News: The Latest Rumors & Leaks on the Nokia 8 Pro

Earlier this year, Nokia released the Nokia 8 Sirrocco overseas. The new device served as an upgrade to the 2017 model with a minor specs bump and a more modern design. However, HMD isn't done with the 8 series. A rumored Pro version is coming later this year that brings innovations the iconic brand is known for.

The Nokia 8 Pro is now rumored to be the official name of the previously-rumored Nokia 10. It will be announced alongside the Nokia 9 as HMD's first strong push into the flagship phone market. And while specs are important, HMD is aware that to truly differentiate themselves, they need innovations which can either come from the hardware or software. And as rumors have it, HMD plans to set itself apart with a potentially game-changing hardware upgrade.

Specs

Thanks to HowToTechNaija, we have our best look at the potential specs list for the upcoming device:

• OS: Android 8.1 Oreo
• CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
• GPU: Adreno 630
• RAM: 6 or 8 GB
• Storage: 64 or 128 GB
• Rear Camera: 16 MP + 16 MP
• Front Camera: 13 MP
• Battery: 4,000 mAh
• Other Specs: USB Type-C, wireless charging

ZEISS Penta-Lens Rear Camera with Unique Zoom Capability

The game-changing feature of the Nokia 8 Pro is the rumored camera setup. According to NokiaPowerUser, it looks like HMD is working on a "Penta-lens" rear camera for the upcoming flagship device.

To the consumer, there are only two camera lenses shown, looking no different than other flagship cameras (although, rumors suggest that the housing will be similar to the Lumia 1020 or Moto X4). However, within the housing are four lenses of various focal lengths. These will rotate over the main 16 MP RGB sensor to allow for different zoom levels. So unlike most phones limited to one fixed zoom level of either 2x or 3x, this device has a range of optical zoom. The second lens will be a 16 MP monochrome sensor to improve sharpness.

ZEISS has already patented a "Miniature zoom camera" which operates identically to this, and with their partnership with HMD, could use the device as its first public demonstration. This rotating lens was teased in a tweet by ZEISS Camera Lenses when announcing their new partnership with HMD. In the tweet, they posted a video of a rotating lens that slowly revealed the image of each company's logo. While subtle, there is a chance this was done on purpose.

6" 2160 X 1080 OLED Display

According to HowToTechNaija, the Nokia 8 Pro will be the first HMD-manufactured Nokia device to use an 18:9 aspect ratio. Not only will this bring the 8 series even more in line with its competition, but it will also allow for even smaller bezels, a problem which hampers the appeal of HMD's 2017 lineup.

While the report doesn't indicate the panel type, since this phone is to an upgrade from the Nokia 8 Sirocco model, there is little chance the Pro version revert back to an IPS LCD panel, which is generally considered as inferior to OLED. Additionally, because the Nokia 9 is rumored to be announced alongside the 8 Pro (and it is supposed to be the very best phone in the series), it makes sense for the 8 Pro to opt for a 1080p resolution. This provides easy device segmentation as they can include a 1440p panel in the Nokia 9.

4,000 mAh Battery

While the increase in display size from a 5.5" to 6" is a nice upgrade, without a modification to the battery, battery life would be fully dependent on the efficiency of the newer (and smaller) Qualcomm Snapdragon 845. While the chipset does bring a host of improvements to battery consumption, HMD is aware that a larger battery is always favorable, which is evident by the inclusion of the 4,000 mAh battery. When combined with a 1080p display, the Nokia 8 Pro might top our list of flagship phones with the best battery life.

Price & Availability

Rumors of its release date and price are vague. While there is some consensus that it will be announced in the third quarter of 2018 (between August and September), no rumors have come out in regards to its release date. As for its price, we can only go by history. With the Nokia 8 Pro being an upgrade to Nokia 8 Sirocco, expect pricing to be higher than its predecessor, coming around 800 Euros. Therefore, when accounting for European taxes, we expect a US price of approximately $700.

With the Nokia 8 Pro and Nokia 9, HMD could finally give Nokia fans the phones they were hoping for. HMD is already doing well in the entry-level and mid-range market thanks to 2017 lineup of phones, but a return to glory would require a phone that challenges the flagship market. What do you think of the Nokia 8 Pro? Let us know in the comment below.

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