The Nokia 8 is a phone designed for content creators, according to its own creator HMD Global. As with all the new Nokia Android phones, the handset isn’t really built by the Finnish name. Chinese manufacturer HMD is behind the device but it has worked closely with the Nokia company to develop its design and features.
This is most evident in one of the 8’s headline hardware capabilities. It comes with support for Nokia OZO Audio, a spatial 360-degree sound solution derived from Nokia’s innovative OZO camera. The Nokia 8 will make 4K video more immersive by including spatial sound, offering more accurate replication of the environment where it was shot. It uses three microphones and Nokia’s acoustic algorithms to create the videos. They can be played on any device, including ones without OZO Audio built-in.
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Design-wise, the Nokia 8 continues HMD’s trend of blending classic Nokia lines with contemporary counterparts from the smartphone industry. The phone is built from an aluminium unibody which is passed through a 40-stage anodizing and polishing process. It incorporates a graphite shielded cooling pipe to dissipate heat and is available with an optional glossy mirror finish. The phone is 7.3mm thick at its highest point, tapering to 4.6mm at the sides.
Underneath, Nokia has included a typical hardware configuration for 2017’s flagship phones. The 8 has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of expandable storage and an array of supporting hardware including a fingerprint sensor and USB Type-C. Both the primary and front cameras have 13MP sensors. A large 3,090mAh battery completes the package.
HMD said the Nokia 8 is supposed to reflect the trends in mobile use towards ephemeral and live content. By creating a device focused on video, sound and streaming, it wants to appeal to people who use their phone to capture the world around them. With only a 5.3-inch QHD display, it’s still relatively compact though, preserving a true mobile experience.
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“We know that fans are creating and sharing live content more than ever before, with millions of photos and videos shared every minute on social media. People are inspired by the content they consume and are looking for new ways to create their own,” said HMD Global Chief Product officer Juho Sarvikas. “It’s these people who have inspired us to craft a flagship smartphone which perfectly balances premium design, and outstanding experience and powerful performance.”
The Nokia 8 will launch in September with an expected retail price of €599, varying by market. Four colours, Polished Blue, Polished Copper, Tempered Blue and Steel, will be available. Like Nokia’s other Android phones to date, the 8 runs a stock version of the operating system and comes with monthly security updates. HMD said the use of Android 7.1.1 Nougat in an unaltered form offers a “pure” experience that makes the phone “a versatile companion.”
