Nokia WILL Release Two Android Phones In 2017: Nokia 6 Was Just The Beginning

Nokia’s return to the mobile space is now under way with the Nokia 6. But this is just the beginning…

UPDATE: Not one, but TWO of the forthcoming Nokia (HMD) Android handsets have leaked over the weekend; the Nokia E1, which is a lower-spec, entry level model, AND the Nokia 6; which features a metal body and gives us plenty of indications of what to expect from the new Nokia devices, but is, however, a mid-range Chinese exclusive.

So first up, let’s take a look at the Nokia E1, a leak on Friday 6 January has revealed the specs for the device; a 1.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 quad-core processor with an Adreno 308 GPU runs the show, along with 2GB RAM and 16GB of onboard storage. The touch display is a 720p setup at either 5.2in or 5.3in, while the cameras are a 13MP primary and a 5MP secondary.

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The Nokia 6, meanwhile, leaked on China’s Weibo social network where one lucky tipster managed to get some hands-on time with the device, including photos. As mentioned, this phone, model number TA-1000, will only launch in China and is a mid-range model at $250, but features an aluminium metal body which perhaps gives us some indication of how the other devices in the series will look. We get a view of the device from a range of angles, and it’s looking pretty slick it must be said. There are presently no specs or other details regarding this phone.

Asfor specs, you’re looking at 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of on-board storage alongside microSD support, Snapdragon 430 CPU, a 16 megapixel main camera, and a 3,000 mAh battery.

The handset is a solid-black slate sculpted from a single piece of aluminium. The entire frontage is more of less taken up by its 5.5in 1080p display, which measures 5.5in diagonally.

The Nokia 6 will run Android Nougat out the box but, unfortunately, is only launching in China at the moment. The reason? China is still a growth market, so it will be easier for Nokia to establish itself there versus inside the more fixed and stagnant markets of Europe and the US.

This is a mid-range handset. The price will be low, hence HMD’s focus on China where price is a HUGE driving force for adoption. The handset will be priced at around $245, making it very accessible — even in China’s market, alongside brands like Xiaomi.

The Nokia 6 will be available inside early January and will be exclusively available in China via JD.com.

According to reports on January 11, the Nokia 6 might actually become an internationally released model in time. It’s by no means confirmation, but a version of the Nokia 6 has been spotted passing its Bluetooth certification, and this is not the same version we’ve seen being prepped for launch in China either. The new model, seen listed in a database filing, carries the model number TA-1003, as opposed to the China version which is TA-1000. The timing of the certification suggests that the handset may be in the preparatory stages of an announcement timed for the MWC 2017 expo in Barcelona in late February — an announcement at the event would likely be aimed globally.