The Nokia N73 5G strikes an impressive balance between nostalgia and contemporary design sensibilities. While clearly a modern smartphone, subtle design elements pay homage to its 2006 predecessor. The device features a unibody aluminum frame with a matte finish, measuring 7.9mm thick and weighing 185 grams – substantial enough to feel premium without becoming unwieldy.
Available in four colorways – Classic Silver, Midnight Blue, Forest Green, and Copper Sunset – the N73 5G offers options that appeal to both traditionalists and those seeking a more distinctive look. The forest green variant, in particular, serves as a direct callback to the original N73’s iconic color option.
True to Nokia’s reputation for durability, the N73 5G boasts an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, along with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection on both front and back panels. The physical buttons include a textured power button that doubles as a fingerprint sensor, volume controls, and a dedicated camera shutter key – another nod to the photography-focused heritage of the N-series.
Perhaps most interesting is HMD Global’s commitment to repairability, with a user-replaceable battery that can be accessed by removing the back panel using a simple tool included in the box. This feature, increasingly rare in modern smartphones, has been implemented without significantly compromising the device’s slim profile or premium feel.
Nokia N73 5G Display Technology
The Nokia N73 5G features a 6.5-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1440 x 3120 pixels (QHD+). The panel supports a 120Hz refresh rate that can dynamically adjust based on content to optimize battery life. Peak brightness reaches 1,500 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even under direct sunlight.
The display incorporates a small punch-hole camera in the upper center, minimizing disruption to the viewing experience while maximizing screen real estate. The minimal bezels contribute to a screen-to-body ratio of approximately 92%, creating an immersive visual experience.
Color accuracy is exceptional, with the display covering 100% of the DCI-P3 color space and offering HDR10+ certification for enhanced contrast and color depth when viewing compatible content. Nokia has implemented an always-on display feature with minimal battery impact, showing time, date, and notification icons when the phone is in standby mode.
Nokia N73 5G Performance and Hardware
Powering the N73 5G is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset – not the absolute latest processor but a proven performer that balances power and efficiency. This octa-core processor features one prime Cortex-X3 core at 3.2GHz, four performance cores at 2.8GHz, and three efficiency cores at 2.0GHz.
The Adreno 740 GPU handles graphically intensive tasks with ease, providing smooth gaming performance even with demanding titles. Nokia has implemented a vapor chamber cooling system that effectively manages thermal output during extended gaming sessions or processor-intensive tasks.
Memory configurations include 8GB/128GB, 8GB/256GB, and 12GB/256GB variants, with LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage ensuring rapid data access and smooth multitasking. Unlike many competitors, Nokia has retained the microSD card slot, allowing storage expansion up to an additional 1TB.
Connectivity options are comprehensive, with support for all major 5G bands, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and NFC. The device also features a 3.5mm headphone jack – a rarity in 2025 flagships but a welcome inclusion for audio enthusiasts.
Nokia N73 5G Camera System
Photography was a central focus of the original N73, which featured Carl Zeiss optics in an era when smartphone cameras were in their infancy. The 2025 N73 5G honors this legacy with a comprehensive camera system co-developed with ZEISS, featuring:
- A 50MP primary camera with a large 1/1.31″ sensor, optical image stabilization, and an f/1.7 aperture
- A 12MP ultrawide camera with a 120-degree field of view and autofocus capability
- A 48MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, optical stabilization, and up to 30x digital zoom
- A 3D ToF sensor for improved depth perception in portrait mode
The camera system is controlled by Nokia’s PureView imaging technology, which has evolved significantly since its introduction. Computational photography features include enhanced night mode capabilities, AI-powered scene recognition, and “Multi-frame Synthesis” – Nokia’s implementation of pixel binning and frame stacking for improved dynamic range and detail.
Video capabilities are equally impressive, with 8K recording at 24fps, 4K at 60fps with HDR support, and enhanced electronic image stabilization. The “Pro Video” mode provides manual controls for serious videographers, including focus peaking, zebra patterns, and LOG format recording.
The front-facing camera uses a 32MP sensor with autofocus capability, supporting 4K video recording and featuring enhanced low-light performance through pixel binning technology.
Nokia N73 5G Software Experience
The Nokia N73 5G runs a near-stock version of Android 15, with HMD Global continuing its commitment to the Android One program. The clean software experience is free from bloatware and duplicate apps, focusing on Google’s suite of services complemented by a few thoughtful Nokia additions.
Nokia has promised three years of major Android updates and four years of security patches, providing reasonable long-term software support. The company’s track record for timely updates has been solid in recent years, with security patches typically arriving within weeks of release.
The minimalist approach to software customization results in a fluid, responsive user experience that makes efficient use of the hardware. Nokia’s “Digital Wellbeing” features help users monitor and manage their screen time, while enhanced privacy controls provide transparency into how apps access personal data.
Nokia N73 5G Battery Life and Charging
Battery performance has been prioritized in the N73 5G, with a 5,000mAh capacity that delivers excellent endurance. Under typical usage patterns, the device easily lasts through a full day, with moderate users potentially stretching to two days between charges.
Charging options include 67W wired fast charging, which can replenish the battery from 0% to 50% in approximately 20 minutes, with a full charge taking around 45 minutes. The phone also supports 15W wireless charging and 5W reverse wireless charging, providing flexibility for different scenarios.
The user-replaceable battery design addresses long-term battery degradation concerns, allowing users to extend the useful life of their device by simply purchasing and installing a new battery rather than replacing the entire phone – an eco-friendly approach that reduces electronic waste.
Nokia N73 5G Audio Experience
The stereo speaker system on the N73 5G delivers impressive audio quality, with clear vocals, detailed highs, and reasonable bass response for a smartphone. The speakers achieve good volume levels without distortion, making them suitable for casual media consumption.
The inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack is complemented by a high-quality DAC for superior wired audio performance. For wireless audio, the phone supports aptX HD, LDAC, and AAC codecs, ensuring high-quality Bluetooth streaming with compatible headphones.
Nokia N73 5G Additional Features
Several thoughtful features enhance the overall user experience:
- An IR blaster allows the phone to function as a universal remote for controlling home appliances
- The side-mounted fingerprint scanner is complemented by secure face unlock using the front camera
- “Adaptive Battery” technology learns usage patterns to optimize power consumption
- “OZO Audio” capture uses the phone’s three microphones to record spatial audio
- A physical notification LED can be customized for different alerts
Nokia N73 5G Market Positioning and Value
Positioned as an upper mid-range device rather than an ultra-premium flagship, the Nokia N73 5G offers excellent value for its price point. It competes with devices like the Samsung Galaxy A75, Google Pixel 9a, and Xiaomi 14T Pro, offering a compelling alternative with its focus on imaging capabilities, clean software, and repairability.
While it may not have the absolute latest specifications in every category, the N73 5G takes a balanced approach that prioritizes the features most important to everyday users while maintaining a reasonable price point.
Nokia N73 5G
The Nokia N73 5G represents a thoughtful revival of a classic nameplate, honoring the legacy of the original while embracing modern smartphone capabilities. It demonstrates that HMD Global understands the nostalgic connection many users have with Nokia’s historic devices while delivering a thoroughly contemporary experience.
The emphasis on imaging capabilities, clean software, and practical features like battery replaceability sets the N73 5G apart in an increasingly homogenized smartphone market. While it may not capture the massive market share Nokia once commanded, it provides a compelling alternative for users seeking a device with character, capable cameras, and a software experience free from bloatware and unnecessary complications.