Nokia has launched their first family of phones running on Android (sort of) at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2014.
The reason why I say “Android (sort of)” is because there is no Google Play services in the Nokia X family of phones, instead it is been replaced by Microsoft Services.
The Nokia X goes in-between the Nokia Asha and Nokia Lumia bringing Nokia ranges of phone to four: Nokia, Nokia Asha, Nokia X and Nokia Lumia.
The Nokia X Software Platform which is the OS behind Nokia X, Nokia X+ and Nokia XL is a forked off Android Open Source Project (AOSP) based on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean).
The first three phones to be launched under the Nokia X Platform are the Nokia X, Nokia X+ and Nokia XL.
The Nokia X will retail for €89 (~S$155) starting from today while the Nokia X+ will retail for €99 (~S$173) and the Nokia XL for €109 (~S$190) from Q2 2014.
Nokia X and Nokia X+ looks exactly the same, the only difference is the RAM (512MB vs 768MB). Nokia XL on the other hand is an upsize Nokia X+ boosting a 5″, better rear camera, font-facing camera, LED flash and higher capacity battery.
Nokia X/Nokia X+
- OS: Nokia X Software Platform
- Processor: 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Dual Core processor
- RAM: 512MB (Nokia X), 768MB (Nokia X+)
- Storage: 4GB (Expandable up to 32GB using MicroSD card). Free 7GB Microsoft OneDrive
- Screen: 4″ IPS WVGA (800 x 480) (233 ppi) (two-point touch)
- Camera (Rear): 3MP (2048 x 1536)
- Camera (Front): N/A
- Flash: N/A
- Wireless: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0 + HS
- Sensors: GPS+AGPS, Ambient light sensor, Accelerometer, Proximity sensor
- SIM: Dual SIM, using Micro SIM
- Dimension (mm): 115.5 x 63 x 10.4 (Height x Width x Thickness)
- Weight: 128.7g
- Battery capacity: 1,500 mAh
- Standby Time: 28.5 days (2G), 22 days (3G)
6 colors of the Nokia X/X+ will be available: Black, Cyan, Green, Red, White & Yellow.
Nokia XL
- OS: Nokia X Software Platform
- Processor: 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Dual Core processor
- RAM: 768MB
- Storage: 4GB (Expandable up to 32GB using MicroSD card). Free 7GB Microsoft OneDrive
- Screen: 5″ IPS WVGA (800 x 480) (187 ppi) (multi-point touch)
- Camera (Rear): 5MP (2592 x 1944)
- Camera (Front): 1.3MP (1600 x 1200)
- Flash: LED Flash
- Wireless: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0 + HS
- Sensors: GPS+AGPS, Ambient light sensor, Accelerometer, Proximity sensor
- SIM: Dual SIM, using Micro SIM
- Dimension (mm): 141.4 x 77.7 x 10.9 (Height x Width x Thickness)
- Weight: 190g
- Battery capacity: 2,000 mAh
- Standby Time: 41 days (2G), 26 days (3G)
6 colors of the Nokia XL will be available: Black, Cyan, Green, Orange, White & Yellow. If you notice, instead of red, Nokia XL replaces it with Orange.
Android Apps
Nokia X apps can be downloaded from the native Nokia store which will contain curated Android apps for Nokia X.
You can side-load most of the Android apps if you have the Android application package file (APK) but I don’t think it will be easy to side-load Google Play services/store apps easily.
During the Q&A, there was a question asked whether the bootloader of the Nokia X phones will be locked, but the guy answering did not really answer the question and hence, I am pretty sure it will be locked.
I think it will be a matter of time before the guys at XDA Developers will be able to root and flash CyanogenMod on it.
Conclusion
Nokia X is Microsoft attempt to reach out to Android users letting them know about it’s services. The price point is sweet, a good alternative to Xiaomi’s Redmi. But if you are a user that goes for high-end Android devices, you will probably not be interested in Nokia X.
Also an unknown factor here is whether Nokia X will still continue in the near future after Microsoft purchase of Nokia has been completed since having four different mobile operating system doesn’t seem to be the One Microsoft Vision.
Please release Nokia X series by the first week of March in India. I’m dying to have Nokia XL. I’ve always been a huge fan of Nokia and Android and them coming together is like a dream come true. It’s like Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift collaborating for a future HIT!!