Nokia 8 launched in India at Rs 36,999: All you need to know about Nokia's first Android-powered flagship

It’s 26 September and it’s high time Nokia fans in India got their flagship smartphone. The Nokia 8 is the first Android-powered premium flagship smartphone from a brand, which was almost lost to Microsoft over the years, but now stands tall, all by itself thanks to HMD Global. [caption id=“attachment_3942757” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] The Nokia 8[/caption] The Nokia 8 was **officially unveiled** at an event in London on 16 August and since then, it has been a long wait for Nokia fans in India. Today, HMD Global finally made things official and has announced that Nokia 8 will be priced at Rs 36,999 in India. The device will be available both online and offline starting 14 October. The Nokia 8 also comes with a few firsts It is the first Android-powered Nokia smartphone where HMD Global has partnered with Carl Zeiss for helping out with the device’s camera setup. It is also the first device to feature a ‘Bothie’, which uses both the front and rear cameras to record an image or a video. Additionally, the Nokia 8 also lets users live stream in this mode, which will be great for those who love to live stream videos on YouTube and Facebook. [caption id=“attachment_4082971” align=“alignnone” width=“1280”] The Nokia 8 Bothie[/caption] The device also packs in Nokia’s OZO Audio that delivers 360 degree audio recording, the technology that comes from Nokia’s VR recording platform built for its OZO+ VR camera. Design The Nokia 8 is globally available in four finishes. There’s a matte blue, matte silver and a polished blue and a polished copper. A detail to note here is that the polished finishes are not glass but polished 6000 series aluminium. Which would also mean that it may get scratched easily, much like the Jet Black iPhone 7 models that were given a similar treatment. [caption id=“attachment_4082975” align=“alignnone” width=“1280”] The Nokia 8 was launched in four finishes[/caption] The device has a rounded design and there’s plenty of bezel around the display as well. The design is not entirely unique as it shares plenty of similarities with the **HTC U11** flagship which is already on sale in India and could turn out to be its arch rival, if priced right. The antenna bands run from the top of the device, which should make it easier to grip, without worrying about network loss. [caption id=“attachment_4082973” align=“alignnone” width=“1280”] The Nokia 8 comes with Zeiss optics[/caption] On the back there is a vertical dual camera setup with with an LED flash. The handset features a hybrid SIM slot and comes with the usual Type-C USB port at the bottom and a 3.5mm headphone jack placed at the top. One detail that can go against the handset, is the lack of an IP 67 or 68 rating. The Nokia only features an IP 54 rating, which means the device is only resistant to accidental splashes of water. Hardware Specifications Coming to the core features, the Nokia 8 features a 5.3 inch, 2K, polarized display covered with Corning Gorilla Glass 5. The device packs in an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor along with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage expandable to 256 GB via a micro-SD card. The phone uses a full-length copper cooling pipe with a graphite shield to dispense of heat across the metal body of the phone. [caption id=“attachment_4082977” align=“alignnone” width=“1280”] The Nokia 8 features a 3.5 mm headphone jack[/caption] The device has a 3,090 mAh battery and 4G dual-SIM support with one slot acting as a hybrid SIM slot. It also has an IP 54 rating, making it splash proof. The phone comes with a 3.5 mm jack and a type-C port (USB 3.1 Gen 1), NFC and Bluetooth 5.0 for connectivity. Nokia 8 will be running on Android 7.1.1 Nougat and HMD CPO, Juho Sarvikas has promised an upgrade to Android 8.0 Oreo soon. Price, availability and comparison The Nokia 8 has been priced at Rs 36,999, which is pretty low given what it packs in. It however steps into OnePlus territory, where the **OnePlus 5** has settled for a not-so-OnePlus Rs 37,999 (8 GB RAM) price tag. It will be interesting to see where Nokia goes with this kind of cutthroat pricing with the Nokia 8. The device seems to offer a bit more in terms of features but cuts it short when it comes to core hardware when compared to the OnePlus 5. Both manufacturers are also looking to offer their smartphone both online and offline so its evidently clear, that Nokia is after OnePlus. With an IP 54 rating, the Nokia may have an edge here if its camera keeps up to Carl Zeiss optics branding. With the **Sony Xperia XZ1** announced with Android 8.0 Oreo, it makes even more sense for manufacturers to upgrade their software offerings on the flagship. Samsung’s **Galaxy Note 8** too was a missed opportunity here. A flagship after all has to pack in the latest and greatest that the platform has on offer.