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We were a bit taken aback by the Nokia Normandy / Nokia X’s supposed list of specs when they first leaked. We’d always heard Nokia was aiming for developing markets with this thing, but we didn’t know quite how low they would look to go.
According to new rumors, though, it sounds like they’re looking to go lower than even the limbo bar can reach: $100 off-contract. We’re not sure how solid that info is, but the following list of specs certainly have us believing it can’t be worth much more:
- OS: Android OS, v4.4.2 (KitKat)
- Processor: Dual-core Snapdragon 1 GHz MSM8225Q (Snapdragon 200)
- Display: TFT technology, size 4 “- 480×854 ~ 285ppi
- GPS: Yes, A-GPS support
- Memory: 4 GB, 512 MB RAM
- Card slot: microSD (TransFlash) up to 32GB support
- WLAN: Wi-Fi 802.11 b / g / n, Wi-Fi hotspot
- Bluetooth: Yes, v4.0 with A2DP
- Main Camera: 5 MP, 2592 x 1944 pixels
Yikes. If true, you have to wonder just how Nokia expects to contend with the likes of Motorola’s Moto G, a $100 smartphone on some carriers that has a 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor, a 4.5-inch HD display, 1GB of RAM, a 5 megapixel camera and more. To add, it also employs firmware heavily based on stock Android with only a few “value-added” features by Motorola.
We aren’t willing to write the Nokia X off before it’s officially unveiled — something that could happen at Mobile World Congress later this month — but we can’t say it’s the most exciting device to ever launch. It definitely is one of the more interesting ones, though, considering Nokia is set to be acquired by Microsoft in a deal expected to close sometime later this year.
[via WinSource]
if it’s LTE, that would be a gamechanger.
If it has LTE, that is my dream phone. Just place calls, listen to music, and provide WiFi hot-spot for my tablets to do everything else.
At this price i doubt it wil have LTE (just another chip and license to pay for).
They arent going to put such a display in it and 512MB ram but add LTE.
For the price the specs look nice (cant get a Moto G for 100 euro) but arent they gonna put that ugly Windows skin over it and remove the Google Apps and replace them with Nokia apps?
i haven’t looked into LTE royalties; Nokia actually owns a lot of
patents in GSM/UMTS and GPRS/EDGE/HSPA tech. I wonder if they own
anything in the LTE space? if not, then licensing LTE might be costly.
if they carry a similar weight in LTE as they did elsewhere, though,
adding LTE might just be a physical cost for the radio and antennae
(much cheaper, but still not free).
there is a reason Nokia was first to market with pentaband 3G: UMTS/HSPA was essentially free for them to deploy. other OEMs who didn’t participate (or werent’ as successful participating) in the design of the systems were at a disadvantage because they had to license the tech (all but apple, who just took and refused to pay – still don’t understand how they got away with that).
LTE might be a whole new world for them though: they were invested
heavily in HSPA+ which was slated to become the 4G protocol of choice;
but LTE won out in the end, so maybe the tables have fully turned here?
When did 512mb ram become a game changer? GTFO with that fan boy crap.
When Kit Kat reduced the ram usage. The 512mb isn’t the point of it, if it has LTE then it’s a sub $100 device that has LTE. There are no devices out there like that.
Whoa, that’s pretty cheap. And for someone who can’t afford a premium phone I guess it would be a nice option. But not really something for me, although I can’t really insult those specs for $100 off-contract. But to be totally honest, it looks like a Windows Phone model that was rejected or something.
“rejected”?
it does look just like their windows phone devices… which in turn look just like their MeeGo product the “Nokia N9”.
$100 for a Nokia camera could be well worth it. You don’t need a quadcore to take great photos.
good point! i wonder what this will actually have for optics, etc i the end.
5mp – so the quality might be so-so. it’s not the megapixel count, it’s the sensor size that matters.
Lens/optics is what’s important. I’m not shooting photos with my phone that I plan on blowing up to banner size. :)
Don’t judge rumors!
Wait.. there’s a non-contract, non-CDMA variant of the Moto G going for $100? Point me in that direction please !
Wait, are they going to call it Nokia X? Wouldn’t that cause confusion with the Moto X?
Why would you get this vs a moto G?
A frontal lobotomy was performed on you sometime in the past?
i wonder if it comes with Nokia Music? if so, that’s pretty much equivalent to the $9/mo service from Google (Nokia Music is free on their WP devices, i don’t see why it wouldn’t be included here too).
aside from that, Nokia still carriers a lot of reputation in some parts of the world. they might be betting on “Nokia” still having some value?
Nokia must think they’re still in the Microsoft Winders phone arena or something.