The Return Of Nokia
Pioneers in telecommunications, Nokia has played a key role in the development of the mobile phone. And, despite a few quiet years, the company has well and truly returned with a bang.
With a reimagined Nokia 3310 for modern day users, and a collection of cutting-edge smartphones under their wing, Nokia are well and truly back for good. Learn all about Nokia's history, and discover more about the company's newest releases below.
A Brief History Of Nokia
Nokia's roots go back as far as 1865, when a mining engineer named Fredrik Idestam created a pulp mill in Tampere, Finland. He opened a second mill in 1868 as a joint venture with his friend Leo Mechelin, which was based in the town of Nokia. Together, they formed a shared company, and Nokia was officially born in 1871 as a hydropower provider.
It wasn't until 1967 that Nokia became involved in telecommunications and by 1984 Nokia had obtained Salora Oy - a Finnish electronics company. The Mobira Talkman - the world's first transportable phone - was launched in the same year and the first mobile phone, the Mobira Cityman 900, was crafted by Nokia in 1987.
Nokia played a key role in the development of 2G, and the famous Nokia tune can be found on devices as far back as 1992. The beginning of the new millennium saw the launch of the iconic Nokia 3310 which sparked big things for the company - over 200 million units were produced, and it remains the best-selling mobile of all time.
From here, Nokia's success continued to rise - until 2007. The launch of the first iPhone, and the increasing amount of Android smartphones on the market, led to Nokia's first quarterly loss in over a decade in 2009. Instead of adopting Android themselves, Nokia also decided to partner with Microsoft. A few tough years followed, and despite releasing the successful Lumia 800, job cuts continued into 2012 and Finland's oldest Nokia factory closed.
The return of Nokia
Although Nokia didn't initially manage the smartphone foothold they were aiming for, it's safe to say the tech giant made an epic return in 2017. Early in the 2017 the company showcased its recreation of the classic Nokia 3310 and three brand-new handsets: the Nokia 3, Nokia 5 and Nokia 6. Fast-forward to 2018 and flagship handsets such as Nokia 8 Sirocco also joined the family.
Nokia 8 Sirocco
Nokia has taken a dip into the high-end smartphone market with the Nokia 8 Sirocco. It's instantly apparent that this is a premium smartphone, with the device's slim frame being crafted from a singular piece of stainless steel. Protected by 3D Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and an IP67 dust and water-resistant rating, you know you're getting both style and substance.
Key features include a defined 5.5-inch QHD pOLED display, a huge 3260mAh battery that can fast-charge to 50% in just 30 minutes and an impressive 6GB RAM. Combined with the ever-smooth Android Oreo, 128GB of internal storage and an octa-core processor, you're looking at Nokia's fastest, most powerful handset yet.
Let's not forget about the Nokia 8 Sirocco's camera and audio. Sound quality is top notch, with three integrated microphones and 24-bit audio enabling users to record up to 132 decibels. You'll find a dual-lens rear camera too, with a 12MP sensor and 13MP telephoto lens. Combined, you're looking at a smartphone that can take beautifully clear shots, and professional videos.
Nokia 3310
Revolutionising retro tech, the Nokia 3310 for 2017 got everyone in the tech world talking. Design-wise, the model still resembles the original with a few sleek tweaks. It's slimmer, offers a 2MP camera and comes in four colours - grey, blue, red and vibrant yellow.
Of course, the phone is packed with nostalgia thanks to the revamped version of Snake. The battery life too lasts for ages - in fact it's even better than before - as you can expect a standby life of a whopping 25 days, ideal for road trips and festivals. While the Nokia 3310 isn't anything like the smartphones we see today, it is perfect if you're a huge Nokia fan or simply looking for an easy, affordable device for everyday use.
Nokia 3
Looking for a low-cost smartphone that ticks all the right boxes? You'll love the Nokia 3, one of the company's newest launches for 2017. Budget-friendly with an easy-to-use interface, you'll find an excellent 5-inch HD display, a stylish yet sturdy aluminium frame, 16GB of internal storage and even Android Nougat on board.
If you like to take photos while you're out and about, both of the Nokia 3's cameras won't disappoint. Front and back come in at 8MP, and with Google Photos you can get snap happy - take as many pictures as you want thanks to unlimited online storage.
Nokia 5
You'll find awesome features inside the affordable Nokia 5. Powered by an unmodified Android Nougat, you can to experience the super-smart operating system in the way Google intended. An octa-core processor and 2GB RAM gives the Nokia 5 a huge boost in speed too, and 16GB of memory is all yours to use.
The Nokia 5's frame has been crafted with a single piece of aluminium, while the 5.2-inch screen features a polarised display so you'll always see clearly even outdoors. As for the camera, the rear is 13MP and utilises autofocus to produce sharp, blue-free photos. Selfies, meanwhile, come in at 8MP - exactly like the Nokia 3.
Nokia 6
Want to take high-quality photos, for a fraction of the price? With the Nokia 6, you'll be able to get your hands on a fantastic 16MP camera. As for selfies, you're looking at 8MP and, thanks to autofocus, super sharp shots.
Under the hood you'll find 3GB RAM to ensure multi-tasking is never a hassle, 32GB of storage, a speedy octa-core processor and Android Nougat. In true Nokia style, there's a long-lasting battery too - the Nokia 6 will give you 18 hours of talk time.
The Nokia 6 isn't just brilliant on the inside either, it looks and feels great too. The Full HD screen measures 5.5-inches, there's a fingerprint scanner for added security and the body is made from seamless aluminium.
Want to get your hands on one of Nokia's latest devices? You'll find our best deals on Nokia phones over on Mobiles.co.uk today.