Nokia has combined a touchscreen and a traditional 12-button keypad on its revamped X3 device, which is expected to hit shelves in the third quarter of this year.
The new X3 Touch and Type is the company’s first device to have both a touchscreen and 12-button keypad, a feature commonly found on lower-tier devices. The device costs Euro 125, or $160.75, before taxes and subsidies.
“Innovation is not just a high-end game. The Nokia X3 is a great example of bringing new consumer value to lower price points,” said Mary McDowell, Nokia’s executive vice president of mobile phones, in a statement. “With the Nokia X3, we are giving consumers the best of both worlds by combining a touch screen and a keypad in an affordable device.”
The new X3 is 9.6mm thick and comes packed with features including a 5-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 and a music player. Nokia also added dedicated function keys to certain links, including music and text messaging. The phone is based on Nokia’s Series 40 platform, which it uses in some of its feature phones.
Nokia said the device initially will be offered in 14 markets, including China, Australia and Mexico. Availability in other markets will “follow later,” said Nokia, but no information on a U.S. launch was provided.
