HMD Announces First Nokia Android Flagship Nokia 8
HMD Global has officially announced the Nokia 8, the Finnish company’s first true Android flagship since becoming the home of Nokia phones. The Nokia 8 release date is set for Sept. 6 in select markets, and it will sell for 599 Euros or around $700 in the United States.
The Nokia 8 features a 5.3-inch IPS display with QHD (1,440 x 2,560) screen resolution. The handset features a design that closely resembles HMD Global’s most recent Nokia Android smartphones with its metal body and those thick top and bottom bezels. The handset still features capacitive back and menu buttons and the front-mounted fingerprint sensor.
Although the handset’s design may seem dated compared to other “bezel-less” flagships, its internals and set of features are truly flagship-worthy. The Nokia 8 is being powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 processor along with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. There's also a gloss blue variant which comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, according to 9To5Google. Storage is also expandable through its hybrid microSD/SIM card tray. The device is packing a 3,090mAh battery, which also supports QuickCharge 3.0 via USB Type-C port.
Where the Nokia 8 truly shines is with its inclusion of a set of dual cameras on its back. Both cameras feature 13-megapixel sensors, but one is for color and one is for monochrome (B&W). These cameras work together to produce sharp and vibrant images. The Nokia 8’s camera software combines the B&W and color photos to produce a single image.
Both cameras are also outfitted with Zeiss lenses with a wide f/2.0 aperture. The Nokia 8’s dual cameras also support optical image stabilization and phase detection autofocus. It’s a bit too early to tell how the dual-camera setup on the Nokia 8 will perform against its rivals, but judging on specs alone, it seems like it has a good chance.
Although the the Nokia 8’s dual cameras may already seem impressive, the same can also be said of its front-facing shooter. The front-facing camera also features a 13-megapixel sensor and a wide f/2.0 aperture lens. That may already be enough for selfie enthusiasts to pick up the Nokia 8, but HMD Global has also included support for a feature that’s nicknamed “bothie.” This feature’s proper name is Dual-Sight, and it allows users to take photos and stream video with the front and back cameras at the same time, according to Ars Technica.
Videos and photos taken using Nokia 8’s Dual-Sight feature will come in a 16:9 aspect ratio, so that it’s equally split down the middle to show both views. HMD says that users will be able to stream live to Facebook and YouTube using the Dual-Sight format.
On top of all those camera features, the Nokia 8 also comes with Ozo Audio. The Nokia 8 has three microphones that allow users to record 360-degree audio. Ozo Audio may have been a technology taken by HMD from Nokia’s Ozo 360-degree video camera.
On the software side of things, the Nokia 8 runs the pure and latest version of Android Nougat. This means that there’s no heavy skin or other extra software features added by Nokia. This also means that the Nokia 8 will get software updates as soon as possible. HMD Global also said that the Nokia 8 will be one of the fastest ways for users to get Android O.
HMD Global hasn’t set a specific release date yet for the U.S., nor did it confirm pricing. All we have now is its European price of 599 Euros, which is around $700. Android Authority pointed out that phones are typically cheaper in the U.S., so it’s possible that the Nokia 8 might cost somewhere between $600 and $650.
The Nokia 8 has been officially announced by HMD Global. Photo: HMD Global
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