HMD Global is continuing its effort to revive the Nokia phone brand, this week launching a new Android-based flagship smartphone.
The Nokia 8 comes equipped with Android 7.1.1 Nougat and a host of higher-end features including a 5.3-inch QHD IPS display, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 processor, either 64 GB or 128 GB of storage (depending on color), a 3090 mAh battery compatible with Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0 technology, and a splash-proof housing. With a slim 7.3 mm profile, the Nokia 8 comes in on par with the iPhone 7 Plus and just a tad trimmer than Samsung’s 8.0 mm Galaxy S8.
On top of those, the Nokia 8 comes with a few other special perks: a new “Bothie” camera mode and a 360-degree OZO Audio system.
The former takes advantage of the Nokia 8’s dual 13 mp selfie and main cameras to offer a split screen image that combines both views. While the feature isn’t necessarily new in and of itself – both LG and Samsung offer a something similar – the Nokia 8 takes things a step further by extending “Bothie” capabilities to live streaming on platforms like Facebook and YouTube Live.
Credit: Nokia
“We know that fans are creating and sharing live content more than ever before, with millions of photos and videos shared every minute on social media,” HMD Global’s Chief Product Officer Juho Sarvikas commented on the device’s design. “People are inspired by the content they consume and are looking for new ways to create their own.”
The release of the Nokia 8 is the latest device launch from HMD Global as it works to revive the Nokia brand in phones. The company inked 10-year licensing agreement with Nokia back in May 2016, and unveiled its first two basic phones in December.
HMD said the Nokia 8 will come in four colors – including Polished Blue, Polished Copper, Tempered Blue, and Steel – starting next month. The device will run consumers an average of 599 euros (around $700), the company said.
