According to a Twitter user, Nokia's next flagship, currently called the Nokia 9.1, will be delayed and renamed until the second quarter of the year. This is due to Nokia wanting to use the newest Snapdragon 865 chipset. The leaker has reliably leaked information about Nokia phones in the past, so there is a strong possibility that this rumor is true.
Twitter user Nokia anew said that the phone has also received a new name, as it now goes by the name of Nokia 9.2. The Nokia 9.1 was believed to be released with either the Snapdragon 855 or 855 Plus chipset. However, HMD Global, the licensors and current manufacturer of Nokia phones, probably decided to hold off launching their flagship. This is perhaps to ensure that their flagship will have 5G connectivity right off the box. This year's Android flagships all seem to be 5G ready, with the Samsung Galaxy S20 set to be officially launched in a few weeks' time. It has been rumored that the whole S20 line will have 5G support.
If the rumors are perhaps true, then HMD Global's decision to hold off launching their flagship is perhaps the right move. Launching a high-end phone without 5G in 2020 will probably not be an attractive option for buyers.
READ: Nokia 9 PureView Gets Buggy Update That Fools Fingerprint Scanner With Chewing Gum
Previous mistakes
Perhaps HMD Global is learning from its launch of last year's Nokia 9 PureView, which came with the Snapdragon 845 chipset. While the phone was lauded for some of its features, such as its crisp and vibrant display, excellent build quality, and unique camera setup, it was ultimately let down by its buggy software, which was further brought down by a chipset which was a year old. By the time the Nokia 9 PureView was launched, Phones such as Samsung's Galaxy S10 with the most recent Snapdragon 855 was launching just a month away.
HMD Global's delayed launch of the Nokia 9.2 will ensure that their phone will be on-par with the rest of the competition. It also allows them ample time to upgrade the phone's spec, seeing that other features are starting to gain more traction. We can also expect HMD Global to upgrade its five-camera setup, which scored a respectable DxoMark score of 85.
High refresh rates
Other than 5G connectivity, the newest flagship phones are expected to have screen refresh rates above the usual 60hz. Gaming centric phones such as the ASUS ROG Phone 2 and Razer Phone 2 have spouted 120hz refresh rates. Other flagships from Chinese manufacturers have also integrated higher refresh rates, with OnePlus's 7T and 7T Pro having 90hz displays, with Oppo, Realme, Xiaomi, and ZTE also carrying phones with similar display refresh rates. Even Google's very own Pixel line has a 90hz refresh rate. The Nokia 9.2 is expected to carry a high refresh rate screen as well if it is to keep its relevance in a very competitive smartphone market.
