HMD Global looks all set to unveil its first Android flagship Nokia 8. Until now, the company has only launched low- and mid-range devices such as Nokia 3310, Nokia 3, 5 and 6. If HMD wants to re-establish the Nokia brand, it has to launch a premium smartphone that could challenge the likes of Galaxy S8 and Google Pixel in the Android market. The upcoming flagship Nokia 8 could be just that phone.
‘The next milestone for Nokia phones’
HMD Global has started sending out media invites for an event in London, reports The Verge. The event will kick off at 7:30 p.m. local time (2:30 p.m. ET) on Wednesday, August 16th. The Finnish company did not mention which device would be unveiled at the event, but the rumor mill is almost certain it will be Nokia 8. The device was previously rumored to be announced on July 31.
The company said in its press invite that it will “unveil the next milestone for Nokia phones” at the London event. The Nokia 8 will be the first Nokia flagship in almost three years. It’s the first time a premium Nokia device would run Android. The previous Nokia-branded phones were based on Windows Phone. Just a few days ago, the upcoming phone was spotted on Nokia’s Chinese website, though the photos have since been taken down.
Flagship Nokia 8 to pack powerful specs
Noted Twitter tipster Evan Blass aka @EVLeaks has posted photos showing the phone’s design in great detail. Given the consistent flow of leaks, it was only a matter of time before the device was unveiled officially. The Nokia 8 is rumored to have a 5.3-inch Quad HD display with 2560 x 1440 resolution. It is unclear whether it would have an LCD or OLED display panel. Right now, OLED screens are in incredibly high demand because Apple, Samsung, and Google are trying to secure OLED supply for their flagship smartphones.
https://twitter.com/evleaks/status/886984401875333120
According to supply chain leaks, the Nokia 8 will have a full metal body. The rumor mill claims the device would offer 4GB or 6GB RAM, 64GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot, and dual-SIM support. The device will be powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor. Other features include Quick Charge 3.0 fast-charging technology, 4G LTE with VoLTE support, Bluetooth, and WiFi.
Its battery size remains a mystery. The display is said to have a 2.5D glass on top. It won’t have an edge-to-edge display like Galaxy S8. The phone will have a physical home button, and two capacitive touch buttons on both sides. The fingerprint sensor will likely be integrated into the home button. Previously leaked images suggest that the device will retain the 3.5mm headphone jack.
The flagship Nokia 8 is expected to run Android Nougat right out of the box. HMD Global has said that its phones would offer pure Android experience without any bloatware. It could help Nokia differentiate its phones from rivals. HMD is also working with Google to roll out faster software updates. Most Android vendors are notoriously slow in pushing software updates.
Nokia 8 to sport a dual camera system
Most of the premium phones released this year sport a dual camera system, and Nokia 8 won’t be an exception. Leaked images suggest the Nokia 8 would feature a vertically stacked dual camera setup on the back. It would consist of two 13-megapixel sensors and Carl Zeiss optics. HMD Global has confirmed that it was working with Carl Zeiss on smartphone camera optics.
The use of Zeiss lenses should appeal to the fans of Nokia 808 PureView and Lumia 1020. The dual camera system will be supported by a laser autofocus sensor and dual-tone LED flash.
Nokia 8 color options
The current Nokia 6 is available in five different color options: Matte Black, Tempered Blue, Copper, Silver, and Arte Black. We expect the flagship Nokia 8 to share at least a few color options with its mid-range sibling. Earlier this month, leaked images showed the device in blue and silver color. According to WinFuture, HMD Global was considering some unique colors such as gold/copper, gold/blue, and “steel.”
Earlier this week, we saw a Nokia 8 in gold/copper color on Baidu forum. However, the phone appeared more like a chocolate bar than a smartphone. It was most likely an unpolished production unit that still needed to go through several finishing steps before hitting the store shelves. It indicates that the company is almost certainly going to add new color options.
Copper Nokia 8 Shown In New Leaked Images https://t.co/dnpTxDXhhh #Technology #Mobiles pic.twitter.com/5hwW3OzXun
— Sheeraz Raza (@SheerazRaza) July 24, 2017
How much is it going to cost?
Nokia 8 will cater to the premium segment. So, we can expect its price to be in the same range as the iPhone 7, Galaxy S8, LG G6, and Google Pixel. HMD Global may choose to price its first Nokia-branded Android flagship a bit competitively to attract buyers. The rumor mill claims Nokia 8 will be priced at EUR 589 (roughly $686) in European markets. It is unclear when the device would go on sale.
