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Nokia has unveiled its first flagship Android smartphone – the Nokia 8 – as the technology firm attempts to challenge the likes of Samsung and Apple for the first time.
The new device, which the firm said will cost 599 euros (£546), comes with a split-screen camera feature called Dual Sight, which combines a photo or video from the front and rear-facing cameras at the same time.
The result is what Nokia is calling a “Bothie”, which the company hopes will offer a new take on selfies.
The Nokia brand is now under licence to Finnish start-up HMD Global, which sparked the firm’s revival earlier this year with the launch of three mid-range Android phones – the Nokia 3, 5 and 6, as well as a revamped version of the 17-year-old 3310.
The flagship Nokia 8 features dual 13-megapixel rear cameras, as well as a 13-megapixel front-facing camera, while both the front and rear cameras feature optics technology from imaging giant Zeiss, which announced a new partnership with Nokia and HMD Global last month.
Zeiss technology is also being used to help improve the quality of photos taken on the 8, Nokia said, with “image fusion algorithms” in place to combine images captured by the two rear lenses into single photos.
The new phone also houses spatial audio technology previously only used in Nokia’s high-end OZO 360 camera, which can play back sound in multiple directions, imitating how it was captured during recording.
The phone’s specifications place it as a rival to the likes of Apple’s iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy S8 in the current smartphone market.
HMD Global confirmed the phone will go on sale in “early September” and said the device was aimed at social media users and video creators.
“We know that fans are creating and sharing live content more than ever before, with millions of photos and videos shared every minute on social media,” HMD chief product officer Juho Sarvikas said.
“People are inspired by the content they consume and are looking for new ways to create their own.
“It’s these people who have inspired us to craft a flagship smartphone which perfectly balances premium design, an outstanding experience and powerful performance.”
Live video captured using the 8’s Dual Sight mode can be shared directly to Facebook or YouTube from within the phone’s Camera app.
The phone is also compatible with Android Pay and its contactless payment capabilities.
Nokia and HMD Global’s unveiling comes a week before Samsung is due to announce its next Note smartphone, the first since the Note 7 was discontinued last year over battery fires and safety fears.
The next iPhone, marking 10 years since the device first launched, is also expected to be announced in September.
