Nokia 8.1 is official: HMD Global’s new mid-ranger

HMD Global has just unveiled the Nokia 8.1 in Dubai.

The new Nokia 8.1 is not a step up from the Nokia 8 or Nokia 8 Sirocco in terms of specifications and also isn’t in the same segment as those flagship smartphones. The nomenclature can confuse you, but essentially, the Nokia 8.1 is the successor to the Nokia 7.1 Plus – a segment the company likes to call as ‘affordable premium’.

The Nokia 8.1 is strictly a mid-range smartphone, and a well-rounded one at that.

The new design language

The Nokia 8.1 sports a similar design that we’ve seen this year with other Nokia phones like the Nokia 5.1 Plus or the Nokia 6.1 Plus. But with additional flair.

There’s a 6000-series aluminum frame that gives it a sturdy build quality, with a sculpted glass body. The copper trims that we saw on the Nokia 7 Plus are here upping the visual appeal.

Mid-range specifications sheet

The Nokia 8.1 is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Qualcomm’s first entry in its recently announced 700 mobile platform series.

Snapdragon 710 fits comfortably between the mid-range 600 and high-end 800 series and aims to make premium smartphone features more accessible via mid-range devices, like the 8.1.

It packs a 3500mAh battery, which HMD Global claims can get you two days of battery life.

	Nokia 8.1
Display	6.18-inch (15.70cm) Full HD+ (2246 x 1080) 18.7:9 aspect ratio 420dpi
SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 8 x Kryo 360 CPU 10nm manufacturing process
GPU	Adreno 616
RAM	4GB
Storage	64GB Expandable up to 256GB
Cameras	Front camera: 20MP Rear camera: 12MP + 13MP dual camera OIS
Battery	3500mAh
Software	Android 9 Oreo Android One

Zeiss Optics and AI imaging

The Nokia 8.1 sports a 12MP + 13MP dual camera with OIS and Zeiss optics. The secondary camera is a depth sensor that is capable of ‘professional portraits’. There’s of course some AI smarts like automatic scene detection.

You can capture 4K video at 30fps. Apart from hardware stabilization, there’s also EIS that would help in those videos.

On the front, there’s a 20MP selfie camera.

Latest Android

Like other phones in HMD Global’s recent portfolio, the Nokia 8.1 is an Android One smartphone. Out of the box, it ships with Android 9 Oreo, and offers a clean, stock Android experience.

Android One certification means the smartphone will receive two years of guaranteed Android “letter” upgrades and three years of monthly security updates.

Pricing and Availability

The Nokia 8.1 sits pretty between the mid-range smartphone segment and the ‘flagship killers’. It’s a well-rounded smartphone that tries to punch above the specifications sheet.

Nokia 8.1 will globally retail at 399 Euros ($450). While the device will go on sale in the Middle East for 1499 UAE Dirhims starting next week, the launch event in India is scheduled for December 10.

from Android Authority https://ift.tt/2EeIxk0