• Home
  • News
  • Fortune 500
  • Tech
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
TechThe Mobile Executive

Here’s How the Nokia Brand Is Coming Back to Smartphones

By
Aaron Pressman
Aaron Pressman
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Aaron Pressman
Aaron Pressman
Down Arrow Button Icon
December 19, 2016, 10:07 AM ET
Photo illustration of a collection of mobile phones made by Nokia
A collection of mobile phones made by Nokia is pictured in this file photo illustration, May 8, 2012. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/Illustration/File Photo GLOBAL BUSINESS WEEK AHEAD PACKAGE - SEARCH "BUSINESS WEEK AHEAD AUG 1" FOR ALL IMAGES - RTSKHQYKacper Pempel — Reuters

The upcoming revival of Nokia-branded smartphones will include a 5-inch screen model with a high-end camera and one of Qualcomm’s fastest chips for a price of only $150, according to the latest rumors.

That a Nokia phone is even the subject of rumors again is testament to the resiliency of the brand, which once ruled the mobile phone market before falling on hard times. Finnish startup HMD Global, run by former Nokia executives, bought the rights to revive the brand this year and has said it is coming out with new smartphones in 2017.

The new phone may be called the Nokia P and come in two models, with 5-inch and 5.5-inch screen options, Indian tech news site Gadgets Now wrote on Monday, citing posts and images on Chinese social network Weibo. Both models will include the new Qualcomm (QCOM) Snapdragon 835 chip, the company’s first made at the most advanced 10-nanometer scale. The phone is also expected to include a 23-megapixel camera with a Zeiss lens.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.

The smaller model will sell for $150 and the larger model for around $200, both running Google’s (GOOGL) Android software, Gadget News said. Fortune reached out to HMD for comment and will update this story if a response is received.

The market for less-expensive smartphones is sharply competitive, with models from Samsung, Huawei, Oppo leading the way. The phones are most popular in some of the fastest growing phone markets, such as India, where a typical Apple (AAPL) iPhone may be priced out of the reach of most consumers.

It’s not known yet if the upcoming phones will be sold in the United States. Last week, HMD announced a $26 feature phone that will be sold initially in the Middle East, India, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Europe starting early next year.

Nokia was the largest phone seller on the planet for more than a decade starting in 1998. But in the face of surging competition from Apple, Blackberry (BBRY), Samsung, and others, it slid into obscurity. Microsoft (MSFT) bought what was left of Nokia’s shrinking phone business in 2014 and still sells smart phones under its own Lumia brand. Nokia (NOK) itself now focuses on selling telecom network equipment.

About the Author
By Aaron Pressman
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

© 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.