HMD Global continues to cover all bases with 5 new Nokia phones

Dubai - Nokia 7.2 banners new line-up, a refresh of Nokia 7 line that features a triple-lens system

HMD Global on Thursday announced another slew of Nokia devices, continuing its pledge to cater to all smartphone segments in an increasingly competitive landscape.
The five new mobiles - announced at the ongoing IFA trade show in Berlin - builds on the success of Espoo, Finland-headquartered HMD Global's revival of the iconic Nokia brand, once the dominant force in the mobile market that's making its way back into consumer consciousness, thanks to a well-rounded offering that touches all points.
"We are now paving the way for the next phase for Nokia phones and have identified strategic investment areas for driving a high-quality Nokia smartphone experience, specifically focusing on bringing innovation in the area of 5G, security, imaging and design," HMD Global CEO Florian Seiche said in a statement.
A 5G Nokia device, however, is being planned for a 2020 release, it was revealed at a media briefing in Dubai.
"We continue to bring innovations in design, form-factor and functionality to ensure we meet the diverse needs of our fans," chief product officer Juho Sarvikas added.
Bannering the launch is the Nokia 7.2, a refresh of the Nokia 7 line that features a triple-lens system headlined by a Zeiss Optics 48MP camera. The Nokia 6.2, meanwhile, is the first in the 6 series to don a triple camera and PureDisplay. It also boasts battery life of up to two days.
HMD Global also threw in a retro offering with a revival of the Nokia 2720 Flip, a clamshell phone reminiscent of a trendy form factor from the past. The new iteration is now compatible with 4G and is powered by HMD's KaiOS, allowing it to run new-age apps such as Facebook and WhatsApp. The 2720 Flip is the latest in the so-called Nokia Originals line-up, after the 3310 and 8110.
The company also introduced the Nokia 800 Tough, the first rugged device from HMD similar to what was offered by the Nokia 6250 almost two decades ago. It is designed to withstand drops and extreme weather conditions.
HMD also added to its feature phone range with the Nokia 110, featuring all the basic essentials.
The Nokia Power Earbuds was debuted, HMD's new true wireless headset that promises up to 150 hours of playback.
Nokia leads security update: Report
Nearly 96 per cent of Nokia smartphones, sold cumulatively since the third quarter of 2018, are already running on Android Pie or have had an Android Pie update issued to them, making it the fastest brand to reach this level, according to the findings of Counterpoint Research's latest whitepaper titled Software and Security Updates: The Missing Link for Smartphones.
"Operating system and security updates are an aspect of Android smartphones that get relatively little attention. In our experience researching the industry, we have seen few brands focusing on this. And perhaps because manufacturers are not talking about it, consumer awareness is also low. It doesn't appear among the ten features consumers say they care about most, in our research," research director Peter Richardson said in the report.
Among the top 10 smartphone makers, nearly 96 per cent of Nokia smartphones sold during the period stated above are already running on Android Pie or have had an Android Pie update issued to them. Samsung closely follows Nokia with 89 per cent and Xiaomi with 84 per cent, the study added.
- alvin@khaleejtimes.com

• Mobiles