HMD Global is reportedly developing a new flagship phone under the name of Nokia 8 Pro, with unnamed sources cited by Nokiapoweruser (NPU) claiming that the device will be released later this year in August-September, making it a potential direct successor to the ongoing Nokia 8. Furthermore, the source suggests that HMD won’t launch any devices bearing the Nokia 10 moniker this year, adding that the so-called Nokia 10 that has been subjected to several leaks so far is actually the aforementioned Nokia 8 Pro. Having said that, the device is expected to sport Qualcomm’s latest premium-grade silicon, as well as a new dual camera module featuring rotating zoom camera technology coupled with a five-lens module.
In light of these new rumors, the Nokia 10 becomes the Nokia 8 Pro, and all the previous reports surrounding the former device would actually apply to the latter moniker, at least in theory. As a result, the Nokia 8 Pro should be expected to feature an elongated display with an 18:9 aspect ratio, a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner fitted right below the camera module, all the while adopting a glass-sandwich design with curved edges. These characteristics were previously showcased in a leaked sketch (below) said to showcase the Nokia 10 alongside the Nokia 9, the latter of which is also rumored to possibly launch under the name of “Nokia 8 Sirocco” at MWC 2018 later this month. In any case, the Nokia 8 Pro will reportedly bear the “Pro” label thanks to the adoption of advanced camera capabilities backed by ZEISS optics. In a way, it would make sense for HMD Global to want and emphasize the camera prowess of a Nokia 8 sequel given that the aforementioned device has been recently criticized by camera review outlets such as DxOMark for its lackluster sensor.
Aside from a more powerful camera, the Nokia 8 Pro would also reportedly adopt Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 845 chipset designed for 2018 flagship phones and manufactured using Samsung’s 10nm FinFET LPP nodes. In any case, assuming that the device will launch in the third quarter of the year, many characteristics could change by that time, including the retail name, so it’s advised to treat this bit of unconfirmed information accordingly and keep a proverbial pinch of salt nearby for good measure.