Nokia (NYSE: NOK) may soon be in the news again with a new low-priced phone perfect for budget minded small businesses. HMD Global has started licensing the brand with a view toward providing more affordable devices. The Nokia X5 or Nokia 5.1 Plus is the latest budget smartphone looking to make a splash in a crowded segment.
Nokia X5
The announcement of the X5 has not been officially made by the company to the Western press, but Techradar and other outlets are reporting there was a teaser posted by HMD on Weibo. Techradar Chinese microblogging site, which might be a hint by the company it will only be available in that market.
However, Techradar is also reporting the phone would be marketed under the name 5.1 Plus if it becomes available outside of China. Techradar has reported there will be an official announcement on July 11 along with images of what the phone will look like.
Nokia and the Budget Smartphone Segment
Nokia has introduced a range of affordable smartphones to once again build the Nokia brand.
During the announcement of a new line of phones in May of this year, Juho Sarvikas, Chief Product Officer for HMD Global, explained why the company is making budget phones. He said, “We are encouraged by the response that we are getting to our products. With our renewed portfolio, you can now enjoy a premium smartphone experience without paying a premium on the price.”
The Specs
Without an official announcement, the specs are based on earlier leaks of the Nokia 5.1 Plus.
- Processor –MediaTek octa-core chipset
- Display – 5.9-inch HD+ display
- Cameras – 13MP and 5MP
- Memory – 3, 4 or 6GB of RAM
- Storage – 32 or 64GB
- Battery – 3,000mAh battery
- Connectivity – 4G VoLTE, Bluetooth
- Operating System – Android 8.1 Oreo out-of-the-box
The Price
According to Techradar, this is a low to mid-range phone depending on the configuration, such as memory and storage options. The low-end variant is slated to start at around $120 and it can go as high as $150.
However, it’s important to note, the only thing which has been confirmed by the company is the launch date.
Image: HMD Global