About a month ago, HMD Global announced that their entry-level smartphone will be the Nokia 1. The device which is the first to run Android Oreo (Go edition) from the company comes with a sub 10k price tag, putting the phone at loggerheads with the likes of TECNO, Infinix, X-Tigi and Itel.
The budget smartphone arena is a crowded space and we have seen manufacturers take shortcuts to maintain the low price and thus make a sale. HMD Global aims to separate themselves from such shenanigans. During the Nokia 1 announcement, HMD Global introduced the phone as a champion of giving more people access to technology. “With the reassuring quality and design expected of a Nokia smartphone, it keeps you connected with all your smartphone essentials and apps.”
The Nokia 1 brings to the table:
- a 4.5″ IPS Display (480*854)
- 5MP main camera
- 2MP selfie shooter
- 1GB RAM
- MediaTek MT6737M Quad-core processor
- 8GB internal storage expandable via MicroSD
- Dual SIM capability
- 4G connectivity
- 2150mAh battery
Focus on Software
Over the past one year that we have come to know HMD Global, they have not disappointed when it comes to software updates and the company promised to continue with the same trend even with the budget offering that is the Nokia 1. As mentioned earlier, Nokia 1 runs on Android Oreo (Go edition), this is a light-weight android version that is customized for devices with 1GB RAM or less. The software also includes light-weight apps such as Google Go, Google Maps Go, YouTube™ Go and Google
Assistant for Android (Go edition), designed to run faster while consuming less data.
Personalized Style
The Nokia 1 will also come in an inherently coloured, tough two-tone polycarbonate cover which HMD says can take on every day knocks and bumps with its durable design. The Xpress-on cover on the phone is removable, giving users the ability to swap back covers thus changing the colour of the phone to suit their style. In Kenya, the phone will be available in Warm Red and Dark Blue.
The device will be available in the open market for a recommended price of Kes.9,500 as from April 16, 2018.
