Nokia X, we bought one and we are happy with it so naturally we want you to buy one too! And if you are still raising the same question, trust me we perfectly understand and we are here to answer.

There are 3 things I keep hearing about Nokia X.
1. It is expensive
2. It is not Android
3. There are not many apps in Nokia Store

Before going ahead, keep it in mind it is Nokia we are talking about and not a company that rebrand handsets from Chinese manufacturer and sale as their own.

Nokia is dealing with Android for the first time and for the sake of competition they did some minor changes in it that they will have to reconsider soon. On the hardware side I have no complains other than its heating issue and a Flash light (to use as torch) would have been nice (which is coming with Nokia XL).

Who should buy Nokia X
Nokia X will be ideal for you if you
- like and trust Nokia's durability
- are first time smartphone user and like to know what smartphones are capable of
- like to try the world of apps
- like to try casual games
- like to read ebooks
- want a beautiful and strong affordable Android phone
- want a simple secondary Android phone for outdoors
- want to do small emailing and simple documentation on-the-go
- like to stay active on social circle on-the-go
- like to take good quality picture for social network
- can live with occasional small lags

Who should not buy Nokia X
Nokia X is an affordable or budget Android smartphone. The specs are not close to be a mid-range Androids so you will find yourself complaining a lot if you:
- use very intense apps
- play very heavy games
- like to take great quality pictures
- do video Skype or video chat/video calls
- like to take selfies
- are heavy gmail user
- are too tied to Google apps

Back to the repetitive questions!

Is Nokia X expensive?
In market at Rs. 13,800 you will find Androids with better specs on the papers from other known and unknown brands. Most of the Chinese manufacturers use components that may match the Numbers but not in performance and durability. And this alone put Nokia ahead for providing uncompromised quality products that we can trust blindly.

Nokia X is no different in that matter. It is one beautiful smartphone. Look at it from any angle or hold it in hands, it just feels great. Nokia X is a finely finished and a premium quality product.

Nokia is using quality components and you can tell the difference only by using it.
- Touch screen is sensitive that you can use it with fingernails.
- GPS locking to your current location is a breeze.
- Same specs budget Androids lags in few games horribly where Nokia X played them better.
- Strong WiFi, I haven't try Bluetooth
- It is 3G enabled
- Proximity sensor and ambient sensor are available
- It will definitely have better resale value
- Full price covers warranty of complete accessories (from Advance Telecom Pakistan)
- And it is capable to run 75% of Android apps

Is it Android?
The words are in market that "Nokia X is not an Android".

It is the same Android but yes Nokia did change it to offer a more simpler User Experience, and they remove Google centric apps to add their own apps. And they listed it as Nokia X Platform in their spec-sheet, but it is almost every bit of Android.

Samsung, Sony, Huawei and HTC are using their own "Launcher" and their own set of apps and store along with Google's. But they made their Launchers similar to Android's and they did not remove Google Centric apps and they are not calling Android with a different name.

Nokia prioritize their own apps for users to utilize their services by removing Google apps, which I believe is a mistake and Nokia will have to find another way to co-exist with Google.

For a new user to Android, or to Smartphone I see no trouble for them to understand and adjust to the changes Nokia did in Android.

However if you are a regular Android user and try to use Nokia X as just another Android, it will not be a walk in the park and you might have a hard time going through its learning curves. I know I have!

Having said that, UI of Nokia X is very easy and straight forward, all of the apps will stay on the home screen and you can arrange it to your requirements. Swipe to left or right and you have all of your notifications. Nokia named it "FastLane". It is more of a Log of your usage.

Nokia, Android, Apps and Stores
Some of Asha and Symbian users have been showing concern for not having enough apps in Nokia Store. What they don't realize is that this Nokia Store is different and so is the OS. Unlike Asha or Symbian, developers across the world are creating all type of apps and games for Android very actively, and adding an Android app to Nokia's Android store is just as easy as uploading.

Nokia has also been kind enough to add 4 more reliable 3rd party Android stores full with apps for Androids.

In addition to that we can always side load an Android app from any source. 75% chances are that the app will run just fine!

Alternate to Nokia X
In Pakistan you will find an Android phones from Voice, QMobile, Huawei and Samsung between Rs. 9,500 to Rs 15,000 to compete with Nokia X in almost same spec line. Ask about quality alternate then I see Huawei Ascend Y300 as better alternate to Nokia X. Ascend Y300 is identical in basic specs and improved in camera and flash light department, also have front facing camera.
http://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=5386&idPhone2=6067

Updates: All You Need to know about Nokia X, X+ and XL is at intouch247.net/nokia-x

Now that Nokia X, the first serious attempt from Nokia in the land of Android is only few days away to show off officially at MWC 2014, both excitement and questions from Nokia fans and tech lovers are raising.

Questions like why is Android so important for Nokia and/or for Microsoft? And why not attempting a high-end Android? In simple straight forward words - to survive the market competition without compromising high-end Lumia territory.

Update: According to new rumors, Nokia is to working on mid-end/high-end Android devices too but they will come later.

Nokia X is for low-end smartphone market, to stand against budget Android and other upcoming competition in that zone. But the current threat is the growing use of budget Androids in markets that matters.

The days are gone when budget Android phones suck the fun and life out of mobile users. Today's budget Android smart phones are worth owing because they don't suck anymore. Just to be clear I am not talking about Moto G budget, I am talking about China-made budget Androids that cost a lot less than a hundred dollars. They too have become very capable and most importantly they are priced lower than Nokia's lowest of Asha.

Budget Lumia and Asha are doing well in sales but it clearly isn't good enough. Lumia (or WindowsPhone) will success eventually but Lumia is not for low-end smart phones market and will never be.

The market Nokia is targeting with Asha is leaning back to new budget Androids. Those are the consumers switching either from feature phones or taking them to use as a secondary phone. Mobiles with Android Jellybean powered by dual core processor works very well without making users' life a hell like it used to several months ago. And why Android? Because Android packs a lot more attraction for consumers than Asha for the same or less price.

Companies like MicroMax sidelined big brands including Nokia and Samsung in India using that said attraction. Same trend has been happening in Pakistan by QMobile and Voice.

In Pakistan the lowest of Asha 500 is available for 8,000 Pakistani Rupees. In contrast a very capable dual-core Android phone cost 7,000 pkr. Prices of Asha 502 and 503 are above 10,500 pkr and in that price range even better Android phones are available that can play games like GTA.

I myself had to replace Asha 501 to a budget Android for 2 things. Price and productivity tools/apps. And I am very satisfied.

In short it is easier for young and new mobile users to ditch either budget Nokia Lumia or Asha for something ^better^ and ^cheaper^.

But are these budget Androids are as durable as Nokia? No. Are their build is as supreme as Nokias? Not always. Are their camera is as powerful as Nokias? Of course not. Are their resale value is as beneficial as Nokias? No. Are their touch screen as sensitive and fast as Nokias? Not at all. And these are the things that can help Nokia to win low-end smartphone consumers back.

Come back to price and Nokia's Android, rumored price of the first Android from Nokia is 110$, and it may go to sale for around 12,000 Pakistani rupees. Will that price do Nokia any good against Androids coming to 10,000 pkr? I think it should with the right advertising message.

Only draw back for Nokia X left is the apps. Lack of access to Play Store can give Nokia a hard time but luckily developers might not have to spend too much of extra efforts in getting their apps on to the new store.

To success, Nokia have to get this product 99% right to gain the consumers' trust. Nokia X better not be a beta test device for their sake and deliver best possible experience for the price.