I have fond memories of Nokia, like many others, so I was excited to watch the Finnish firm's announcements today at MWC. The presentation started with more talk on the OZO 360° virtual reality camera, which was used to livestream everything to YouTube 360. Also of note was that Nokia is finalizing its purchase of Withings, the French connected devices company. Most importantly, however, were the phone announcements.
The Nokia 6, formerly exclusive to China, is going global. We also saw the new Nokia 5, 3, and the relaunched, redesigned version of the fan favorite 3310.
From here on, I'll refer to these as Nokia announcements, even though technically, it's HMD Global (another Finnish company) pulling most of the strings in the background.
Nokia 6
Let's start with the familiar. The Nokia 6 represents Nokia's global "flagship" going forward. We saw it in China not too long ago, so there isn't much new here other than the worldwide availability. For a refresher, though, the phone packs a 5.5" FHD IPS display, a Snapdragon 430, 32GB of storage, 3GB of RAM, 16MP/8MP cameras, microUSB, a fingerprint sensor, and dual speakers with a "smart amplifier" and Dolby Atmos. It comes in Matte Black, Silver, Tempered Blue, and Copper and will cost €229 (~$242 USD).
However, to celebrate the global launch, there is a special "Arte Black" edition of the 6. Besides having a special piano black finish (which I can only imagine will be a fingerprint and dust magnet), this version of the phone comes with 64GB of storage and 4GB of RAM. This will cost a bit more than its less special brother at €299 (~$316 USD).
Nokia 5
Next up is the more mid-range Nokia 5. Like its bigger cousin, the 5 is made from a single block of aluminium to create a high-end premium feel without a painful price. For specs, here's what you get:
SPECS
Display
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5.2" HD IPS 1280 x 720
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CPU
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Snapdragon 430
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Storage
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16GB, expandable via microSD
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RAM
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2GB
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Cameras
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13MP ear, 8MP front with wide angle
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Battery
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3,000mAh
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Connectivity
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LTE Bands 1/3/5/7/8/20/28/38/40; NFC
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Ports
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Micro USB, 3.5mm, fingerprint sensor
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Colors
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Matte Black, Silver, Tempered Blue, Copper
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As you can see, those are not the most exciting of specs, but what's on paper is not always indicative of real-life performance. The goal with the Nokia 5 is to achieve the attention to detail and the user experience that you might see in a flagship, but at more reasonable price. That claim remains to be seen, but you can get this phone for €189 (~$200 USD).
Nokia 3
Finally, for Nokia's new Android line, we have the diminutive Nokia 3. This little guy carries with it the aluminium unibody that we saw with the 6 and 5, which is fantastic to see in a device of this caliber.
Here are the specs:
SPECS
Display
|
5" HD IPS 1280 x 720
|
CPU
|
MediaTek 6737
|
Storage
|
16GB, expandable via microSD
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RAM
|
2GB
|
Cameras
|
8MP rear, 8MP front with wide angle and auto focus
|
Battery
|
2,650mAh
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Connectivity
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LTE Bands 1/3/5/7/8/20/28/38/40; NFC "for sharing"
|
Ports
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Micro USB, 3.5mm
|
Colors
|
Silver White, Matter Black, Tempered Blue, Copper White
|
So the baby of the group isn't all that exciting. I will save my judgement on this phone, but it's obviously aimed at a consumer that in no way resembles me or my tastes. I can respect that. The Nokia 3 will cost €139 (~$147 USD).
Also announced at the event was Nokia's commitment to software. Each of these three phones will run a "pure, secure, and up-to-date" software experience, which means a clean, simple UI. All of them will come with Google Assistant and unlimited Photos storage, as well as Nougat out of the box.
You can expect to see the Nokia 6, 5, and 3 become available globally in Q2 this year.
Nokia 3310
But, wait. Nokia is also bringing back the revered 3310, the most memed phone ever. With a new design, 22 hours of talk time, and a month in standby, the 3310 is really a flash to the past for me. It also features a refreshed Snake, for what that's worth. The 3310 will cost €49 (~$52 USD), but keep in mind that it doesn't run Android. I just thought it's worth mentioning here because, well, the 3310 is back!
So that is all of the important stuff from Nokia's press conference at MWC. Even though HMD Global is behind the helm of the phone stuff, it is still nice to see Nokia's name in the Android world (other than the Microsoft thing). Plus, there is a strong focus on design and upholding the trust and reliability that we associate with Nokia. I am excited to see what the 6, 5, and 3 bring to the table. If you're interested in the new vision going forward, check out the videos below.
PRESS RELEASE
Barcelona, Spain, 26 February, 2017 – HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, today unveiled a new generation of Nokia smartphones, setting a new standard in design, quality and user experience throughout the range. The highly anticipated global portfolio features three new smartphones – the new Nokia 6, delivering performance and immersive entertainment in a premium and extremely robust design; Nokia 5, an elegant smartphone that fits perfectly in your hand; and Nokia 3, which delivers an unprecedented quality at an affordable price point. The new range of Nokia smartphones all run Android™ Nougat and offer a pure, secure and up to date experience and will all feature Google Assistant. Today also sees the return of a modern classic – the iconic Nokia 3310, reborn with a modern twist on design.
The family of products announced demonstrate a belief that every consumer should have access to premium quality, not just those with high end flagship devices. Combined with a thoughtful design philosophy that focuses on improving the smartphone experience at every level, each technical component has been carefully considered and integrated into the phone design to have the biggest benefit on consumers’ daily lives. Drawing on the hallmarks of the Nokia phone heritage of quality, simplicity and reliability, the range is designed for a new generation of fans.
With a commitment to deliver pure Android, users can expect a simple, clean and clutter free experience. Featuring the latest Google services, as well as monthly security updates, Nokia smartphones are safe, secure and up-to-date. The new Nokia smartphones feature Google’s most recent innovation, the Google Assistant, building further on a great Android experience. Our teams have worked together to ensure the Google Assistant is integrated, allowing for conversations with the Google Assistant to take place easily on Nokia smartphones.
It was also announced that the world-renowned game Snake will be snaking its way back into people’s hearts with a new version available to play on Messenger, part of Facebook’s Instant Games cross platform experience. The new free Snake game is designed to be played with groups of friends making it even more playable than the first time around.
The new Nokia range of Android smartphones unveiled today ahead of Mobile World Congress includes:
Nokia 6 is going global – combining superior craftsmanship and distinctive design with immersive audio and an impressive bright and colourful 5.5” full HD screen, the Nokia 6 delivers a truly premium smartphone experience. The unibody of the Nokia 6 is crafted from a single block of 6000 series aluminium. The smart audio amplifier with dual speakers allow consumers to experience a deeper bass and unmatched clarity, whilst Dolby Atmos® sound delivers a powerfully moving entertainment experience. Available in four colours – Matte Black, Silver, Tempered Blue and Copper – the Nokia 6 will retail at an average global retail price of €229.
Nokia 6 Arte Black Limited Edition – celebrating the worldwide Nokia 6 portfolio is the Nokia 6 Arte Black Limited Edition. With 64GB storage and 4GB RAM, this special edition combines the best features of the Nokia 6 family in a stunning black high gloss package and will retail at an average global retail price of €299.
Nokia 5 – a sleek and compact smartphone that nestles in your hand. The Nokia 5 has been precision engineered out of a single block of 6000 series aluminium to create a perfect pillowed body that flows seamlessly into the sculpted Corning® Gorilla® Glass laminated 5.2” IPS HD display. Powered by the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 430 mobile platform and the Qualcomm® Adreno™ 505 graphics processor, the Nokia 5 brings robust structural integrity, attention to detail and the quality of a high-end flagship to everyone. Available in four colours – Matte Black, Silver, Tempered Blue and Copper – the Nokia 5 will retail at an average global retail price of €189.
Nokia 3 – a stunning new smartphone designed to deliver an outstanding experience with unprecedented value. With a precision machined aluminium frame forged out of a single piece of aluminium, a sculpted Corning® Gorilla® Glass laminated 5” display and seamlessly integrated 8MP wide aperture cameras (front and back), the Nokia 3 packs a truly premium quality smartphone experience into its compact and elegant form. Available in four distinctive colours – Silver White, Matte Black, Tempered Blue and Copper White – the Nokia 3 will retail at an average global retail price of €139.
Also announced today were:
Nokia 3310 – a modern classic reborn. Thin, light and incredibly durable, the Nokia 3310 is a head turning modern twist on one of the best-selling feature phones of all time. Boasting an incredible 22-hour talk-time and month long stand-by, the Nokia 3310’s fresh, colourful, modern design brings it bang up to date. The Nokia 3310 is available in four distinctive colours – Warm Red and Yellow, both with a gloss finish, and Dark Blue and Grey both with a matte finish. The Nokia 3310 will retail at an average global retail price of €49.
Accessories – also introduced was a portfolio of Nokia accessories that follows iconic design philosophy. As perfect companions to these smartphones, the full Nokia accessories portfolio includes a range of headsets, portable and Bluetooth speakers, in-car chargers, cases and screen protectors.
Arto Nummela, CEO of HMD Global, said:
“Nokia has been one of the most iconic and recognisable phone brands globally for decades. In the short time since HMD was launched into the market, the positive reception we’ve had has been overwhelming; it seems everyone shares our excitement for this next chapter. Today’s consumers are more discerning and demanding than ever before and for us they will always come first. Our efforts in bringing together world class manufacturers, operating systems and technology partners sees us proudly unveiling our first global portfolio of smartphones with a Nokia soul, delivering the very best experience to everyone.”
Florian Seiche, President of HMD Global, said:
“Strategic and meaningful partnerships are essential to our success, both for the products and manufacturing. Equally we are committed to building the right kind of partnerships at a market level so we can reach and service all of our fans. The encouragement, support and excitement we have felt from the operators and retailers we’ve met globally so far has been humbling. The excitement and anticipation for our first global family of smartphones has been tremendous, and we’re delighted to offer fans the ability to register their interest for the new range at nokia.com/phones.”
Juho Sarvikas, Chief Product Officer of HMD Global, said:
“Nokia phones stir real emotions; people know them for their beautiful design and craftsmanship, together with a built-to-last quality that you can rely on. Our new portfolio combines these classic Nokia hallmarks with a best-in-class Android performance and a new level of craftsmanship. For the Nokia 3310 we just couldn’t resist. We wanted to reward loyal Nokia phone fans and make a statement that rich heritage, innovation and modern design can go hand-in-hand. Fundamentally, it is about making sure that right across our portfolio we are delivering this pure Nokia experience.”
“We also believe that everyone deserves access to the premium quality and attention to detail that is usually reserved only for flagship devices. With our new range of Nokia smartphones, we aim to democratise technology and bring this experience to everyone.”
Pekka Rantala, Chief Marketing Officer of HMD Global, said:
“Consumers today are seeking relationships with brands that they can trust. The Nokia brand has over 150 years of heritage giving it an authentic, differentiating experience which we are proud to introduce to a new generation of fans. Our new Android Nokia smartphone portfolio, together with the return of the iconic Nokia 3310, is a real statement of our ambition and commitment to honouring the hallmarks of a true Nokia phone experience.”
Brad Rodrigues, interim President of Nokia Technologies, said:
“What HMD has created is remarkable. We’re excited to see the launch of a new family of smartphones, built to the standards that Nokia is known for. We believe that their strong design and quality will appeal to Nokia fans around the world, and the return of the Nokia 3310 has us smiling too!”
Enrico Salvatori, SVP and President, Qualcomm EMEA said:
We are pleased to have collaborated with HMD on the Nokia 6 and Nokia 5 and look forward to working closely with them on future devices. The Nokia brand has a rich heritage in advancing mobile technology and to see new Nokia smartphones on sale is a welcome sight. Both devices are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 mobile platform which offers a rich feature set for smartphones: integrated X6 LTE, cutting-edge camera technology with dual-Image signal processors, next-generation Qualcomm Adreno 505 GPU all means Snapdragon 430 supports fast downloads and uploads, stunning graphics and photos with battery life to spare.”
The new portfolio of Nokia smartphones and feature phones is on display at Mobile World Congress. Local availability will be announced in markets in Q2, 2017. To get hands-on with the full range of Nokia phones, visit HMD at the Nokia stand (Hall 3, stand 3A).