Nokia XL

“The Nokia XL is the best and the brightest of the new X family but, again, it's a step up from the Asha lineup rather than something to compete with Nokia's Windows Phone offerings or even most Androids. The screen has good viewing angles and colors, though sunlight legibility could've been better. The low resolution is what hurts it the most though - getting a 5 screen suggests you'll be reading plenty of text and small type just looks off due to the low pixel density. For performance we'll say this - it's not KitKat-on-Snapdragon smooth, but you can use it daily without annoying hang-ups or slowdowns. The Nokia XL also enjoys a rich app library, Windows Phone had a tougher start in its early days. Thinking more globally, the Nokia XL is just the right replacement for an Asha phone - it has a bigger screen, of a higher resolution, a better camera, improved performance and plenty more apps.”

“The idea of a Nokia Phone with Android is an intriguing idea, and one that many have dreamed of for a while. Unfortunately, this implementation isn't what you want. Though it has Nokia's superior craftsmanship, the XL runs a weird hybrid OS that delivers a poor user experience, which means it falls short of offering either Android's' full potential or a true Windows Phone experience.Moreover, the Nokia X interface makes the XL look like it is from another decade. Sure, the Nokia XL's main focus may be to appeal to emerging markets with a big screen and solid build quality at a low price, the lack of Google Play services means it lags far behind the competition. So, while it's the best Nokia phone on the X platform, that's not good enough.That's why if you need an affordable Android phone, you're better off with rival devices. The Motorola Moto G, for example, costs only $30 but has better performance, a higher screen resolution, and the full functionality of Android while maintaining good build quality. Alternatively, the Moto E is about $20 cheaper while still offering many of the same features as the Moto G, but with a better user experience.”

“With an off-contract price of around $165 (€140 in Europe), the Nokia XL is an affordable device that stands out with a display larger than most of its competitors in this price range. Needless to say, this large and also gorgeous display is its biggest advantage. The 5-megapixel camera is also a good one for the class, and while it runs on a dated processor, the XL is well optimized and does not lag, at least for most basic tasks. And while these are important advantages, the limitations of the Nokia X platform are no less important. The poorly stocked Nokia app catalog would force users to try and sideload apps, while most non-tech-savvy users would simply be left with greatly crippled app choice. On top of this, the interface of the Nokia XL is not appealing.Those are compromises that budget-limited consumers might be willing to deal with as the Nokia XL is not a bad value for its money. It is a crippled experience at the end of the day, though, so our recommendation at the moment is to look at slightly pricier device that deliver a full and satisfying Android experience.”

“The Nokia XL is a magnified version of the Nokia X in every way. It has exactly the same proportions, lines and angles, and is even available in the same retina-scalding palette of primary colours. The main differences are the addition of a flash on the rear panel and a camera on the front. The only other changes are inconsequentially minor. You get a big screen, but it's comically low-resolution and there's no advantage to it whatsoever unless you really love the Nokia X platform and have poor eyesight or extremely large fingers. The flash and front camera are also nice to have, but definitely not worth the premium. Despite all its charms, we cannot recommend the Nokia XL, simply because there are far better phones at its price in the market today. The Nokia XL's only saving grace is that some people value large screens above everything else. We expect a hefty price cut down the line, so even if you're tempted now, we'd suggest holding off.”