By Sheetika Tandon
On November 15, 2016, a slide from Nokias Capital Markets Day revealed that Nokia was set to return to the smartphone industry in 2017. As anticipated, the company is back in the market with the release of three new Nokia-branded Android smartphones launched by license-holder HMD Global in conjunction with the Finnish start-up. Foxconnthe company which also currently manufactures for Appleis the manufacturing partner. These smartphones aim to bring back the former glory of the once reigning brand. Nokia hopes to re-establish its presence in the global market amongst strong competitors like Samsung and Apple.
Nokia’s footprint in the smartphone world
When Microsoft acquired Nokia in 2012 at a mere sum of $7.2 billion, the brand’s fate was sealed. The company suffered at the hands the Windows-based smartphones it was loyal to while the rest of the world was being overtaken by Android.
In 2016, HMD Global and a subsidiary of Taiwanese firm Foxconn Technology bought Nokias Mobile Business for $350 million. With this move, the CEO of HMD Global Arto Numella, a former Nokia executive, planned to bring Nokia’s smartphones back into the mobile world. According to this deal, Microsoft will transfer all of its feature phone assetsincluding brands, software and services, supply agreements and customer contractsto HMD Global.
At the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, HMD Global took the wraps off the Nokia 6, Nokia 5, and Nokia 3 smartphone range. On the same platform, HMD also launched a revamped version of the classic Nokia 3310 bearing resemblance to the chunky, durable bodies and ever-lasting batteries, just as we recall our favourite brand from the past. Here’s a look at Nokia’s latest.
Nokia 6: the premium option
With a premium design, solid specifications, and an affordable price tag, the Nokia 6 handset possesses the capability to etch the brand back on the mobile map. It comes with a 5.5-inch full high-definition display, Snapdragon 430 chipset, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. It also boasts of a 16MP rear camera, 8MP front camera, fingerprint scanner and a 3,000mAh battery. Its average global retail price is 229 euros. In the first impression, it does seem like a decently affordable device equipped with a great design and powerful features. Over time its performance in regards to the chipset and how it copes under heavy-lifting remains to be assessed, but its early signs are positive.
Nokia 5: the compromise
The next in the launch trailer is the Nokia 5sandwiched as it is between the better equipped Nokia 6 and the eye-catchily cheap Nokia 3. It bears a 5.2-inch high-definition display, Snapdragon 430 chipset, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, 13MP rear camera, 8MP front camera, fingerprint scanner and a 3,000mAh battery. Labelled at an average retail price of 189 euros, the Nokia 5 handset is indeed in a complex situation, for if you are ready to stretch your pocket just a little, you can catch hold of the upgraded Nokia 6 while going the other way, the unbelievably cheap Nokia 3 will present you a rock-bottom price that would be hard to refuse.
Nokia 3: the budget option
Nokia 3, the entry-level smartphone in the brands new trio devices, looks to be a strong budget offering with a price tag of 139 euros, something that could shake up the entire market. It comes with a 5-inch HD display, MediaTek quad-core chipset, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, 8MP rear camera, 8MP wide-angle front snapper, and a 2,650mAh battery. Its performance in terms of Android interface has been smooth. However, it will be interesting to assess its performance once a portion of the 16GB storage gets filled with apps, games, and the like. Nokia 3 is an enticing proposition for anyone wanting a basic, easy to use smartphone thats not going to cost them a fortune.
The future rise of Nokia?
With Nokia returning to the smartphone market after a brief absence, the other big names in the field like Samsung, Apple, and Huawei are sure to face tough competition. As per the CEO of HMD Global Arto Nummela,In the coming years, we believe we are going to be one of the top players in the smartphone market globally.” Despite fierce competition with Chinese players like Oppo and Vivo that are expanding aggressively, offering low-cost devices and Nokias strong branding is what will provide it the edge over others.
Having Foxconn on board is sure to offer scale advantages along with the latest technological trends in the market, which will boost the services offered by HMD tremendously. With all the elements in place, the corporation doesnt need a magic wand to be audible in the market cacophony. Nevertheless, it will be crucial to avoid making any mistakes to keep its standing. Still, it would not be out of place to say that this seems to be the onset of another era of Nokias dominance.
Featured Image Source: Pixabay