Mobile phone maker nokia has announced today that it is planning to partner up with Zeiss Optics for its next line-up of Android smartphones, expected to be launched sometime during the fourth quarter of this season.
What does this mean?
For those unfamiliar with the event, there is a long history between the two companies. Their first partnership took place in 2005, which resulted in the Nokia N90 phone. The 2010 Nokia N18 and the 2012 Nokia 808 PureView also featured a Zeiss lens.
“Collaborating with Zeiss is an important part of our commitment to always deliver the very best experience for our customers," HMD Global - the company that owns Nokia - CEO Arto Nummela mentioned in a statement.
“Our fans want more than a great smartphone camera, they want a complete imaging experience that doesn’t just set the standard but redefines it. Our fans expect it and, together with ZEISS, we’re delivering it – co-developed imaging excellence for all.”
As The Verge has correctly pointed out, none of the recently released Nokia phones carry the Zeiss brand on their cameras. That includes the Nokia 3, 5 and 6, all of which qualify as mid-range Android smartphones.
While both sides have not clarified when the deal will come to fruition, we project that the Nokia 8 will be the first one of the lot. Nokia 8 will be HMD's flagship Android smartphone, aimed to compete with the likes of Samsung's Galaxy S8 and LG's G6.
Furthermore, reports also suggest that Zeiss is developing new camera technologies, thus delivering highly advanced camera lenses to the forthcoming Nokia phones - hence the delay.
Nokia 8 rumors: a quick overview of what we know
The much-touted Nokia 8 is expected to sport a 5.3-inch QHD display. Underneath the hood, it will feature Qualcomm's Snapdragon 835 CPU, along with two RAM options; 4GB or 6GB, with 64GB of internal storage.
Camera wise, a dual camera setup will most likely be present, with a 13MP Zeiss lens. A 13MP front shooter is expected as well.
Extra features include an iris scanner, a front-mounted fingerprint sensor and IP68 water and dust resistance.
Since the Nokia 8 will be marketed as a high-end smartphone, it will come with a price tag of around $700 (800 euros) off-contract. The device will come with Android 7.0 Nougat straight out of the box.
What are your thoughts on Nokia's much-anticipated new endeavors? Feel free to sound off in the comments below.
