Nokia has announced one of the first affordable Android smartphones designed to be repaired at home, allowing users to change the battery in less than five minutes in partnership with iFixit.
Launched ahead of Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on Saturday, the Nokia G22 has a removable back and an internal layout that allows components to be easily unscrewed and swapped, including the battery, display and charging port.
Nokia phone maker HMD Global will make five-year ‘quick fix’ repair guides and genuine parts available from iFixit specialists, in addition to affordable professional repair options.
“People value quality, durable devices and shouldn’t have to compromise on price to get them. The new Nokia G22 is purpose-built with a repairable design so you can keep it longer,” said Adam Ferguson, Product Marketing Director, HMD Global.
The G22 is partially made from recycled plastic and has a 6.53-inch screen, a capacious battery, a 50-megapixel camera, and a fingerprint scanner. It runs Android 12 and will be supported for three years of monthly security updates and two major Android version updates.
HMD Global hopes to ride the wave of growing consumer desire for more repairable and longer lasting devices. It follows in the footsteps of pioneers like Dutch manufacturer Fairphone, but at more affordable prices and with much simpler processes than Apple’s recent DIY repair programs.
The Nokia G22 will cost from £149.99 with shipping on March 8 and replacement parts will cost £18.99 for a charging port, £22.99 for a battery and £44.99 for a screen.
Along with several other low-end smartphones, HMD also announced that it would begin the first steps of manufacturing 5G devices in Europe in 2023. Although it is light on details, it aims to reduce the carbon footprint of devices sold locally and improve the security, starting with a device for security-conscious industry before moving to consumer devices.
“The Nokia brand has a proud history within the European market, and with this move we continue to strengthen our position as the only major European smartphone provider,” said Jean-Francois Baril, co-founder and CEO of HMD Global.
