Finnish company HMD acquired the rights to the Nokia brand in 2016 and has been marketing Nokia-branded devices since. In September, HMD’s CEO and Chairman Jean-Francois Baril revealed that the company plans to launch its own high-quality, budget-friendly smartphones. Today, 91mobiles shared alleged renders of what could be the company’s first device.
The phone sports a new HMD logo, as further proof that this isn’t another Nokia phone. The design appears to be simple, with a flat screen featuring a pinhole camera, two rear cameras, and a matte back. If the renders are accurate, the phone seems to be made of plastic and the model shown is black, but the company might release it in other colors too.
Very little is currently known about the device beyond its model number, N159V. It is anticipated that HMD’s phone will be launched in India in April and will also be sold in other countries, including the US.
HMD’s Chairman and CEO recently claimed that the company was the fastest-growing 5G phone manufacturer. According to data from IDC, Nokia is the 11th largest smartphone brand in the world and sells more phones than Google, although this is partially due to the fact that it also sells feature phones. Needless to say, the company has a good deal of experience in the smartphone market and its lineup of budget phones will only increase the options available in the entry-level segment.
For the foreseeable future, HMD will continue to produce Nokia phones. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen whether the company will choose to renew its licensing rights, which are scheduled to expire in 2026.
