HMD’s second phase of bringing back the Nokia smartphone cache includes a high-end flagship, devices at every price point and naturally an old school reboot of a slide design.
The comeback of Nokia smartphones is entering another phase with a flagship entry that may poach a few Android customers at the high-end and efforts to hit multiple price points.
HMD Global, which makes Nokia phones under license, outlined four new Android phones at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The phones are the Nokia 8 Sirocco, Nokia 7 Plus, Nokia 6 and Nokia 1.
The smartphone maker also said that it is a global partner in Google’s Android One program. Nokia is essentially leaving the software experience with Google and ensuring a pure upgrade experience. HMD said its Nokia lineup will « come with no unnecessary UI changes or hidden processes that would eat up battery life or slow them down so you can enjoy your new phone for longer. »
That approach is one reason HMD’s Nokia phones are in Google’s new Android enterprise program. The launch of Nokia’s smartphones was timed just ahead of Samsung’s Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus lift-off.
ABI Research analyst David McQueen said HMD’s Nokia effort has some promise.
Here’s a look at the headliners in the Nokia lineup:
McQueen said Nokia’s lineup is designed to scale shipments in 2018.
IHS Markit analyst Ian Fogg said that HMD has been shrewd about its Google partnership and the lineup looks promising. Fogg said in a post:
