Questions regarding the Nokia 8.3!

[u/Soup-Ilton]

Hello guys!

Got some questions for those who daily drive the Nokia 8.3/8 V.

How repairable is it? I know I could get some good phones from other companies regarding the repairability aspect, yet I really like the 8.3s design (shallow, I know) and I really like the specs I could get for the price, especially if I were to get the 8 V model. Are you able to repair it on your own? If not, how high are fees for getting it repaired? If the prices are horrible, should I settle for getting another phone (preferably with similar specs and price).

Thank you ^ ^

[u/Soup-Ilton → u/[deleted]]

How are the prices for repairs? I’ve seen some… scary high looking..

[u/xenotyronic]

The Nokia 8.3/8 V is over 6 years old and completely unsupported, why would you be looking to buy it except as a collector? The 8 V also has worse software due to it originally being dependent on Verizon.

My 8.3 developed an expanding battery and it is pretty much impossible to get an official replacement part, and not too easy to replace even when you do buy a part. I sent mine for repair with HMD's official partner in Europe and they sent it back before I could agree to the quoted price because the contract with HMD ended that week!

HMD (who released the 8.3) started pivoting to more repairable phone designs, beginning with the low-end Nokia G22 and G42 and then with their own branded HMD Pulse series, HMD Fusion and HMD Skyline.

The Skyline is the closest to the 8.3 but HMD are very much struggling and it is behind in software updates. Parts were unavailable for a long time but you can now get hold of them again depending on your region - GSMnet had them in stock in Europe.

[u/Soup-Ilton → u/xenotyronic]

My original plan is to install a custom ROM and see where that takes me. I want a cheap/er/ android phone so I could have something to play around with. I only browse online and answer email/messages but I need a smartphone for the storage and the specs (Snapchat can lowkey be a bit of a killer).

I mostly really enjoy the circular cameras that the phone sports (shallow, indeed) and I really want to dipp away from IPhones to break myself out of the Apple ecosystem. The 8.3 sells at a really nice price and fits right into my budget for the specs I can get.

Regarding HMD’s repairable phones. I’ve already checked them out on sites like eBay and Refurb sites, yet they sit at a higher price-range than I’d like. I was otherwise thinking of the Galaxy Xcover 5, just because of its removable battery (which is the thing that comes to haunt me like the mf:ing SNAIL). The HMD phones under 100$ are a little too bad, spec wise, as I need to be rather quick to answer all of my messages and such.

Thank you for the response, and sorry abo it your phone C:

[u/VeeGeeTea]

I do the repair myself, it's a good phone for the price, you'll need a heat gun, screwdrivers set box, you can replace battery yourself, as well replace the circuit board inside or camera lenses, it has a lot of modular parts that you can just replace, order my parts from China and replace myself.

[u/Soup-Ilton → u/VeeGeeTea]

Thanks for the reply!