Practical work: Nokia C32, Nokia C22, Nokia G22 at MWC 2023

HMD kicked off its MWC experience with three new phones – the Nokia C32, Nokia C22 and easily repairable Nokia G22, this is our first quick look at the trio.

We’ll start with the Nokia C32.

Nokia C32

The Nokia C32 is the first C-series device from Nokia to use a glass back panel. There is a grooved texture across the width of the panel, which makes it pleasant to the touch and less slippery.

The screen is a 6.5 inch 720x1600px IPS LCD. It has nice brightness and contrast, and the colors are bright and punchy. The screen loses some of its qualities at an angle, but that’s normal.

Nokia C32

There are two cameras on the back – a 50MP main camera – a first for any C-series phone – and a 2MP macro sensor. On the other side, there is an 8MP selfie camera.

Nokia C32 front and back

The Nokia C32 packs a 3.5mm headphone jack and wireless FM radio. You also get a side fingerprint scanner, but you can use the front camera for face unlock, which also works with a mask.

As for the battery, you get a decent 5,000mAh pack that charges a bit slowly at just 10W.

Nokia C32 sides

One thing we didn’t expect is the weight of the Nokia C32. At nearly 200g, it’s a solid phone. Coupled with the glass panel and a nicer design, the C32 feels decidedly more premium than the C22.

Cameras

The Nokia C32 is available in Charcoal, Autumn Green and Beach Pink, starting at €129.

Nokia C22

The Nokia C22 shares some of the features of the C32, mainly the 6.5 inch 720x1600px display and the 5000mAh battery with 10W charging.

The underlying processing is also the same Unisoc SC9863A.

The back panel has a similar grooved design, but it’s plastic. It also has a capacitive fingerprint reader on the upper back.

Nokia C22

The main camera is a step back at 13MP, but it’s flanked by the same 2MP macro snapper. The front camera shares the C32’s 8MP resolution and can double as a face scanner, even with a mask on.

Like the Nokia C32, the C22 has a 3.5mm headphone jack and wireless FM radio. The Nokia C22 comes with 2GB or 3GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. You can pass it through the microSD slot.

Nokia C22 sides

The Nokia C22 is available in Midnight Black and Sand, starting at €109.

Nokia G22

The Nokia G22 is the most high-end of the new phones from Nokia. It has the same 6.5-inch 720x1600px IPS LCD screen but it refreshes at a faster rate of 90Hz.

The G22’s chipset is also nicer – a Unisoc T606 with 4GB of RAM, and that makes a performance difference – the G22 feels snappier than the C-series phones.

Nokia G22

The cameras are also nicer. The main camera is a 50MP f/1.8 unit with a larger sensor, and there are two 2MP sensors around it – a macro and a depth sensor (we’d say they’re about evenly matched).

Finally, on the specs side, the Nokia G22 has a larger 5,050mAh battery with faster 20W charging.

Nokia G22 front and back

What makes the Nokia G22 special is its repairability. Nokia has made it more durable by making it easier to change the battery and screen.

Replacing the Nokia G22 battery takes about 5 minutes and all the tools you need are the SIM card eject tool, a pick and a screwdriver. Changing the display takes about 20 minutes, with a few additional tools. HMD has partnered with iFixit to provide you with the tools, guide, and parts needed to replace the Nokia G22 screen, charging port, or battery. Of course, you can also take the G22 to an authorized service center to perform these repairs.

Nokia has significantly reduced the steps needed to repair the G22 by eliminating the need to heat the back cover to remove it, and the need for alcohol to remove the battery.

Nokia G22 sides

The Nokia G22 has a back cover that uses 100% recycled plastic, while its packaging uses fully certified FSC Mix material.

The Nokia G22 is available in Blue and Gray, from €179.