HMD Global has a new smartphone in the Kenyan market. This new phone is the Nokia 8.1 and is available for Ksh 45,000 and is already in retail stores in the country. There is a dual SIM version and a single SIM one. The dual SIM variant will be available through the major retail outlets while the single SIM variant will be available through Safaricom shops. At Ksh 45,000, the Nokia 8.1 is not cheap but HMD Global says this phone will provide a value flagship experience for those who buy it.
The biggest question you may be asking is, what am I getting for this price? According to HMD Global, with the Nokia 8.1, you are getting improved camera performance thanks to the high sensitive and industry leading camera sensor, ZEISS Optics and Optical Image Stabilization. You are also getting the PureDisplay screen technology with HDR 10 support along with highly accurate colour reproduction. I have used this the Nokia 7.1 that has PureDisplay and the experience has been good, it is something you have to experience to appreciate.
The Nokia 8.1 also comes with the Snapdragon 710 processor that the company says will ensure smooth performance. This is not the most powerful processor from Qualcomm but that is not a big issue as this is not the most powerful smartphone from HMD Global. From the benchmarking results recorded, the Snapdragon 710 is no slouch, it is a promising chipset from Qualcomm.
During the announcement, Mark Misumi, HMD Business Manager East Africa said “We’ve seen great success in the value flagship category with each of our smartphones in this class consistently introducing new premium experiences to our fans. With the Nokia 8.1, we are further pushing the boundaries in this segment. We offer accelerated performance with a first-class processor architecture, dual cameras with an industry-leading sensor, OIS and ZEISS Optics for great low light imaging, and our new PureDisplay HDR screen technology.”
Here are some of the other key specifications of the Nokia 8.1.
Display Size: 6.18 inches with a resolution of 1080 x 2280 pixels
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 710
RAM: 4GB
Storage Space: 64 GB, can be expanded to 400GB using a microSD card
GPU: Adreno 616
Android Version: Android 9.0 Pie
Main Camera: Dual 12MP + 13MP
Selfie Camera: 20MP
Battery: 3500 mAh battery
The Nokia 8.1 is available in two colour options of Blue/Silver and Iron/Steel.
Also Read: Android Pie Update is Now Available for the Nokia 5.1