HMD Global’s latest cheap smartphone, the oft-rumoured Nokia 2, is official. The device, which has been a huge source of the murmurs in the grapevine for a while now, was announced at an event in India, a clear indication of the types of markets that HMD Global is targeting with the device.
The Nokia 2 is a smaller sibling to the excellent Nokia 3, an budget smartphone that is the only one of its kind that packs NFC (near-field communication) in the Kenyan market. Unlike the Nokia 3, though, the Nokia 2 is an entry-level smartphone through and through that we would expect to be priced at not more than Kshs 12,000 if its launch pricing in India, an equivalent of the same amount, is anything to go by.
HMD Global has managed to pack a 5-inch display, all the right sensors and a mammoth battery in a small frame meant to deliver value to its users without having them spend more.
According to HMD Global, the Nokia 2 is supposed to reinforce the Nokia brand’s reputation in the eyes of its users of having very long battery life and being reliable with the device offering 2-day battery life.
“People rely on their phones so much these days with many people subconsciously rationing their battery life when out and about so they can last the day. We don’t think you should have to do less with your phone which is why we created a smartphone that can power through when other devices need a pit stop. With the Nokia 2, we wanted to replicate the unique Android experience we’ve delivered so far with the long-lasting battery which so many fans associate and expect from their Nokia phones,” Chief Product Officer Juho Sarvikas is quoted saying.
With HMD Global already testing Android Oreo builds for its devices, the Nokia 2 will also be getting the update as soon as it is available, a feat that not even many Android devices worth their name will be able to boast of.
Specifications of the device are as follows:
| Size | 143.5 x 71.3 x 9.30mm |
| Display | 5.0-inch HD LTPS LCD display with Gorilla Glass 3 protection |
| Camera | Primary camera: 8MP auto focus with LED flash Front-facing camera: 5MP fixed focus |
| Processor | Snapdragon 212 |
| Memory | 1GB RAM, 8GB onboard storage (expandable up to 128GB) |
| Operating System | Android 7.1, Nougat (upgrade to Android 8.0, Oreo coming soon) |
| Battery | 4,100mAh |
| Network | 3G, 4G |
| Sensors | Ambient light sensor, Proximity sensor, Accelerometer (G-sensor), E-compass |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, microUSB |
| Other | FM radio, IP52 certification (drip protection) |
| Colour options | Pewter/Black, Pewter/White and Copper/Black |
Now to wait for it to show up in the country soon.
