to be ashamed of in this area. The beautiful rounded corners give the whole a contemporary look. The back is also fortunately not a fingerprint magnet at all. The tablet is only available in a navy blue color.

Furthermore, the T20 also looks very sleek and that’s how it feels. With a weight of only 465 grams, this tablet fits comfortably in the hand and is easy to handle with both hands. The LCD screen has fairly large bezels, which makes the whole look a bit like an oversized smartphone. The volume buttons and power button are easy to reach.

There is IP52 certification on board which makes this tablet dustproof and should also provide some protection against water splashes. But not advisable to watch Netflix in the bath with this. But every little bit helps, and especially since this tablet will eventually end up in many children’s hands. In terms of features, durability and price, it is extremely suitable as a nanny on the road and in the back seat.

You cannot detect a fingerprint scanner on the device and Nokia offers facial recognition as an alternative. However, we would definitely advise against using that function. The T20 only uses its 5 MP selfie camera, which makes the function less reliable.

Good sound, but with a caveat

Fortunately there is a 3.5 audio jack, only it is not in the best place. You will find it in a corner, in that place where you logically place your hands when you hold the tablet in landscape position. I could not discover the added value of this choice.

The speakers deliver an above-average sound. The volume is loud and the degree of distortion is not too bad. It’s a shame, however, that the speakers are sideways, because if they were aimed at the user, the entertainment experience would be much better. Fortunately, the speakers are not in places where you normally put your hand.

The screen is average

The Nokia T20 has a 10.4 inch LCD screen with a resolution of 1200 x 2000 pixels. Nokia does advertise as being ‘2K’, but you could call that somewhat misleading. Up close, the pixels also stand out, especially with rounded edges.

With its brightness of 400 nits, the screen is not the brightest of its category. It is doable in direct sunlight, as long as you keep the screen clean. Once there are fingerprints on it, the brightness won’t cut it. I have used the T20 almost continuously in maximum mode, which of course does not benefit the battery either.

The colors are also a bit on the cool side, as we often see with LCD screens on affordable devices. You can adjust the color settings, but the difference is limited. The image will never blow you away and the colors do not splash off the screen as you are used to from most AMOLED screens.

The automatic brightness is also much too sensitive, so you see continuous changes in the brightness. The fact that the display only works at 60 Hz prevents the battery from being charged extra, but on the other hand images look less smooth compared to what you may be used to on your phone. When you put everything together, the screen shows exactly what you paid for, but you can’t expect more.

Just take it easy

The processor present is a 1.8 GHz Unisoc T610 and this processor will hold its own as long as you don’t throw too much at it. At more than average load it beeps and creaks. The T20 is simply excellent for streaming and light games, but for anything that requires a little more graphically, the equipment is not sufficient, even if it has 4 GB of RAM on board.

I tried to play games on the Nokia T20, but it didn’t give the best experience. With Call of Duty, for example, you noticed long loading times and the regular disruptions in the frame rate† It was noticed that the tablet under no circumstances got too hot. It is also suitable for games that do not have special 3D graphics. The T20 comes with 64GB of storage, which is rather on the meager side. Fortunately, this can be expanded with a microSD.

Solid battery

The battery has a solid 8,200 mAh capacity and that certainly does not disappoint. In standby mode, the battery even seems to last forever and with intensive streaming in the evening, it should be able to last for two evenings. And that is where the focus of this device lies. As soon as you run apps that need a little more power, you will immediately notice the effect on the battery life.

Unfortunately, this battery is not charged so quickly, because it can easily be used for 3 hours on the plug. The device comes with a 10W charger in the box, and that is not impressive, but the T20 can’t handle more than 15W anyway.

Cameras deliver the minimum

Well, with cameras on a tablet you already know that you often get the minimum and that is certainly the case with Nokia’s budget tablet. The 8 MP main camera can not only take pictures, but it is also very useful for scanning QR codes, for example.

But it really isn’t much more if you look at the quality. This camera is fun for young children to shoot some pictures of grandparents, but otherwise you should mainly use the camera on your phone. With its quality, the flash also offers little added value for photography. If you want to use the tablet for video meetings, there is the 5 MP selfie camera. It does its job, but it certainly doesn’t expect the best quality. Again, this T20 tablet gives exactly what you pay for, but really no more than that.

Nice software, exceptional updates

The T20 comes with Android 11 and there is hardly any bloatware on this device. Since this tablet for consumers is primarily aimed at entertainment, a number of useful additions have been made that will certainly appeal to the target group. For starters, Google Entertainment Space. This is in a display reminiscent of Google TV, as the well-known streaming and game services are represented here. I found this app very enjoyable to use and chances are you will spend a lot of time here.

In addition, there is also the Google Kids Space where young children can stream suitable content and play games. This environment gives the parents a great deal of control, whereby it is possible to indicate in advance what children are and are not allowed to do. Afterwards you can also see how long the tablet has been used by your child. I admit, this of course has a very high Big Brother content, but at the same time it often comes in handy in these times, as many parents can confirm.

Google Entertainment Space

Unique with update policy

Nokia promises to deliver major OS updates over the next two years, with which this tablet will in theory receive updates up to and including Android 13. Nokia also says that it is now working on Android 12, which will give this T20 an OS that is better adapted to the extra screen space of tablet. In addition, the brand will also roll out security updates in the next three years. You can safely call that unique for tablets of this price range. It significantly extends the life of the device. The T20 is working with the January patch at the time of writing, so Nokia is well on track.

Conclusion

The Nokia T20 is an attractive tablet that you would not suspect at first glance that this is a budget device. And that’s a good thing. The large battery ensures a good operating time, but the T20 is a bit slow to charge. The screen is certainly suitable for those who do not want to binge watch in the highest quality on the road and on the couch, supported by the loud speakers. The cameras are not top notch, but they are also sufficient for those who occasionally want to make video calls.

In many areas, this Nokia T20 performs exactly as you would expect from a tablet in this price range. It is ideal for streaming media and for less demanding games. On the couch or on the go, it is a great companion and a great device for children. For the price, this tablet is definitely recommended, at least if you know what to expect from the device.

Buy Nokia T20

The Nokia T20 is now available in the Netherlands and it will be for sale from 219 euros. For that price you have a model that supports WiFi, and for 249 euros you have the 4G variant. Together with the T20, Nokia released another pair of wireless earphones that appear in the same navy blue color and there is also a rugged cover.

You can discover all the prices of the T20 and its accessories below:

• Nokia rugged flip cover to buy – Amazon, Belsimply, Coolblue – 39.99 euros
• Buy Nokia micro earbuds (TWS-521) – 69.99 euros