The Nokia G42 5G, launched in India on September 11, 2023, holds an interesting place in the brand’s history. As of 2025, it remains the most recent Nokia smartphone, marking the end—at least for now—of Nokia’s presence in the competitive Indian smartphone market. Released under HMD Global, the phone was priced at ₹12,999, aiming to attract budget-conscious 5G users. However, despite carrying the Nokia name and some promising specifications on paper, it struggled to make a strong impact in 2023.
In a market where competitors like Motorola’s “G” series delivered better value for money, the Nokia G42 5G didn’t fully meet consumer expectations. This gap in satisfaction might be one of the reasons we haven’t seen a new Nokia device since. Still, for many, Nokia remains a nostalgic brand—one that reminds us of our first mobile phones. The hope is that one day, Nokia will return with a model that meets today’s market demands while holding onto its trusted brand legacy.
Design & Display
The Nokia G42 5G has a simple yet functional design, measuring 165 x 75.8 x 8.6 mm and weighing 194 grams. It features a glass front protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3, paired with a plastic back and frame. The build incorporates a QuickFix user-repairable design, allowing users to replace parts more easily—a thoughtful feature in an age where smartphones are often sealed shut.
On the front, you get a 6.56-inch IPS LCD display with a 90Hz refresh rate. While the refresh rate makes scrolling smoother, the resolution is 720 x 1612 pixels, which isn’t as sharp as some competitors in the same price segment. Brightness peaks at 560 nits, making it usable outdoors but not particularly vibrant in direct sunlight. The phone was available in three colors—Gray, Purple, and Red—adding some personality to its otherwise understated look.
Camera Performance
The Nokia G42 5G comes equipped with a triple-camera setup: a 50MP f/1.8 main sensor, a 2MP macro lens, and a 2MP depth sensor. For casual photography, it’s functional, offering features like LED flash, HDR, and panorama. However, image quality is fairly average, especially in low-light situations.
The 8MP selfie camera gets the job done for basic video calls and social media, but it won’t impress users looking for detailed, vibrant selfies. Overall, the camera system is serviceable but doesn’t stand out against competitors offering more advanced imaging capabilities at similar prices.
Performance & Software
Under the hood, the Nokia G42 5G runs on the Snapdragon 480+ 5G chipset built on the 8nm process, paired with the Adreno 619 GPU. In benchmark terms, it scored around 401,534 on AnTuTu, which is decent for day-to-day tasks and light gaming. The device came in two RAM variants—4GB and 6GB—alongside 128GB or 256GB storage options.
It launched with Android 13 and received an upgrade to Android 14. However, it is not expected to receive Android 15, which is disappointing given that many consumers expect longer software support in this price bracket.
Battery & Charging
The Nokia G42 5G is powered by a 5000mAh Li-Po battery, which is a strong point for this device. It offers solid all-day performance for average usage. Charging speeds are limited to 20W wired charging, which is reasonable but not competitive in a market where 33W or even 67W charging has become common in the same price range.
Final Thoughts
Looking back, the Nokia G42 5G was a device with potential but ultimately fell short of market expectations. For ₹12,999, consumers in 2023 had access to devices offering higher-resolution displays, better camera systems, faster charging, and longer software support. While the Nokia G42 5G wasn’t a bad phone, it simply didn’t stand out in a highly competitive segment.
As a Nokia fan, I hope to see the brand make a strong comeback with modern, competitive specifications while keeping the durability and trustworthiness that made it a household name in the first place. The Nokia G42 5G may not have been a game-changer, but it remains a reminder of Nokia’s last step in the Indian smartphone market—at least for now.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this blog are based on personal opinion and publicly available information about the Nokia G42 5G. Specifications and performance impressions are referenced from the device’s official launch details and user experiences at the time of release.