NOKIA

 The First Nokia Android Phone Be Branded The Nokia C1. 

But as of April 4 it appears the C1 isn't the only Android device Nokia is working on; we now have details of an alleged mid-range device called the Nokia A1 (scrap that: the A1 was an HILARIOUS April Fool's joke). A render has leaked via Android Authority showing a somewhat similar design to the C1 (pictured further down this article). AA's "trusted insider" said this is a mid-range device and it appears to be running Nokia's Z Launcher over Android - a similar setup to the Nokia N1 Tablet. There's not much else to go on at the moment and we're left to simply ogle the new design and speculate on the specs.


The display size is quoted at either 5.5in or 5in both with Full HD resolution. The 5in model will have 2GB of RAM with 32GB of storage space and an 8MP camera, while the larger 5.5in has 3GB RAM, a 13MP camera and 64GB onboard storage. Both will feature 5MP front-facing secondary cameras.

As for the software, it's going to be Android-based, although we'd expect it won't get away clean and will likely have Nokia UI stuff put on top. There's also going to be Windows 10 variants in select markets, allegedly.

For posterity, here's the quote from NPU's source:  



Display:              5 inches, Full HD / 5.5 inches Full HD
Platform:             Android and (Windows 10 in selected markets)
Memory:            32 GB, 2 GB RAM or 64 GB, 3GB RAM
Camera:             8 MP and 5 MP / 13 MP and 5 MP



"The new range of Nokia mobile phones and tablets will be based exclusively on Google Android operating system," reports AnanTech, "which is not surprising. It is logical to expect Nokia to introduce its own implementation of Android as well as exclusive programs. However, from a hardware standpoint, the first wave of Nokia-branded devices will likely use platforms developed by third parties. Some of Nokia's traditional IP remains at Microsoft: the PureView camera technology (a massive sensor with an image co-processor and a set of sophisticated algorithms that “know” how to process oversampled images), ClearBlack display technology (a set of special filters on the display that can enhance blacks) and some other important assets. Which is why HMD and Foxconn (and, perhaps, Nokia?) will have to develop new technologies for high-quality imaging and displays because both features are crucial for modern handsets, especially in a competitive mid-range market.


We do not expect HMD and Foxconn to introduce custom SoCs for Nokia devices anytime soon both due to technological and financial reasons. Even though Foxconn has been adding semiconductor design capabilities into its war chest for some time now, it is unlikely that the company can produce anything comparable to Mediatek's low-cost SoCs, and as a result the software will play a critical role for the new Nokia smartphones and tablets. A good news is that Nokia plans to control certain aspects of design, performance and feature-set of the devices, which could mean exclusive technologies and capabilities. Moreover, the real fruits from Nokia’s participation in the project should emerge with the roll-out of 5G networks in 2020 – 2022. Nokia is a big contributor to the standard and it could help its partners to capitalize on it."