HMD Global launched the Nokia 2 smartphone in India earlier this week. Prior to the event, it was highly expected that HMD Global would launch the Nokia 7 instead, which was first unveiled in China last month. For those who are still expecting the Nokia 7′s arrival in India, it won’t be happening anytime soon. HMD Global has confirmed that it will not launch the Nokia 7 in India at present.

Indian Express quotes Pekka Rantala, HMD Global’s Chief Marketing Officer saying, “Nokia 7 is designed for Chinese consumers, so currently we’ve no plans to bring it to India.” The Nokia 7 is currently available for purchase in China only. The smartphone is priced at RMB 2,499 (approximately Rs 24,600) for the base variant, and RMB 2,699 (approximately Rs 26,500) for the higher variant.

Rest of the Nokia smartphone series have been launched in India by HMD Global. These include the Nokia 2, Nokia 3, Nokia 5, Nokia 6 and the flagship Nokia 8 smartphone. The Nokia 7, if launched in India, would be a befitting choice for those wanting a mid-range Nokia smartphone. It is HMD Global’s first smartphone with a glass body, and also features the Nokia 8′s bothie camera.

In terms of specifications, the Nokia 7 features a 5.2-inch full HD IPS display with Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3 layered on top for protection. Under its hood is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 SoC paired with either 4GB or 6GB of RAM. Also on offer is 64GB of internal storage, which is further expandable using a microSD card.

In the photography department, the Nokia 7 sports a 16-megapixel camera of f/1.8 aperture, and a dual-tone LED flash. Up front, it houses a 5-megapixel camera of f/2.0 aperture with 84-degree field-of-view. The bothie camera on the Nokia 7 allows one to capture rear and front photos at the same time for a single image.

Its connectivity options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, USB Type-C port, and NFC. Armed with a 3,000mAh battery, the smartphone also comes with support for 18W fast charging. On the software front, the Nokia 7 runs on Android 7.1.1 Nougat with a promised upgrade to Android 8.0 Oreo. 

Today HMD Global launched the most affordable device in its portfolio – the Nokia 2. Priced at 99 Euros (Rs 7,500 approximately), the device will go on sale sometime in mid-November, and India will be among the first wave of countries. Despite, its affordable price tag, the Nokia 2 comes with a bunch of premium aspects like using series 6,000 aluminum for its body, a 4,100mAh battery, and being protected by Gorilla Glass 3. However, while the Nokia 2 look impressive in itself, does it fare well against its competitors in the market? Here’s taking a look at how the new Nokia 2 competes against Xiaomi Redmi 4A, and the Moto C Plus.

Launched today, the Nokia 2’s India prices are yet to be revealed. Though, the device is expected to be priced well under Rs 10,000, it will go on sale around mid-November, and that’s when the official price of the device is likely to be revealed. In comparison, the Redmi 4A is Xiaomi’s most affordable device, which comes in two variants, a 16GB storage model, which is priced at Rs 5,999, and a 32GB model priced at Rs 6,999. On October 26 the device went on sale on Amazon India, and is open for sale every other week. Beside Amazon India, the Redmi 4A is also available on mi.com and Flipkart. The Moto C Plus, on the other hand, was launched earlier this year, priced at Rs 6,999. The smartphone is available exclusively via Flipkart.

The Nokia 2 flaunts a 5-inch LTPS HD (1280×720 pixels) display protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3. In comparison, the Xiaomi Redmi 4A and the Moto C Plus feature a 5-inch HD (720p) IPS display, sans Gorilla Glass. 

The new Nokia 2 is powered by the entry-level Qualcomm Snapdragon 212 Mobile Platform, which is accompanied by 1GB of RAM. There is also 8GB of internal storage that can be expanded using a microSD card. The Redmi 4A is powered by a 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 quad-core processor, which is accompanied by 2GB of RAM. As mentioned, it comes in two storage variants, one with 16GB option, and the other with 32GB. The Moto C Plus is powered by a 1.35GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6737 chipset. It has 2GB of RAM along with 16GB onboard storage, which can be further expanded up to 32GB via microSD Slot. 

For photography, the Nokia 2 is equipped with an 8-megapixel rear camera, as well as a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. The Redmi 4A comes with a 13-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel camera on the front. The Moto C Plus, on the other hand, sports an 8-megapixel primary camera, and a 2-megapixel front camera. 

For the Nokia 2, one of its highlights is the battery – 4,100mAh. The company says the battery is good enough to last more than two days. The Xiaomi Redmi 4A has a 3,120mAh battery, whereas the Moto C Plus is fuelled by a 4,000mAh unit.

The Nokia 2 runs on stock Android 7.1.1 Nougat out-of-the-box, and so does the Moto C Plus. However, the Redmi 4A runs on Android Marshmallow 6.0 with MIUI 8 on top. Among the three, the Nokia 2 is most likely to get the Android Oreo first. 

As expected, HMD Global has today launched a brand new smartphone, and it is the Nokia 2. This is a global launch, and India will be among the first countries to get this new device. The Nokia 2 is priced at 99 Euros (Rs 7,500 approximately), and it is set to go on sale sometime in mid-November. 

The Nokia 2 is the most affordable device in HMD Global’s portfolio. Despite the price tag, the smartphone is built using series 6,000 aluminum. The front part of the device is protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3, while at the back is a polycarbonate panel. Among the talking points of the Nokia 2 is the massive 4,100mAh battery underneath, which the company says is good enough to last over two days.

Much of the smartphone’s specifications and features are in line with what has leaked before. The Nokia 2 flaunts a 5-inch LTPS HD (1280×720 pixels) display protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3. Under the hood is Qualcomm’s entry-level Snapdragon 212 Mobile Platform. There’s also 1GB of RAM, and 8GB internal storage, which can be further expanded using a microSD card.

For photography, the Nokia 2 is equipped with an 8-megapixel rear camera, as well as a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. Connectivity options include dual-SIM card slots, 4G LTE support, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. On the software front, the smartphone runs on stock Android 7.1.1 Nougat out-of-the-box, and also comes with Google Assistant onboard. In line with HMD Global’s promise, the OS will soon be updated to Android Oreo sooner than later.

HMD Global is hosting an event in India on October 31, where it is widely expected to introduce the Nokia 7. The smartphone was launched in the international market earlier this month.

HMD Global will be live broadcasting the launch event, which will kick starts at 12:00PM. You can log in to Facebook and follow this link to catch the live unveiling. HMD Global sent out the invitations, revealing nothing except the date to ‘unveil the next milestone for Nokia phones’. However, as it precedes the Nokia 7 global launch, it is most likely to be about the same product.

Nokia 7 is said to be the company’s first smartphone to boast a glass body design. It also carry forwards the ‘Bothie’ feature from Nokia 8, which allows you to capture images and record videos from both the rear and front cameras simultaneously. 

In terms of specifications, the Nokia 7 packs a 5.2-inch full HD IPS display with Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3 protection on top. It is equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 SoC, and paired with 4GB/6GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage.

For optics, there’s a 16-megapixel rear camera with f/1.8 aperture, and a dual-tone LED flash. Up front, there is a 5-megapixel camera with f/2.0 aperture with 84-degree field-of-view for selfies and video calling. 

Nokia 7 is fueled by a 3,000mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, USB Type-C port, and NFC. HMD Global promised at the global launch that the Nokia 7 will be upgradable to the Android 8.0 Oreo. It is expected to run on Android 7.1.1 Nougat out-of-the-box when it launches in India tomorrow.

Internationally, the Nokia 7 is priced at RMB 2,499 (approximately Rs 24,600) for the base variant, and RMB 2,699 (approximately Rs 26,500) for the higher variant. At the given pricing, Nokia 7 could compete against Honor 8 Pro, Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017), and the Moto Z2 Play in the sub-Rs 30,000 segment.

Nokia 2 has been doing the rounds of the rumor mill quite frequently. Now, thanks to the upcoming smartphone’s listing on AnTuTu, we have a fair idea about what would be on offer when HMD Global chooses to officially release the phone.

According to past reports, Nokia 2 is said to be the company’s cheapest smartphone yet. Now, the latest listing on AnTuTu is in line with that. If the listing is to be believed, the Nokia 2 will be equipped with modest hardware, including Snapdragon 212 SoC with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage. Given the brand name is associated with catering to all kinds of price categories, this is expected to be a welcome decision.

Despite it being an entry-level smartphone, the Nokia 2 will run the newer Android 7.1.1 Nougat, and flaunt a HD (720x1280p pixels) display. For optics, it is likely to bundle an 8-megapixel camera at the back along with a 5-megapixel front camera. 

Earlier last week, the smartphone was briefly listed on US retailer B&H website, along with details about its specifications. Based on the listing, Nokia 2 will be a dual-SIM model with a price tag of just $99 (approximately Rs 6,500). There will be two color choices according to the retailer’s listing – black and white.

Nokia 2 previously also showed up in the Bluetooth SIG database. While the AnTuTu listing does not clearly specify, past rumors indicate the phone will be fueled by a massive 4,000mAh battery. For a $99 smartphone, this battery capacity seems impressive.

As a report on GSMArena puts, HMD Global is hosting an event on October 31 in India, where it might possibly launch a new Nokia phone. Again, as there is no official word on which phone the company would be launching on that day, speculations side with the Nokia 7. 

HMD Global promised to launch a bunch of Android smartphones this year, and the two left to be unveiled are the Nokia 2 and Nokia 9. The two belong to completely different price categories – where the Nokia 9 will be the company’s next premium flagship, the Nokia 2 will be the company’s cheapest Android smartphone till date. While that is all we officially know about the smartphones, a recent leak has revealed a few new things about the Nokia 2.

US retailer B&H briefly listed (via NokiaMob) the Nokia 2 on its website, along with information about the smartphone’s price. As per the leak, the Nokia 2, which was listed as a dual-SIM model, will be available for purchase at B&H for just $99 (Rs 6,500 approximately). The phone will come in two color variants of black and white. B&H has since removed any mention of the Nokia 2 from its website, but aside from what we’ve already outlined, there was no other information listed.

From what we know so far, the Nokia 2 is expected to launch sometime next month. A final date hasn’t been revealed yet. As for the leaks about specifications, the Nokia 2 is expected to feature a 5-inch HD display. It is expected to be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 210 chipset clocked at 1.27GHz and paired with either 1GB or 2GB of RAM. There is no word on internal storage for the Nokia 2 yet. It is believed to be fuelled by a massive 4,000mAh battery, and run Android 7.1.1 Nougat inside. For photography, the Nokia 2 could sport an 8-megapixel rear camera, and a 5-megapixel front camera.

A recent leak also claimed to reveal the design of the Nokia 2. If that leak is to be believed, the Nokia 2 will sport a design very similar to that of the Nokia 3, but with curved edges. The leak showed no home button on the Nokia 2, instead it had three on-screen buttons. The volume rocker and power buttons were seen placed at the right side, whereas the rear camera and LED flash were vertically aligned with the Nokia logo sitting below. 

HMD Global has sent out media invites for an event that is scheduled for October 31. The invite follows the global launch of Nokia 7 and the launch event in India could be for this new smartphone.

Nokia 7 adds to HMD Global’s portfolio that also includes the Nokia 3, Nokia 5, Nokia 6, and the recently launched Nokia 8. One of the notable features which has been carried forward on the Nokia 7 is the ‘Bothie’ feature that allows you to use both the cameras while clicking pictures, recording, or doing a live video. Another noteworthy feature of the Nokia 7 is its glass body design, which is a first from HMD Global’s Nokia portfolio.

Globally, the Nokia 7 is available in two colors of Gloss Black and Matt White. It features narrow bezels on the side but the top and bottom bezels are prominent. The design language remains pretty much the same with the rear camera module placed vertically, and the fingerprint sensor placed below it.

The smartphone features a 5.2-inch full HD IPS display with Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3 protection on top. Unlike the Nokia 8, the Nokia 7 is equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 SoC paired with 4GB/6GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage.

For optics, there’s a 16-megapixel rear camera with f/1.8 aperture, and a dual-tone LED flash. Up front, there is a 5-megapixel camera with f/2.0 aperture with 84-degree field-of-view for selfies and video calling. 

It is fueled by a 3,000mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, USB Type-C port, and NFC. HMD Global promised at the global launch that the Nokia 7 will be upgradable to the Android 8.0 Oreo. It is expected to run Android 7.1.1 Nougat out-of-the-box when it launches in India next week.

Proving rumors to be true, HMD Global launched a new smartphone, the Nokia 7. The Nokia 7 is priced at CNY 2,499 (approximately Rs 24,600) for the base variant, and CNY 2,699 (approximately Rs 26,500) for the higher variant. The smartphone will be available for purchase in China on October 24. Availability details for other markets haven’t been announced yet.

The Nokia 7 is the first smartphone in the series to flaunt a glass body in two colors of Gloss Black and Matt White. The smartphone has almost no bezels on the sides but thick ones at the top and bottom. With the absence of capacitive touch buttons, there are three on-screen buttons. The design language remains pretty much the same with the rear camera module placed vertically, and the fingerprint sensor placed below it.

The Nokia 7 features a 5.2-inch full HD IPS display with Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3 protection on top. The smartphone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 SoC paired with either 4GB or 6GB of RAM. Also on offer is 64GB of internal storage which is further expandable via a microSD card. 

In the photography department, the Nokia 7 sports a 16-megapixel camera of f/1.8 aperture, and a dual-tone LED flash. Up front, the smartphone houses a 5-megapixel camera of f/2.0 aperture with 84-degree field-of-view for selfies and video calling. Like the Nokia 8, the Nokia 7 also features a “bothie camera”. This feature allows one to capture rear and front photos at the same time for a single image. 

Connectivity options on the Nokia 7 include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, USB Type-C port, and NFC. Keeping the smartphone ticking is a 3,000mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging. On the software front, the Nokia 7 runs on Android 7.1.1 Nougat with a promised upgrade to Android 8.0 Oreo.

HMD Global has created quite a reputation for Nokia smartphones this year. Bringing back the Nokia 3310, and launching the Nokia 3, 5, 6, and 8 smartphones, the company has left fans wanting for more. Rumors for HMD Global’s next flagship smartphone, the Nokia 9 have been showing up now and then. Based on the leaks and rumors that have accumulated so far, a concept video of the Nokia 9 has been created by OnLeaks.

The Nokia 9 is imagined with a dual-camera setup, no 3.5mm audio jack, and a curved edge display in a metal unibody. The Nokia 9′s display appears quite large and has curved edges similar to the Galaxy S7 edge. The top and bottom bezels are also comparatively thin. There’s a speaker grille/earpiece at the top and the front camera, and no presence of a Home button. On the bottom panel, a USB Type-C port is visible with an antenna band and speakers.

The power button and volume rocker sit on the right side, while the SIM slot is located on the left panel. Both sides have antenna lines as well. At the rear the dual-camera setup is placed vertically and has a bit of a bump. A fingerprint sensor is placed below the dual-camera setup, along with the Nokia branding running down below. 

Although only a concept render, the Nokia 9 does sport a premium look if we go by this. It is expected to succeed the Nokia 8, and will possibly be launched next year. As far as specifications are concerned, the Nokia 9 is expected to come with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. It is also rumored that the Nokia 9 will feature IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. 

For photography, the dual-camera setup at the rear will possibly be ZEISS engineered as seen in the Nokia 8. In addition to the curved display, the Nokia 9 could also feature a glass topping which leads to the speculation of wireless charging. Also, there are rumors of iris scanning on the Nokia 9.

Shortly after Airtel announced its Rs 1,399 4G phone in partnership with Karbonn, the Vodafone-Idea Cellular combine is also contemplating a similar device. Reports suggest that the two incumbents may be approaching domestic budget-phone makers like Lava and Karbonn to manufacture a sub-1,500 4G-enabled device. All this, in response to Reliance’s JioPhone that was announced in August, and recorded six million bookings in the first round.

The top four telcos — Airtel, Vodafone, Idea Cellular and Reliance Jio — are now gunning for the absolute lower-end of the market, which consists of 400-500 million users who are still on feature phones. Many of them could even be on 2G networks. While the ‘effectively free’ JioPhone offers Jio’s content services along with 4G functionalities, the Karbonn A40 Indian which is being significantly subsidized by Airtel under its ‘Mera Pehla 4G Smartphone’ initiative is a smartphone running on Android Nougat. That is a delicious proposition at that low a price point. 

The specifications of the rumored Vodafone-Idea feature phone, however, are not clear yet. Though analysts reckon that it could be a series of low-cost models instead of just one device. And unlike Airtel, which chose to extend its partnership to an already existing device, Vodafone and Idea are working with manufacturers for fresh handsets. ”We’re in discussions with all three telcos but plans have not been finalized,” Gaurav Nigam, product head at Lava, reportedly said. 

Meanwhile, Vodafone India also has a contract with Chinese player itel for feature phones, but right now 4G-enabled sub-1,500 segment seems to be the focus for telcos. Finnish manufacturer Nokia too is closely following the developments in the space. At present, Nokia has four feature phone models in the Indian market, one of which is the revamped version of the iconic 3310. But none of these devices have 4G capabilities. “We are watching how this materializes. If we see a viable business proposition, we will definitely consider it [4G feature phone] and participate,” Ajey Mehta, India VP for HMD Global, recently said.

Now that the Nokia 8 is out and on sale, fans of the Finnish company are now looking forward to the Nokia 9. Although there is no official date of release, nor have any details about the smartphone been revealed, the leaks about the Nokia 9 have been flowing in. Adding to the bag of leaks, another one has now surfaced, which arguably gives us the best view of the Nokia 9, if it is to be believed.

OnLeaks has recently shared two images and video of the purported Nokia 9, which reveal almost everything about the phone’s design and looks. And what makes this leak more interesting is that it falls exactly in line with the recent leak of the smartphone on Baidu. From what can be made out of the leaked images, the Nokia 9 will feature a sleek body and with its display spilling to its side, something like what we have seen on the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge. Even the back of the device curves to the sides, instead of being boxy.

Not long ago, there was a report on NPU, according to which the Nokia 9’s display will have 3D glass layered atop, giving bezel-less illusion. Riding on the wireless charging phenomenon, the Nokia 9 is also likely to put the 3D glass design at the back to good use, and add support for wireless charging. 

These leaked images are taken with the display off so we can’t say for sure, but it looks like the Nokia 9 will only feature a narrow bezel at the top, where the earpiece, front camera and the sensors would sit. We see no physical button on the front of the display, so we are assuming the display spreads right till the end of the face, and like we said the screen spreads to the edges, which means no sided bezels as well. 

There have been some reports in the past that suggest that HMD Global will continue its partnership with Carl ZEISS after the Nokia 8. It is expected that the Nokia 9 will feature a dual-lens ZEISS camera, which will be an improvement over the pair of 13-megapixel cameras on the Nokia 8.

Further, the image leak shows the power button and the volume rocker sitting on the right of the device, and the SIM tray placed on its left. Also interesting to note is that, at the bottom, the purported Nokia 9 has a USB Type-C port and a pair of speaker grilles, but there is no 3.5mm audio jack on the device. We also see an antenna band on the bottom, instead of them running at the back of the device. 

Calling it an amalgamation of art and technology, Xiaomi India launched Mi Mix 2 that will compete with Apple, Samsung and others in the premium segment smartphone category. Xiaomi, which is one of the most trusted brands in the country in the mid-segment smartphone market, said the device, priced at Rs 35,999, will be available at Flipkart and Mi.com from the first week of November.

Manu Jain, Global Vice President of Xiaomi and Managing Director of Xiaomi India, told reporters here that the company will organise the first preview sale on October 17 at noon.

“Mi Mix 2, that was launched in China on September 11, sold its first batch in flat 58 seconds,” said Jai Mani, Lead Product Manager at Xiaomi India. The device has 5.99-inch, full-screen, edge-to-edge display with 18:9 ratio for better visual experience, hidden custom-designed earpiece and ultrasonic proximity sensor. The chin size is also reduced considerably by Chip-on-film technology and also decreased the discreet front camera module when compared with the regular module used in smartphones.

The device has Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC processor, Adreno 540 GPU for gaming, 6GB RAM and 128GB on-board memory and 3,400mAh battery. Mi MIX 2 comes with dual-SIM connectivity and USB Type-C for charging and data sharing. “Mi Mix 2 brings Xiaomi into a new price segment in India and will compete with Samsung, Apple, Nokia, Oneplus and Oppo. The entry will make the premium segment even more competitive,” Tarun Pathak, Senior Analyst, Mobile Devices and Ecosystems at New Delhi-based Counterpoint Research, told IANS. 

The device houses 12MP rear camera with dual flash and four-axis Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) to reduce jerks while shooting a video when the camera is in motion, and houses Sony IMX386 sensor. The device with Corning Gorilla Glass 4 for protection has 43 connectivity band support that can work in 226 regions globally, the company said.

{BGR}

HMD Global, the company responsible for resurrecting Nokia smartphones with Android OS went on record earlier this year saying that Android 8.0 Oreo update will be released by the end of this year. While the new Android update is on its way, HMD Global has now announced that the current batch Nokia smartphones will also be upgraded to Android P.

So far, the company has released Nokia 3, Nokia 5, Nokia 6 and Nokia 8smartphones. It is rumored to launch a couple of more handsets by the end of this year, following HMD Global’s earlier plans of launching over half a dozen Nokia Android smartphones in 2017. Going by the company’s word, the latest Nokia smartphones based on Android 7.0 Nougat will be getting two major Android OS upgrades. This will certainly cheer up a lot Nokia fans as the company seems to be keeping up with the promise it made when it announced the Nokia smartphones.

Moreover, Nokia is not keeping the latest Android experience to only the high-end or mid-range smartphones but keeping each of its launches this year in the Android upgrade program. According to Gizbot, the yet-to-be-announced Nokia 2 might not get the Android P update as it is said to be the entry-level smartphone with a basic line of specifications. However, this cannot be confirmed until the company releases the list of smartphones to get Android P. 

Earlier this month, Nokia 8 was reported running Android 8.0 Oreo beta builds hinting at the imminent release. The company had also teased the flagship running the latest Android on Twitter. While Android P still has a lot of time before it comes out in wild, Nokia smartphones are currently in line to get the Android 8.0 Oreo upgrade. Notably, the eight iterations of Android has officially been released to a select Pixel and Nexus smartphones only. 

Other smartphones like OnePlus 5 are spotted testing Android 8.0 Oreo beta builds. Previously, Lenovo-owned Motorola and Sony have also out their list of smartphones getting the Android 8.0 oreo. As of now, Android 8.0 Oreo is installed on less than one percent of active Android devices across the globe, as seen in last Android distribution report by Google.
{BGR}

The Nokia 8 has finally made its debut in India. The fourth Nokia-branded Android smartphone from HMD Global’s portfolio is priced at Rs 36,999, which is in line with what leaked earlier in the day. The smartphone will be available via Amazon India and offline channels from October 14.

The Nokia 8 is HMD Global‘s latest flagship device in India after having launched the Nokia 6, Nokia 5, and Nokia 3 smartphones. It was first launched in the international markets last month. Being a flagship smartphone, the Nokia 8 comes with premium features such as the Carl Zeiss-powered dual cameras, enhanced display with quad HD resolution, and stock Android Nougat running out-of-the-box.

The Nokia 8 features a unibody design built using a single block of aluminum, which is similar to the design language chosen for the Nokia 5. It packs a 5.3-inch IPS 2K resolution display with 700nits of brightness. The display is layered with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for added protection.

Under the hood is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 SoC paired with 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of internal storage. The storage can be expanded up to 256GB using a microSD card. 

The USP of the smartphone is its dual-camera setup, which is the result of partnership between HMD Global and Carl ZEISS. The Nokia 8 packs a pair of 13-megapixel sensors (RGB + Monochrome). The setup is similar to what we have seen on the Honor 8 Pro and Huawei P9 smartphones. The primary sensor has Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and PDAF support, f/2.0 aperture, and IR range finder. Up front, there is a 13-megapixel snapper with PDAF support, f/2.0 aperture, and display flash for selfies and video-calling. The cameras support a feature called ‘Bothie’ that allow you to stream from both cameras simultaneously, without the need of a specialized app.

Another highlight of the smartphone is the set of three microphones for audio recording. It uses Nokia’s OZO Audio technology to capture audio with 360-degree spatial surround sound. The smartphone is fueled by a 3,090mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0 support. The company claims that the smartphone’s battery can be fully charged in just 30 minutes. 

On the software front, the Nokia 8 runs on stock Android 7.1.1 Nougat out-of-the-box. Other features include a fingerprint sensor and IP54 rating for splash resistance. Connectivity options include dual-SIM card slots (select markets only), 4G LTE, USB Type-C port, 3.5mm audio jack, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 5.0.

HMD Global‘s upcoming smartphone, the Nokia 2, has been in the rumor bank for quite sometime now. It is likely to trump the Nokia 3 as the cheapest Nokia Android smartphone. While its specifications and design have been leaked quite often, the Nokia 2′s potential release date is still unknown. A possible timeframe may however have just been revealed. According to the latest leak, the Nokia 2 will launch sometime in November.

A screenshot captured of a message conversation between a Nokia representative from Myanmar and a local fan reveals the launch timeframe. Obtained by AndroidHits (via Android Headlines), the rep from Nokia is asked when the Nokia 2 will be launched. The answer reads, “Nokia 2 is expected to be available in the month of November 2017.” Even if this information does turn out to be true, it doesn’t confirm the official launch timeframe, as it could be for the Myanmar market only. HMD Global could possibly launch the smartphone earlier. Nonetheless, it does hint on an imminent launch for the Nokia 2.

According to past leaks, the Nokia 2′s supposed design reveals a similar look to the Nokia 3, but with curved edges. There’s no home button on the Nokia 2, and instead it houses three on-screen buttons. The volume rocker and power buttons are placed at the right side. Similar to the other Nokia smartphones, the rear camera and LED flash are vertically aligned with the Nokia logo sitting below. 

In terms of specifications, the Nokia 2 is expected to feature a 5-inch HD display. It could be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 210 SoC clocked at 1.27GHz paired with either 1GB or 2GB of RAM. There is no word on internal storage for the Nokia 2 yet.

The smartphone is rumored to pack a massive 4,000mAh battery. Although, there are other reports that hint at a 2,800mAh battery as well. For photography, the Nokia 2 could sport an 8-megapixel rear camera, and a 5-megapixel front camera. On the software front, the Nokia 2 will possibly run on Android 7.1 Nougat out-of-the-box, or may be even Android Oreo depending on the time of its launch.

India will host its very-own mobile congress between September 27 and 29 at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. In its first edition, the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2017 will feature a three-day exhibition where prominent mobile manufacturers, internet solution providers, and telecom operators will showcase their technologies and products. With as many as 300 exhibitors lined up for the IMC, here’s a look at the top expected things.

Akin to Mobile World Congress in Barcelona edition, the India Mobile Congress is also expected to see Nokia as one of the key exhibitors. At the preview conference, Nokia’s Head of Marketing and Communication (CMO) Amit Marwah said that there will be up to 20 technology demonstrations at the event. This will also include the company’s OZO 360-degree virtual reality camera. In addition to the tech demos, all of Nokia’s latest phones will be on display. While Marwah did not explicitly mention, but we can expect the Nokia 8 to make its presence felt, along with the Nokia 5, Nokia 6, and Nokia 3.

Nokia won’t be the only brand at IMC 2017. A range of other manufacturers – local and foreign – will also be present at the event. These include Micromax, Lava, and LG among others. 

India is rapidly pacing towards the adoption of 4G services, and now the time befits to start the chatter around the next-gen 5G services. IMC is said to be the platform facilitating talks, and showcasing of 5G solutions for consumers and enterprises. Recently, Airtel partnered South Korea’s SK Telecom to build 5G network for India. As Airtel is also one of the exhibitors at the event, we might see how the alliance is shaping up.

In line with Make in India, ISRO’s indigenous navigation satellite is under development. At IMC, the space agency will showcase the technology and detail the working of NavIC. The ‘desi’ navigation system is poised to compete with other navigation systems, including GPS (Global Positioning System), which is built by the US.

Among telecom operators, the PSU telecom operator will showcase its network services at the event. BSNL is also likely to detail its plans for 5G deployment in the country. VK Sharma at the preview conference said that by end of 2018, BSNL will also provide 5G services in the country. Idea Cellular, on the other hand, will be showcasing enterprise solutions that are built for India. 

Other than Nokia’s OZO, Qualcomm will also focus on the emerging virtual reality technology. The chipmaker, one of the key exhibitors at IMC, is likely to showcase technology or solutions built to accelerate the development, and adoption of VR in the consumer space.

Artificial intelligence, another technology which is fast expanding, will be demonstrated by IBM. The company is expected to detail its work in the field, and demo solutions for consumers and enterprises.

As COAI Chairman Rajan Mathews pointed during the media briefing, IoT is one of the immediate technological needs for India. At IMC, Internet of Things or IoT is said to hog plenty of limelight driven by the need and interest in the Indian context. From industry automation to consumer space, we might be able to witness companies showcasing their internet connected products and services. Some of these solutions will be targeted at the agricultural space in the country, and how to better it.

{BGR}