The Nokia brand is about to return to the market after a considerable absence, and it seems that two Android devices are in tow.
As Tech Times reported in May, the Nokia brand will appear on devices made by Finnish manufacturer HMD Global. It's been quite a while since we've seen a Nokia device hit the market, as the company was swallowed by Microsoft a good while back.
After spending a few years focusing exclusively on making Windows Phone devices, Nokia eventually went under Microsoft's umbrella completely and the Nokia Lumia brand eventually became the Microsoft Lumia. The deal Nokia and Microsoft made back then prevented Nokia from using its brand on mobile devices in the following years, but this year it broke free from Microsoft's bonds.
The news that the Nokia brand will finally return to market generated a lot of buzz, but no specific information was available as to when and what to expect. New information has now surfaced, offering some details regarding two upcoming Android smartphones set to debut under the Nokia brand.
The latest leaks indicate that two Nokia-branded smartphones are in the works, boasting 5.2 and 5.5-inch displays. Both handsets will reportedly rock a premium, sleek design and sturdy metal build, complete with IP68 certification for extra ruggedness. This means the smartphones will not only be durable in typical Nokia fashion, but also water- and dust-resistant. The IP68 rating offers protection in up to 3 feet of water for up to 30 minutes.
The handsets are further expected to sport high-resolution displays and pack the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor. Two publications — Nokia Power User (NPU) and Gizmo China — have confirmed the screen sizes and hinted at 2K or QHD resolutions for the handsets.
As a side note, it's worth pointing out here that 2K and QHD are often referred to as the same thing, but 2K technically translates to a resolution of 2,048 x 1,080 pixels, while QHD is higher at 2,560 x 1,440 pixels.
That said, let's move on to the camera department. The larger of the two Nokia-branded smartphones could rock a 22.6-megapixel rear camera, GizmoChina speculates. Both handsets' cameras could be the "most sensitive ever and will be based upon Nokia's extensive research on wonder material 'Graphene,'" further notes Nokia Power User.
As for software, the two handsets will reportedly boast Android Nougat out of the box, with Nokia's Z-Launcher UI.
GizmoChina completes the picture with alleged launch and pricing details, purporting that the two smartphones could initially launch in China and the larger of the two could start at roughly $500.
"These two and one / two more Nokia Android smartphones are planned for unveil towards end of the year 2016, but depending upon testing and development launch date may move to Q1 2017 too," adds NPU.
No additional information is available at this point, but we'll let you know as soon as we learn more. As always, though, take all leaks with a grain of salt.
