As scheduled, HMD Global today unveiled the all-new Nokia 8.1 at an exclusive event held in Dubai. It is the global version of the Nokia X7 that came earlier in October in China this year.
The Nokia 8.1 is built out of 6000-Series aluminium and has diamond cut edges. Major highlights of the device include PureDisplay with HDR10 support, Zeiss-branded Dual cameras, Snapdragon 710 processor and Fast Charging.
“We’ve seen great success in the value flagship category with each of our smartphones in this class consistently introducing new premium experiences to our fans. With the Nokia 8.1, we are further pushing the boundaries in this segment. We offer accelerated performance with a first-class processor architecture, dual cameras with an industry-leading sensor, OIS and Zeiss Optics for great low light imaging, and our new PureDisplay HDR screen technology,” said Juho Sarvikas, Chief Product Officer, HMD Global during the launch.
The Nokia 8.1 sports a 6.18-inch PureView IPS panel with a Full-HD+ resolution of 1080×2244 pixels and an 18.7:9 aspect ratio. The display further touts HDR10 support, 96 per cent colour gamut coverage while the brightness maxes out at 500nits. Thanks to the notch on top, the phone boasts an impressive screen-to-body ratio of 81.5 per cent.
Powering the phone is an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 SoC, paired with 4GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 64GB of inbuilt storage. Meanwhile, the given microSD card slot allows for storage expansion up to 400GB.
In the optics department, the Nokia 8.1 gets a dual rear camera setup with Zeiss optics. The configuration comprises an optically stabilised 12-megapixel camera with a 1/2.55-inch sensor, 1.4-micron pixels, and a dual-LED flash. The secondary sensor is a 13-megapixel fixed-focus lens which will collect depth information.
Furthermore, the phone features a 20-megapixel selfie shooter with 0.9um pixels and 4-in-1 pixel tech for enhanced low-light performance. Moreover, the camera app incorporates a full-fledged Pro mode, portrait mode and the prominent bothie feature.
On the software front, the Nokia 8.1 runs stock Android 9 Pie under Google’s Android One programme, just like its sibling Nokia 7.1. As a result, the phone will get timely security patches along with Android version updates. All of this is backed by a sufficiently large 3,500mAh battery that is rated to deliver 11 hours of video playback and supports 18W fast charging.
Other notable features include smart amp, Google AR core support, dual mics for better noise cancellation and Nokia Ozo surround capture. Lastly, the connectivity options include 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Vo-WiFi, Bluetooth v5.0, GPS/ A-GPS, FM radio, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and USB Type-C port.
Nokia 8.1 Specifications
- 6.18-inch FHD+ PureView display with HDR10 support
- Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 SoC
- 4GB RAM
- 64GB Internal Storage, expandable up to 400GB via microSD card
- 12MP primary rear camera with 1.4um pixels and OIS, 13MP secondary depth sensor
- 20MP front camera with 0.9um
- Android 8.1 Oreo (Android One)
- 3,500 mAh battery with 18W Fast Charging
Nokia 8.1 Price & Availability
The Nokia 8.1 is priced at EUR 399 that roughly translates to Rs. 31,900. The device will be available in three dual-tone colour variants including Blue + Silver, Steel + Copper, and Iron + Steel combinations, with sales starting from mid-December. HMD Global is hosting an event in New Delhi on December 10, and we expect the Nokia 8.1 to arrive the same day. Stay tuned.
