Nokia 9 PureView Review (2025): The 5-Lens Camera Phone That Was Ahead of Its Time

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Nokia 9 PureView Review (2025): The 5-Lens Camera Phone That Was Ahead of Its Time

When the Nokia 9 PureView launched in 2019, it turned heads with its five rear cameras — an industry first. It was supposed to revolutionize smartphone photography. Fast forward to 2025, and the Nokia 9 PureView remains one of the most interesting phones Nokia ever made.

While newer flagships like the Galaxy S24 Ultra or iPhone 15 Pro Max dominate headlines, many photography enthusiasts still look back at the Nokia 9 PureView as a symbol of innovation. But how does it hold up today? Can its unique penta-lens system still deliver stunning photos in 2025?

1. Introduction: The Legend of the Nokia 9 PureView

Released in February 2019, the Nokia 9 PureView was a statement — not just another Android phone, but a camera experiment years ahead of its time.

Its five rear cameras, all 12MP sensors, worked together to capture incredible dynamic range and fine detail. Nokia partnered with Zeiss optics and Light.co, a computational photography company, to process images using advanced multi-lens algorithms.

While the technology was groundbreaking, its timing wasn’t perfect — smartphones like the Pixel 3 and iPhone XS already had strong single-lens performance using software alone. Still, the Nokia 9 PureView remains a fascinating milestone in smartphone innovation.

2. Design and Build Quality

At first glance, the Nokia 9 PureView still looks premium even in 2025. The symmetrical back with the five cameras arranged in a geometric pattern gives it an unmistakable identity.

Build Details:

• Body: Glass front and back (Gorilla Glass 5) with aluminum frame

• Dimensions: 155 x 75 x 8 mm

• Weight: 172 g

• Colors: Midnight Blue

• Water Resistance: IP67 (dust and water resistant)

Despite being six years old, the phone’s design doesn’t feel outdated. It has a clean, professional aesthetic with minimal branding — a true Nokia trademark.

The only downside is the lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack and the slightly thicker bezels compared to 2025 flagships.

Verdict: 🔵 Elegant, durable, and iconic — the Nokia 9 PureView’s design still holds up remarkably well.

3. Display and Multimedia Experience

The Nokia 9 PureView features a 5.99-inch P-OLED display with Quad HD+ resolution (1440 x 2880 pixels) and HDR10 support.

Even today, this screen looks sharp, bright, and color-accurate. Blacks are deep, thanks to OLED technology, and the resolution remains higher than most mid-range devices in 2025.

Display Highlights:

• Type: P-OLED, 1440p resolution

• Brightness: ~600 nits

• Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 5

• Aspect Ratio: 18:9

Watching YouTube, Netflix, or gaming on this device still feels immersive. The only major drawback is its 60Hz refresh rate, which feels dated now that most phones feature 90Hz or 120Hz panels.

Verdict: 🟢 Crisp and vibrant display — still better than many mid-range phones in 2025.

4. Performance and Hardware

Under the hood, the Nokia 9 PureView runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, paired with 6GB RAM and 128GB of UFS 2.1 storage (no SD card slot).

While this was flagship-level in 2019, it’s mid-range by 2025 standards. Still, for daily tasks — browsing, social media, video playback — performance remains solid, thanks to Android One’s clean software.

Benchmark Snapshot (2025 Revisit):

• Geekbench 6 (Single-Core): ~350

• Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core): ~1200

• 3DMark Wild Life: ~800

Gaming performance is acceptable for casual titles like Clash of Clans, Call of Duty: Mobile, or PUBG Mobile Lite, but demanding modern games like Genshin Impact or Warzone Mobile push it to its limits.

Verdict: ⚙️ Smooth for everyday use, but not ideal for power gamers.

5. The 5-Lens Camera Setup Explained

The Nokia 9 PureView’s camera system was its defining feature.

Camera Configuration:

• 2x RGB 12MP sensors (color)

• 3x Monochrome 12MP sensors (for detail and light)

• Aperture: f/1.8

• Sensor size: 1/2.9"

• Focal length: 28mm (wide)

• Depth sensor: Built into the array

• Flash: Dual-LED dual-tone

• Optics: Zeiss-certified

Unlike typical multi-lens phones where each camera has a different focal length, all five sensors capture the same image simultaneously, combining up to 240 megapixels of data into one super-detailed photo.

Each shot was then processed using Light’s depth-mapping technology to produce unmatched dynamic range and depth accuracy.

6. Photo and Video Quality in 2025

Daylight Photography

The Nokia 9 PureView still delivers excellent daylight images. Details are crisp, shadows well-handled, and colors natural. You can even refocus images after shooting, thanks to the depth data.

Compared to 2025 mid-range phones, it still holds its ground — particularly in texture and highlight recovery.

Low-Light Photography

Here’s where it shows its age. Low-light performance was never its strong point, and modern mid-range phones with dedicated Night Mode easily outperform it.

However, using RAW capture and manual controls via apps like Lightroom Mobile, you can achieve surprisingly good results with post-processing.

Video Recording

• Resolution: 4K at 30fps, 1080p at 30fps

• Stabilization: Optical (OIS) and electronic (EIS)

• Audio: Stereo recording with OZO Audio

Video stabilization is decent, but focus hunting and slower exposure adjustments show its age.

Verdict: 📸 Still a photography powerhouse for daylight shooting; weak in video and low light.

7. Camera Software and Image Processing

The original Nokia camera app was powerful but slow. It allowed for RAW capture, full manual control, and focus stacking — perfect for photography enthusiasts but frustrating for average users.

Over time, updates improved processing speed, and using third-party apps made the experience smoother.

In 2025, users still love experimenting with its RAW DNG files because they contain rich depth and dynamic data, ideal for editing in Adobe Lightroom or Snapseed.

Pro Tip: Shoot in RAW + JPEG mode — you get instant usable shots and professional-grade data for later editing.

8. Comparison with Modern Smartphones

Category	Nokia 9 PureView	Pixel 7a	Galaxy S23 FE	iPhone SE (3rd Gen)
Camera	5x 12MP	64MP	50MP	12MP
Processor	Snapdragon 845	Tensor G2	Exynos 2200	A15 Bionic
Night Mode	No	Yes	Yes	No
Video	4K 30fps	4K 60fps	4K 60fps	4K 60fps
Battery	3320mAh	4385mAh	4500mAh	2018mAh
Display	1440p OLED	1080p OLED	1080p AMOLED	750p LCD

While it lacks the efficiency and modern features of newer phones, the Nokia 9 PureView’s photo detail and color science still impress — particularly in RAW photography.

9. Battery Life and Charging

The 3320mAh battery is one of the weakest points today. In 2025 usage, it lasts about 4–5 hours of screen time, depending on tasks.

Charging Options:

• Wired: 18W Fast Charging (USB Power Delivery 2.0)

• Wireless: Qi-compatible

• No reverse charging

A full charge takes about 1 hour 40 minutes. Wireless charging is a nice bonus for an older device, though it’s relatively slow.

Verdict: 🔋 Acceptable for light use, but not for heavy gaming or video shooting.

10. Software Support and Updates

The Nokia 9 PureView launched with Android 9 Pie and received updates up to Android 12. Official updates have ended, but enthusiasts can still install custom ROMs (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience) to bring it up to Android 13 or 14.

Even with older software, it remains secure and smooth for daily use, thanks to the lightweight Android One interface.

11. Audio, Connectivity, and Biometrics

• Speakers: Single bottom-firing

• Headphone Jack: ❌ No

• Bluetooth: 5.0

• Wi-Fi: Dual-band (ac)

• Fingerprint Sensor: In-display optical (slow but functional)

• Face Unlock: No native support

The audio experience is clean but lacks stereo depth. The in-display fingerprint sensor was one of the earliest attempts and remains slower compared to modern ultrasonic sensors.

12. Real-World User Experience

In real-world use, the Nokia 9 PureView still feels premium and solid. It’s great for users who enjoy manual photography or RAW image editing.

However, it’s not ideal for heavy multitaskers or gamers due to thermal throttling and aging hardware.

For casual photography enthusiasts, though, it’s a rewarding phone — one that encourages experimentation and creativity.

13. Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths	Weaknesses
Five-lens camera produces unique depth and detail	Weak battery life
Excellent build quality	Slower processing
1440p OLED display	No high refresh rate
Clean Android One software	No Night Mode
Wireless charging	Average low-light photos
Unique RAW photo flexibility	Slow in-display fingerprint

14. Best Alternatives in 2025

If you love photography but want a newer phone, consider these alternatives:

1. Google Pixel 7a – $399

   • Best AI-powered camera under $500

2. Samsung Galaxy S23 FE – $499

   • Balanced performance, excellent screen

3. iPhone SE (3rd Gen) – $429

   • Great video, compact form factor

4. OnePlus Nord 3 – $350

   • Modern design with strong midrange specs

These devices deliver better overall performance and software longevity, though none replicate the Nokia 9 PureView’s multi-lens RAW magic.

15. Verdict: Should You Still Buy It in 2025?

The Nokia 9 PureView is not for everyone. It’s a niche device built for photography enthusiasts who appreciate manual control and RAW editing.

In 2025, it’s not a competitive daily driver — the chipset, battery, and software support are outdated. However, as a secondary camera phone or collector’s item, it remains one of the most fascinating pieces of smartphone history.

DeviceDeciders Verdict: ⭐ 8.4 / 10

“An artistic masterpiece for photographers — but not for power users.”

16. FAQs

Q1: Does the Nokia 9 PureView still get updates in 2025?
Officially, no. Android 12 was its last major update, though custom ROMs are available.

Q2: Can I still buy the Nokia 9 PureView in 2025?
Yes, it’s available refurbished or pre-owned for $120–$180.

Q3: Is the Nokia 9 PureView good for gaming?
It handles light gaming well, but modern 3D games lag occasionally.

Q4: Does it support 5G?
No, it’s limited to 4G LTE connectivity.

Q5: Can it shoot RAW photos?
Yes — it’s one of the best phones ever made for RAW photography.