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Nokia Phones are BACK in Cebu!

Jullian Robin Sibi 2

Do you remember your first cell phone? Chances are that it’s one of these.

I bet that most people know this phone a lot. This is a Nokia 3310. Despite its simple navigation and small screen, this was the in thing back in the early 2000s! I didn’t have this exact model back then. I got the Nokia 3210 and it was really cool at the time! Games like Snake and Space Impact took more of my free time than it should. The 3210 would be one of the Nokia phones that I own for several years until I got swooned by a fruit. After Nokia went away due to low sales, a startup named HMD Global became the exclusive licensee for the Nokia brand in phones and tablets. This would mean one thing:

Nokia phones are BACK!

Nokia Phones from HMD Global. Thanks to HMD Global, we finally have Nokia phones in the world again! The feature phones are still alive and well (partly thanks to the 3310). Besides that, they’re bringing one thing I wished back then: Nokia phones running Android. It’s just obvious in my book since Windows Phone never really worked out. (RIP Windows Phone.) With that in mind, HMD Global Philippines came here to Cebu to share the good news! Back at MWC 2018, they put out 5 new phones in various price points. Only 4 of them arrived in the Philippines. I know we want the Nokia 8 Sirocco. Maybe they’ll save it for later when there’s more stock. Without further ado, here are the phones that Nokia brings to the Philippines!

Nokia 7 Plus

Nokia phones - Nokia 7 Plus The Nokia 7 Plus is a shocking revelation to me. Despite seeing a lot of smartphones with a premium feeling in the hand, I still love this phone more. It’s made from a single block of 6000 series aluminum that really feels good in the hand. I also love the Copper trim with the Black color. It really fits well with the Nokia aesthetic. This is something I expect from Nokia phones. I’m REALLY happy that HMD Global kept that aspect of Nokia alive and well. I also love that big 6-inch Full HD+ IPS LCD display with no physical buttons on the front! Here’s the spec sheet of the Nokia 7 Plus:
  • 6-inch 2160×1080 IPS LCD display
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor
  • 4GB RAM, 64GB internal storage
  • Dual rear camera system with ZEISS optics
    • 12MP sensor with f/1.75″ aperture with dual-tone flash
    • 13MP sensor with f/2.6″ aperture
  • 16MP front camera with f/2.0″ aperture and ZEISS optics
  • Headphone jack (because people still care, myself included)
  • USB-C fast charging
  • 3800 mAh battery (claims to have 2-day battery life)
The Nokia 7 Plus is available in two colors: Black/Copper and White/Copper. You can get this phone at authorized Nokia resellers for P21,990. I think it’s a great deal for a mid-range smartphone. I want to see how the camera fares with other smartphones with a similar price range.

New Nokia 6

Improving on the success of the Nokia 6 last year, the New Nokia 6 aims to be built to last. The New Nokia 6 has improved specs and cameras thanks to the ZEISS optics. This phone and the Nokia 7 Plus has this cool #Bothie feature. It uses both the front and rear cameras to take photos, videos, and even LIVE videos through Facebook and YouTube! I’m so happy that I don’t need to force myself to be in the same frame to be in the photo!
This was even more awkward than it looks! Hehe. #Bothie
Here are the specs of the New Nokia 6:
  • 5.5-inch 1080p IPS LCD display
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 processor
  • 3/4 GB RAM, 32/64 GB internal storage
  • microSD card support (up to 128GB)
  • 16MP rear camera (f/2.0″ aperture, ZEISS optics)
  • 8MP front camera (f/2.0″ aperture, 84º wide-angle lens)
  • Bluetooth 5, Wi-Fi 802.11ac support
  • USB-C with fast charging (up to 50% in 30 minutes)
  • 3000 mAh battery
The New Nokia 6 is available in the Blue/Gold color blend. You can get this phone at authorized Nokia resellers for P15,990 starting May 14! Although it kind of competes with the Nokia 7 Plus, I think its lower price can help its sales a lot.

Nokia 1: A Smartphone for Every Juan!

Nokia phones - Nokia 1 For the longest time, I get pissed when a phone maker doesn’t even care about Android software updates. Some may do security updates a lot, but they generally ignore Android updates! This is why I’m so happy that all Nokia Android phones (including this one) are part of the Android One program. The Nokia 1 in particular uses a special version of Android Oreo. Android Oreo (Go Edition) powers the Nokia 1 and it feels fast. This means it runs full Android Oreo. It also has apps that are for smaller RAM and low-end processors. Best of all, the Nokia 1 marks the return of interchangeable Xpress-On Covers! Here are the specs of the Nokia 1:
  • Android Oreo (Go Edition)
  • Mediatek MT6737M processor
  • 1GB RAM, 8GB eMMC internal storage
  • Up to 128GB microSD card support
  • 4.5-inch display
  • 5MP rear camera
  • 2MP front camera
  • 2150mAh removable battery
The Nokia 1 comes in two colors: Warm Red and Dark Blue. It is currently available in authorized Nokia resellers for just P4,290! For an entry-level smartphone, it’s not bad. But I’ve seen phones at this price point with way better specs though.

The Matrix Phone is Back!

Remember the Matrix phone? Or the Banana phone? Well, HMD Global brought another classic back with a modern twist! Enter the Nokia 8110 4G! This may not be a smartphone but it has apps like Facebook to keep you connected. It also has LTE for better connectivity. It comes in two colors: the “Banana” Yellow and Black. The Nokia 8110 4G will be available on May 14 for just P3,990! (HMD Global Philippines announced the pricing and availability of this phone during their Davao Media launch event.) I’m really happy at what I’m seeing with the new Nokia phones they launched. I hope that HMD Global continues their commitment to have fast Android updates compared to other phone makers. Android P is coming and I expect Nokia to be at the forefront in updating their devices. Thank you so much to the team at HMD Global Philippines for coming to Cebu! I’m glad they took the time to share the Nokia love.

Welcome Back to Cebu, Nokia!

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  1. Wow, this has actually surprised me. Nokia has long been gone for a couple of years already and they truly come back with a bang. I as well really enjoy my first phone, which is a Nokia brand and the games were simpler, but have mollified me whenever I have drudging time. The Nokia 7 Plus is something I should consider to buy, If I have extra money. The specs are actually great and very affordable comparing it to other Android brands. Thank you so much for sharing this with us Juls.

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