HMD Global will likely release a new Nokia-branded gaming smartphone soon, based on a tweet by the Indian division of the device maker. While the company already removed the original tweet, this post contained a 10-second video clip teaser which showed some game scenes and an outline of a smartphone with three lights on the back panel. The tweet also advised interested consumers to stand by for further announcements from the smartphone manufacturer. While it provided a glimpse into the design of the device, HMD Global did not detail additional information about the specifications or features of its upcoming gaming smartphone.
A number of smartphone manufacturers recently launched their own gaming-oriented smartphones, although efforts to create gaming devices started back in 2011 when Sony released the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play. Around six years later, Razer unveiled the Razer Phone, which sported features like a high refresh rate display and dual front-facing speakers. Other companies including ASUS, Huawei, Nubia, and Xiaomi quickly followed Razer’s footsteps and launched their own gaming smartphones. Each of these devices sports features that claim to improve the handset’s performance and gaming experience. Examples of these features include a vapor chamber cooling system of the ASUS ROG Phone and GPU Turbo of the Honor Play, a feature that significantly boosts the graphics performance and power efficiency of the device. However, it is also possible that HMD Global may instead mimic Samsung’s strategy and introduce a successor to a previous generation smartphone with bundled game exclusives and additional gamer-oriented features.
Aside from a gaming smartphone, HMD Global is currently working on new handsets that could be launched within the next few months. These devices include the Nokia 9 and the Nokia X7. Both of these smartphones lack notches and have significantly reduced bezels at the top and the bottom of the screen. Furthermore, the Nokia 9 will likely sport five rear cameras. It is likely that the Nokia X7 will be marketed globally as the Nokia 7.1 Plus, while the device maker will reportedly launch the Nokia 9 during the Mobile World Congress 2019. Meanwhile, HMD Global has yet to announce the launch date of its upcoming gaming smartphone.