The crazy configuration of the mad camera of Android Phone 2019 is still magical today

I admire large smartphones that push the limits of what is possible and sensible. Sometimes these games become triumphs, and these devices become the cornerstone of future innovations. We saw a lot at the end of the 2010s, when companies were not afraid to experiment. Although it has its fair share of criticism, one of my favorite examples was Nokia 9 Crazy Pureview.

It was forgotten in my obsolete technological drawer until I brought it off, I loaded it and I made it blow up in my pocket for a recent road trip. I wanted to see if this old Nokia Android phone was still worth it to be used in 2025, and I’m so happy to have it with me.

I remember when this ambitious photo phone was launched at MWC 2019; It left me a fairly great impression. Its largest sale argument was its crazy rear imaging system, which uses five rear cameras – two colors and three monochromes – to create a single blow. Although this method has its advantages, as a theoretically large dynamic range, of super fun bokeh adjustments and a lot of light information, it also leaves little space for flexibility. Consequently, Pureview lacks a dedicated zoom lens and an ultra-related camera.

The absence of these specific lenses may seem like a problem, but this is a main reason why I liked to use pureview. I could not bring the subjects closer or extend my canvas to the pressure of a button on the screen. I could not make my way through the city as I would with my Galaxy S24 Fe. Suddenly, composition, framing and light were essential factors that required consideration.

As a result, I felt more anchored by absorbing the streets of my destination, Franschhoek. The phone produced magnificent photos of the small mountain town, especially when there was a lot of light to play with.

During my trip, I am mainly glued to the main photo mode of Pureview, slamming photos of colors at an equivalent focal distance of 28 mm, but my guilty pleasure was the monochrome mode of the phone. The deletion of color puts more composition in the foreground, and I really liked using this mode. The results were also quite incredible. I particularly like the photograph of the Dutch reformed church of 178 years, with the pureview highlighting subtle details in the sky and the complex window work of the building.

Even the atmospheric pulled below an interrupted restaurant ceiling with lanterns has so much character. This photo also surprised me. I thought it would be terrible, because it was turned inside with a minimum of natural light radiating through a small window in the setting. However, this gives off a certain magic.

The Nokia 9 Pureview cameras system is not perfect, and yes, I had to look at several potential shots because of the SLOOTOOOOW capture. I also have more shots on my stack of faults than the guards. I have already mentioned its hardware limitations, but the processing of software is generally too heavy, dropping weights on its toes when compensating the lower light or visual size.

The two plans above, one broken in a lightly lit library but beautifully saturated and the other of the main street illuminated by the street beams, are good examples. They are not terrible, but I would like to have the Pixel 8 in my hand instead.

Beyond the cameras system, the Nokia 9 Pureview has laudable and reasonable features that still shine six years later. It is unique and solidly constructed in style, and I like how compact it feels in my hand, especially compared to the larger phones today. This facilitated transport as a secondary phone in the small heat of the mountain city. The screen is expressive enough to be a reliable viewfinder even in bright light.

But it’s about the only praise I can afford. Pureview was configured to fail from the start. It was launched with a one -year -old chipset, an abominable fingerprint sensor and barely large battery for a few hours of the camera. I also find the absence of a microSD card card a complete lack, since this phone is intended to produce high quality supports.

While Stock Android is a welcome detoxification of the richness of a user interface, Android 10 is obviously a non-go in 2025. Consequently, it is a horrible daily driver, especially on vacation. If you all need a phone, you would be better served with an affordable Android phone than the Nokia 9 Pureview in 2025.

And yet, despite its flaws and their apparent gaps, I can not help being charmed by Pureview, even if it is only like a digital camera. By scrolling my Roll Google Photos, I can easily choose the photos I took with the Nokia because everyone has a story that I remember affectionately. These are more than superb photos.

Like a film camera, seeing the world through its lenses is an experience. I’m not a minute saying that it is the best photo phone ever made, overthrowing the modern wonders of Google, Samsung and Oppo, but I can say that it is the funniest I have had with a photo phone for years.