Leak Suggests a Real Nokia Flagship is Coming Soon

Nokia 8 Leaks Suggest a Real Flagship is Coming Soon

While I was inordinately excited by the Nokia 6, it is really just a mid-tier smartphone. But HMD is set to unveil a true flagship, the Nokia 8. And this could be the high-end Nokia you’ve been waiting for.

Infamous tech leaker Evan Bless this week outed the Nokia 8, which he says features a high-end Snapdragon 835 processor, 4 GB or 6 GB of RAM, 64 GB of internal storage, and a 5.3-inch QHD (2560 x 1440) display, a nice step up from the FHD (1920 x 1080) displays seen on the Nokia 3, 5, and 6. Some models will also include dual SIMs. It will ship with Android Nougat 7.1.1.

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But the biggest news, perhaps, is the camera: Following a recent announcement about reviving Nokia’s ZEISS partnership, the Nokia 8 will also include dual main cameras that offer 13 MP resolutions and ZEISS optics.

The only downside, so far, is the alleged pricing: A Scandinavian retailer briefly listed the Nokia 8 at a cost of about $675, which is roughly $175 more than I think this device should cost. But we’ll know soon enough, as the Nokia 8 is coming on July 31, just two weeks from now. It will be sold in four color choices: Blue, steel, gold/blue, and gold/copper.

Based on the leaked shots, the Nokia 8 isn’t a bezel-less design like that on the Samsung Galaxy S8. Instead, it retains the standard forehead/chin design found on other smartphones, with a larger fingerprint reader on the bottom.

If this thing is priced right, it could make a dent. But it enters a market swollen with good choices, including the recently-released OnePlus 5, which costs just $479 for a configuration that roughly matches that of the Nokia 8. So that’s the bar.

 

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Conversation 23 comments

  • RobertJasiek

    18 July, 2017 - 8:57 am

    <p>Just the thought of it: Nokia had a great phone business, Microsoft bought and tanked it, Nokia builds a great phone business again. Brilliant.</p>

    • nwebster

      18 July, 2017 - 11:22 am

      <blockquote><a href="#148828"><em>In reply to RobertJasiek:</em></a></blockquote><p>Nokia hasn't had a great phone business since the candy bar phone style was popular. They were headed downhill when MS bought them. I don't think switching to Android would have saved them then, and it won't save them now. They will just be another small player in an over-crowded field, dominated by Samsung.</p>

      • Waethorn

        18 July, 2017 - 12:59 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#148936"><em>In reply to nwebster:</em></a></blockquote><p>I think if anything, NOW would be better for "Nokia" to offer Android phones, but they have to market the hell out of it to compete with the Samsung ad machine. HMD might be able to do that. Nokia couldn't under their previous executive board.</p>

    • rameshthanikodi

      18 July, 2017 - 4:06 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#148828"><em>In reply to RobertJasiek:</em></a></blockquote><p>Nokia was a mess, they had competing OSes and dev platforms inside of the company. It was bad. New Nokia is laser-focused on hardware, operating much like any other OEM with a modern business model. You have to remember, Nokia used to own its own factories which was a drag on finances. New Nokia contracts with Foxconn.</p>

  • F4IL

    18 July, 2017 - 9:09 am

    <p>With windows weighing in at 0.1% market share in the mobile space, this Nokia seems to have learned from past mistakes.</p>

  • Narg

    18 July, 2017 - 9:13 am

    <p>Looks like a nice solid piece of hardware, with only a few shortcomings. Love the button on the front. After using a few phones with the finger sensor on the back, I'm not a fan. I rarely grab a phone the same way each time, and why put something where I can't see it? I found myself re-adjusting my grip each time I'd pick up a phone with the sensor on the back. It became annoying. Plus I often unlock my phone as it lays on the desk. Much easier for me to have it on the front. Also, I think FHD is plenty good enough. QHD is a waste of good battery, and my eyes are equal to most and not quite good enough to see anything better than FHD anyway. So why waste the effort? But, alas, stats sell so QHD is better on paper giving the phone a more "premium" appearance with less quality usability. Kind of sad. I also have zero issue with "forehead/chin" thing that so many reviewers love to harp on. It makes the phone usable. Pretty is nice, but usability is #1. Would also have been nice to see SD card ability and wireless charging. Nokia was early on the wireless charging thing, wonder if they've completely given up on that? Price would be right if it had the two last items.</p>

  • jjaegers

    18 July, 2017 - 9:22 am

    <p>The design looks sooooo 2015… this wont compete at all with current flagship phones if this is what this phone looks like… and for $675 there are a lot better looking options out there.&nbsp; When Nokia was working on Windows phones in the beginning they made some truly unique phones… this looks like any other phone out there with the Nokia label on it.&nbsp; I can see the value in the Nokia 6 for $220… is this phone $455 better than the Nokia 6?&nbsp; I would argue too that the Nokia 6 looks a little better than this phone too…&nbsp; And please…. can Android standardize on putting the finger print reader on the back of the phone?&nbsp; It makes so much more sense there and it can help get rid of that huge bezel at the bottom of the phone.</p>

    • MerlinE.

      18 July, 2017 - 9:37 am

      <blockquote><a href="#148838"><em>In reply to jjaegers:</em></a></blockquote><p>It looks like the Lumia 820 with a cutout like the 920 and the case color of the Samsung Galaxy S3.</p>

  • wright_is

    Premium Member
    18 July, 2017 - 9:27 am

    <p>Don't forget that that price probably includes taxes, compared to US prices that generally don't include tax – in Europe only companies don't pay sales tax / get the sales tax back, so retailers generally have to show prices including all applicable taxes. That would probably make it only around $75 more than the price you would want to see – and certainly much cheaper than the Galaxy S8 Edge (64GB, RRP $1040, here in Germany) and iPhone 7 (128GB, RRP $1005).</p><p>As to the design, it looks relatively nice, but I prefer my fingerprint reader on the back (I currently use a Nexus 5x), but otherwise it looks OK.</p>

  • Darmok N Jalad

    18 July, 2017 - 10:38 am

    <p>Just dust off the old indestructible polycarbonate designs of a few years ago, update the internals and reduce some bezels. One thing I liked about my old Lumias was that they didn't need any additional protection/bulk. It would probably even help them make the phones cheaper. The problem is, we have a "beauty culture" thing going with our phones. If it isn't a bezel-less all metal and glass affair, then it must be inferior. </p>

  • jbinaz

    18 July, 2017 - 10:48 am

    <p>Paul made the point that because of phones like the LG G6 and the S8, phones with bezels will look old and outdated. Sadly, I think he's right. And about the price being too high.</p><p>Given that Nokia is trying to rebuild a brand, they should be giving these things away (figuratively, obviously.) </p>

  • PeteB

    18 July, 2017 - 10:52 am

    <p>Good. Cutting out the winphone cancer was the best thing Nokia could have done for their business.</p>

    • NazmusLabs

      18 July, 2017 - 12:48 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#148914"><em>In reply to PeteB:</em></a></blockquote><p>Yup. But only today. Before android 5.0 it looked terrible. And before 4.1 Jellybean, the lag on.Android was unbearable, Android would look like garbage compared to the beautiful unibody colorful design of the old Lumias. And while Windows Phone have always been crippled to the core, it at least forthe colorful design style of the lumias.</p><p><br></p><p>Today Android is beautiful and looks well with the beautiful smartphones in the market</p><p><br></p><p>Any thoughts? Do you disagree? If so, I love hearing other points of views.</p>

    • rameshthanikodi

      18 July, 2017 - 4:03 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#148914"><em>In reply to PeteB:</em></a></blockquote><p>Nokia was free to bet on Windows Phone back then when it wasn't clear that the market wasn't going to have a third ecosystem. They lost the bet. It's just business.</p>

  • SDreamer

    18 July, 2017 - 12:05 pm

    <p>Wow looks good. Not so bothered by bezels, but will it have Qi charging, will it be IP rated, etc. If it does, then I will regret the S8, if not, then still think the S8 is a better choice.</p>

  • CaedenV

    18 July, 2017 - 12:23 pm

    <p>So… I am not understanding why you feel this needs to be priced competitively with the OnePlus5. This has a far better display and camera system where OnePlus is good on these fronts…. but they had to cut a few corners somewhere to keep the price low. Considering most of Nokia's flagship offerings in the Windows Phone era were in the $800+ range, it is not too bad to see an Android flagship coming from them with a starting price of $675. Compared to $1,000+ iPhones and Samsungs this seems completely appropriate.</p><p><br></p><p>…Now with that said… man, this phone looks pretty bad. Now, the 920 also looks pretty terrible in pics, but looked fine in person… but this one looks rough</p>

  • Vuppe

    18 July, 2017 - 1:21 pm

    <p>To me, it's not pretty. That's a shame.</p>

  • M_Romaniello

    18 July, 2017 - 1:32 pm

    <p>I think EVERY phone seems to be about $175 more than it should be. </p>

  • MacLiam

    Premium Member
    18 July, 2017 - 2:10 pm

    <p>I expect to be replacing a Nexus 6P later this year, and this would be a contender if Google is willing to let it into the Project Fi world. I know this new Nokia has no commercial connection to old Nokia, but it shares some design DNA and as I understand it even some technical staff with the predecessor company. I never had a bad phone from old Nokia, and the specs on this one make it look like it could live comfortably among that crowd. I'll keep my fingers crossed.</p><p>$675 feels like the early adopter price. Wait six months and you'll get it for 20 percent less.</p><p>Google and Nokia both have a chance to stick a thumb in Microsoft's eye if they put a little effort into positioning this device for the disappointed Lumia boosters out there.</p>

  • Dan

    18 July, 2017 - 2:52 pm

    <p>Huge bezel. Doesn't look like a premium phone at all.</p>

    • Cain69

      19 July, 2017 - 10:09 am

      <blockquote><a href="#149066"><em>In reply to Dan:</em></a></blockquote><p>First it was … "Not made of aluminum does not feel premium" so now we have phones that are as slippery as butter! </p><p>Then it was thinnest… With crappy battery life. </p><p>Now it's the bezel… I cannot hold S8 without somehow touching the screen! </p><p>So, we have slippery phones that we can't use for any decent period of times or be held comfortably… AND that is premium? </p><p>So what do people do? Buy FAT battery cases MADE OF PLASTIC to cover up the THIN, pretty ALUMINUM design. Oh ya the S8 screen is fragile bc even a corner drop results in screen damage… So, let's slap on a layer of screen protector… Now we are talking Premium… FAT PHONE COVERED IN PLASTIC.</p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">I don't want to buy cases, screen protectors, or chargers (for the living room, bedroom, car, office desk, work desk, and on and on) or battery packs… </span>To me premium is a reliable phone that will stand the normal (being in my pocket and on my desk) daily beating and last a 10hr work day! </p><p><br></p>

  • ids

    Premium Member
    19 July, 2017 - 12:43 am

    <p>Wouldn't bother waiting. I made the switch from a Lumia 950/w10m to a One Plus 5 and the thing is amazing.</p>

    • Cain69

      19 July, 2017 - 9:29 am

      <blockquote><a href="#149603"><em>In reply to ids:</em></a></blockquote><p>Hahaha so did I! It is amazing how fast it is AND reliable. I was at a birthday party the other day and I was actually able to take pictures without the phone crashing or the dreded "saving" pop up… I am pretty happy. I miss W10 but, to be able to use the phone as I need it is quite nice. </p>

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