HMD (which makes Nokia smartphones) has been focusing on sustainability for some time. So far, this has been embodied in the recycled packaging, the omission of the charger (ouch), the relatively long software support and the general durability of the devices. Now, however, they are opening a new front by making the most degrading component of phones, the battery, replaceable.
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The new G22 is a mid-range phone with a 6.52-inch, but only HD, 90 Hz display. It is protected by Gorilla Glass 3, the front camera works in an upper notch with a resolution of 8 megapixels. The heart of the hardware is a Unisoc T606 chipset, which means we can say goodbye to 5G. The device housing is IP52 certified, the back panel is made of 100% recycled plastic. On paper, the imaging is guaranteed by three cameras, but the two sensors sitting next to the 50 megapixel main camera are only capable of 2 megapixels each for depth detection and macros.
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There is a 5050 mAh battery under the back panel, which can be charged at a speed of 20 watts. The G22 is therefore not a special product in itself, but Nokia offers the possibility of replacing the battery at home together with iFixit. Not only the battery, but also the display and the charging connector can be repaired at home, if the customer needs this for some reason, he will also receive a small kit with the corresponding part, which can be used to solve the operation. Of course, they are also provided with the appropriate guide, the press presentation Adam Ferguson, HMD’s product marketing manager, changed the battery in the G22 in 5 minutes while giving the presentation. In essence, you have to run around the back panel with a plastic pin like a guitar pick, so that it can be removed, then you have to remove the screws in a few places with the appropriate screwdriver, fold a few panels aside, and then you can access the unit.
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This solution is in line with the EU’s sustainability efforts for home assembly, and iFixit’s partnership is also good for Nokia from a marketing point of view. Another advantage of this solution is that if the customer does not want to tackle the task alone, Nokia’s service partners can solve the task in a much shorter time, which can even be done on site. Like other cheap Nokias, the G22 will receive two years of Android updates and three years of security packages, but this is somewhat overshadowed by the fact that the device will still be launched with Android 12. Regarding the reasons for this, HMD said that when the development of the phone began, everything was optimized for this.
The G22 will be sold domestically in a 4/128 GB version, priced at HUF 80,000. The assembly kit that can be ordered from iFixit costs 5 euros, the battery costs 30 euros, and the charging connector costs 25 euros. The device will be available in two colors, gray and blue.
