Nokia 8 release date, specs, rumors: Device to be unveiled in June?

The Nokia 8, also known as Nokia P1, has long been rumored to be the flagship phone of the returning brand. However, the Mobile World Congress 2017 came and went, with the company only revealing the Nokia 3, Nokia 5, and Nokia 6. The buzz is that the phone will be unveiled this June instead.

According to Know Your Mobile, the delay was due to Samsung purchasing practically all of the Snapdragon 835 processors in the market, forcing other mobile manufacturers to delay the production of their own handsets and devices. The choice of processor already indicates that the Nokia 8 will be marketed as a high-end phone, unlike the Nokia 3310 which has entry-level specifications and which comes at a budget-friendly cost. This is not surprising, given that this will be the first flagship device the brand will be releasing, so it will need to make an impact to the public.

The rumored build of the Nokia 8 further cements the idea that it will be sold as a luxury phone. While it is said to bear the minimalist look that Nokia phones are known for, it will bear a full metal body with a Gorilla Glass 5 screen. It may also be released as a water-resistant phone, much like the high-end offerings from Sony and Samsung.

No information has been released about its screen resolution, only that it will have a high screen-to-body ratio and pixel density. Similarly, no details have been revealed about the phone's camera, only that it will be powerful, with at least 23 MP.

As with most phones these days, the Nokia 8 is expected to run on Android 7.0. It may also be designed to be compatible with virtual reality technology, given that other recent handsets have been released with this factored in.

Given these features, it is not surprising then that the Nokia 8 will be priced much higher compared to the brand's other phones. Two variants of the unit will be released to the public: a 128 GB model, which will be priced at $779, and a 256 GB version, which will cost $900.