At an event held in Delhi, HMD Global launched its brand-new Nokia 8.1 smartphone at Rs 26,999. While it seems like Nokia has once again focussed on the design (like it did with the 7 Plus), it also seems to have the performance area covered with a brand-new Snapdragon 710 SoC inside. And given that attractive price tag, stylish design and good hardware specifications, the Nokia 8.1 will compete with plenty of new devices including Oppo’s recently R17 that is priced at Rs 45,990.
So let’s take a quick look what at this mid-range beast packs in and the smartphones it will compete with, in India’s competitive mid-range segment.
Build and Design
he Nokia 8.1 isn’t really the replacement for the Nokia 8 or the Nokia 8 Sirocco, but spiritual successor to the Nokia 7 Plus instead. The Nokia 7.1 certainly does not live up to the standards (both in terms of design or specifications) set by the 7 Plus, so the 8.1 indeed is that successor we have been waiting for, even if the model numbering does not feel right.
The Nokia 8.1, just like the 7 Plus before it, is a breath of fresh air in a sea of boring mid-range offerings that are trying to make up for their boring designs, by painting their devices in bright and shiny colours.
The Nokia 8.1 uses 6000 series aluminium for its chassis and frame that is sandwiched between two sheets of 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass.
The frame is rounded and blends seamlessly with the 2.5D glass screen on the back and the front. It gets the same dual-tone anodised treatment as on the Nokia 7 Plus
The dual camera still protrudes from the glass back of the device, but the protrusion can be excused this time around, as the primary camera does pack in an OIS system that takes up some space.
On the front, you get a notched display, with a rather broad notch that seems a bit pointless as it only eats into the display area.
Anmol Techzone 