The Nokia smartphones from HMD Global have always had one thing in common. They offered usable technology at a fair price. Even the top device Nokia 8 was with 579 euros compared to similar equipped devices still relatively cheap. Now the company has unveiled its most expensive device yet at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona: the Nokia 8 Sirocco costs 749 euros.
Where are the differences to the Nokia 8?
Unlike the new Nokia 6, the sirocco has very little recollection of the first Nokia 8. In our review , we called the device "the unflustered flagship." There is not much left of that. That starts with the display. This is rounded off at the sirocco to the sides, reminiscent of the Samsung Galaxy S9 . The back is modern, made of glass. A metal frame provides stability between the back and the screen. In addition, the case is waterproof.
A special coup has succeeded the design team with the buttons on the sides. The are so deep in the case, that they, from view, are not visible. This gives the Nokia smartphone a futuristic look. The rest is standard: Down there is a connection for charging, on the back, under the dual camera is the fingerprint sensor. There is no headphone jack.
In terms of performance, however, the Sirocco hardly differs from the Nokia 8. Inside clocked Qualcomm's top processor from the previous year. That sounds old, but actually the chip also provides a lot of power in 2018. Applications and games of all kinds pose no problem for the sirocco. Also display size and resolution remain the same. The screen is 5.5 inches tall and displays content at 2560 x 1440 pixels. This is razor-sharp and provides through the rounded corners for an extra wow effect.
Dual camera and double image recording
For good photos, especially in bad light, the dual camera on the back should provide. It originated, as with the original Nokia 8, in co-operation with Zeiss. According to the manufacturer, it offers, among other things, a dual optical zoom. You can also record high-resolution 4K videos and footage from the front and rear camera simultaneously.
By the way, you do not have to worry about memory running out. The is generously sized with 128 gigabytes and also expandable via microSD card. In addition, you can also upload the high-resolution material to Google Photos for free. Normally, the cloud service automatically reduces images when uploading if you want to use it for free. In the operating system, HMD Global relies on Android 8.0 Oreo. Because the smartphone is part of the "Android One" program, buyers also benefit from quick updates. But HMD Global has never raffled anyway.
Preliminary conclusion: a highlight
The Nokia 8 Sirocco feels extremely high quality, and the display looks extremely chic. Good also like the trick with the side buttons. Nevertheless, the question arises whether the smartphone after the MWC can keep up with the competition from Samsung. The answer is then in the detailed test.
The Nokia 8 Sirocco will be launched in April 2018 for € 749.
Credit: https://curved.de/reviews/nokia-8-sirocco-582451