A pure Android, with fast, regular updates and no annoying gimmicks. This was once the goal of Google's Nexus smartphones. Following in their footsteps is the new Android One – a mobile system now featured on Nokia smartphones.
Nokia smartphones are now part of the Android One programme by Google. Their first three devices, which are to receive updates of the operating system to make them particularly fast and reliable, were shown by manufacturer HMD Global at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
The new flagship device, the Nokia 8 Sirocco, boasts ambitious design features, and runs on Android 8 (Oreo) like its new mid-range counterparts, the Nokia 6 and 7.
The designers of the Nokia 8 Sirocco (around US$900 / RM3,534) opted for a curved glass over the 5.5-inch POLED display (2560 by 1440 pixels), a deep black back and a stainless steel display frame. This makes the otherwise 7.5 mm thin Nokia 8 extremely well designed and streamlined.
As far as features go, the 13 megapixel dual camera with Zeiss optics offers not only a bright wide-angle lens, but also a telephoto lens with dual optical zoom.
The same dual camera works in the Nokia 7 Plus (around US$500 / RM1,963), which comes with 6-inch display (2160 by 1080 pixels) in 18:9 format and with a slightly curved back – either in black or white with copper-coloured accents. With 3800 mAh, the battery capacity is comparatively large.
But perhaps best of all, owners of this Android One smartphone not only benefit from a higher level of security through regular updates, but also enjoy new faster Android features.
The new Nokia 6 (around US$350 / RM1,374) comes in a unibody aluminum case with Snapdragon 630 processor and 5.5-inch Full HD display. Both smartphones offer fast charging via USB-C, and, like the Nokia 8 Sirocco, will be available from mid-April. — dpa
