The Nokia 8 is now official

This year seems to be going well for HMD Global. The company has licensed the Nokia name to begin selling Android phones with a familiar label, and it's managed to keep its update promises to users. After sending out press invitations last month, the company has announced the long-anticipated Nokia 8 flagship.

The Nokia 8 features a 5.3-inch QHD IPS display covered in 2.5D Gorilla Glass 5, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor paired with 4GB of RAM, 128GB (Gloss Blue only) or 64GB (all other colors) of UFS 2.1 internal storage, plus a microSD slot for expansion, USB 3.1 Type-C for charging and data transfer, a 3090mAh battery, and a dual Nano-SIM slot - the second SIM slot doubles as the microSD slot. The phone has three 13-megapixel cameras, with the rear unit combining a full-color sensor with a monochromatic sensor, featuring a f/2.0 aperture, 76.9-degree field of view, optical image stabilization in the primary lens, 4K recording and a dual-tone flash. The front-facing camera is another 13MP, f/2.0 lens with a 78.4-degree field of view. Like Nokia's older Windows Phones, the new device uses Carl Zeiss optics. The phone is rated at IP54, and advertised as "Splashproof."

One interesting feature is the "Bothie" mode: the ability to record or take photos with both the front and rear cameras at the same time. Samsung and LG have done this as well, but Nokia stands out by allowing users to do this while live streaming to platforms such as Facebook Live and YouTube Live. To enhance the recording experience, the phone includes Nokia's OZO Audio, which promises immersive, 360-degree surround recording.

The device will ship with Android 7.1.1 Nougat with minimal customizations, just like other Nokia devices. We have not heard of a timetable on when to expect Android 8.0, but based on Nokia keeping up with security updates each month, there should be a quick turnaround. The phone will be available in Gloss Blue, Tempered Blue, Steel, and Polished Copper for €599. There has not been any word on U.S. availability at this time.

Are you looking forward to the Nokia 8? Let us know down below!

Tom Westrick