Renders and promotional images of the Nokia 8.1 were leaked recently, providing details about the design, specifications, and software features of the device. The Nokia 8.1 will reportedly be the global variant of the Nokia X7, a device that was first launched in China last month. The leak further claims that the Nokia 8.1 can also be identified using the codename Nokia Phoenix, and there are numerous references to the codename in the marketing materials for the device. The leaked renders of the Nokia 8.1 shows that the device will include a notch located above the handset’s display, while the rear panel of the handset contains the fingerprint sensor, the dual rear cameras, and the dual LED flash. Both the volume rocker and the power button are located at the right side of the handset, and the device will feature a dual-tone anodized metal frame.
Furthermore, the leaked marketing materials corroborated previous reports that detailed the specifications and features of the Nokia 8.1. The marketing materials indicate that the device will sport the Snapdragon 710 SoC from the semiconductor company Qualcomm. The Snapdragon 710 chipset features an octa-core Kryo 360 CPU running at a maximum clock speed of 2.2GHz and the Adreno 616 GPU. The device will be available in two hardware variants that contain either 4GB and 6GB of RAM, and consumers may also choose among models that include either 64GB or 128GB of internal flash storage. The leak also states that the Nokia 8.1 will feature a 6.18-inch FullHD+ display. The dual rear camera setup of the Nokia 8.1 will reportedly sport one 12-megapixel and one 13-megapixel sensor and both imaging modules will be equipped with ZEISS Optics. On the other hand, the front-facing camera includes a 20-megapixel sensor which adapts to dimmer situations by combining four separate pixels into one.
The marketing materials also provided additional information about the software features of the device. The Nokia 8.1 will reportedly ship with Android 9 Pie pre-installed, which means that people can take advantage of useful features like Adaptive Brightness and Adaptive Battery functionalities. Furthermore, like previous handsets of the device maker, the smartphone will be launched as a part of the Android One program. With Nokia’s continued participation to Google’s stock Android program, buyers of the handset should continue to expect at least two software upgrades from the device maker. The leaked promotional materials also show that the Nokia 8.1 will utilize artificial intelligence to create better bokeh and portrait images, and the device’s camera application will also reportedly feature Google Lens and Motion Photos.
Background: Nokia 8.1 is expected to succeed the Nokia 8, the previous generation flagship smartphone offering of HMD Global. Aside from the information provided by recent leaks, previous reports claim that the Nokia 8.1 will include two SIM card slots and a 3,500mAh battery, and it will also support 18W fast charging. Earlier changes made to the ARCore supported device page show that Google’s mobile augmented reality (AR) platform will also support the handset. HMD Global will likely launch the Nokia 8.1, along with two other handsets, in an event scheduled for December 5th. Aside from the Nokia 8.1, the company will reportedly reveal the Nokia 2.1 and the Nokia 9 at the event.
Impact: Based on the leaks that have recently appeared, it seems that the Nokia 8.1 will now be marketed as a mid-range device, while the rumored Nokia 9 will become the new flagship offering of the tech company. Due to this change, it is highly likely that the Nokia 8.1 will have a cheaper price tag compared to its predecessor, the Nokia 8.
