Powered by a strictly open-source version of Android, the Nokia X line is aimed squarely at those upgrading from feature phones to their first smartphone. Nokia have taken a stripped down version of Android and integrated Nokia and Microsoft services into the phones. At first glance, you could be forgiven for mistaking the handsets for a Microsoft OS. Nokia seems to have taken a lot of effort to make these visually as close as they can to their Lumia siblings.
Of course, being an Android device means that you can say good bye to the Windows Store. And without Google’s services built-in there will be no Google Play store either. Instead Nokia have taken the path of creating their own Android app-store exclusively for this new range of Nokia devices.
Nokia is determined to make the service work and already have big name social apps such as WhatsApp, BBM and Instagram in the store for launch. Whether they can attract enough developers to use their newly released SDK is something that Nokia will need to keep their eye on.
Nokia X
The Nokia X is the ‘basic’ version of the series. Coming in at a low price of 89 Euros, it should be available worldwide. We’ll probably see this roll out into the emerging markets first to have more of an impact on the demographic that Nokia is targeting.
Specifications
4in WVGA (800 x 480) display.
TrueColor (24-bit/16M)
Aspect ratio: 15:9
Pixel density: 233 ppi
Display technology: IPS LCD
Touch screen technology: Capacitive two-point touch
SIM card type: Micro SIM
Dual SIM: Dual Standby SIM
Charging connectors: Micro-USB
AV connectors: 3.5 mm audio connector
System connectors: Micro-USB-B
USB: USB 2.0
Bluetooth: Bluetooth 3.0 + HS
Wi-Fi: WLAN IEEE 802.11 b/g/n
WAPI
WCDMA; GSM
1500 mAh battery
Qualcomm Snapdragon™ S4, dual-core 1 GHz processor
RAM: 512 MB
4 GB storage
Expandable memory card type: MicroSD
Maximum memory card size: 32 GB
Main camera sensor: 3 MP
Camera resolution: 2048 x 1536 pixels
Camera digital zoom: 4 x
Sensor size: 1/5 inch
Audio playback file formats: MP4, AAC, MP3, MIDI
Stereo FM radio
Camera video resolution: FWVGA (864 x 480)
Camera video frame rate: 30 fps
Camera video zoom: 4 x
Video playback codecs: H.263, H.264/AVC, MPEG-
Video playback file formats: 3GP, MP4
Nokia X+
The Nokia X+ is the larger version of the Nokia X. The 10.4 mm thick device is due to be released in the second quarter this year and will come in at a sweet 99 euros.
Specification
4in WVGA (800 x 480) TrueColor (24-bit/16M) display
Aspect ratio: 15:9
Pixel density: 233 ppi
Display technology: IPS LCD
Touch screen technology: Capacitive two-point touch
SIM card type: Micro SIM
Charging connectors: Micro-USB
AV connectors: 3.5 mm audio connector
System connectors: Micro-USB-B
USB: USB 2.0
Bluetooth 3.0 + HS
Wi-Fi: WLAN IEEE 802.11 b/g/n
WCDMA; GSM
1500 mAh battery
Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual-core 1 GHz Dual-core 1 GHz
RAM: 768 MB
Mass memory: 4 GB
Maximum memory card size: 32 GB
Main camera sensor: 3 MP
Camera resolution: 2048 x 1536 pixels
Camera digital zoom: 4 x
Sensor size: 1/5 inch
Main camera f-number/aperture: f/2.8
Audio playback file formats: MP4, AAC, MP3, MIDI
Stereo FM radio
Camera video resolution: FWVGA (864 x 480)
Camera video frame rate: 30 fps
Nokia XL
The final iteration of the X series is the Nokia XL. This is the top-end of the Nokia X line and has the highest price at 109 Euros. This is another that should be available worldwide in the second quarter of 2014, but expect it to roll out in the developing territories first.
Specification
5in WVGA (800 x 480) TrueColor (24-bit/16M) display
Aspect ratio: 15:9
Pixel density: 187 ppi
Display technology: IPS LCD
Touch screen technology: Capacitive Multipoint-Touch
SIM card type: Micro SIM
Charging connectors: Micro-USB
AV connectors: 3.5 mm audio connector
System connectors: Micro-USB-
USB: USB 2.0
Bluetooth: Bluetooth 3.0 + HS
Wi-Fi: WLAN IEEE 802.11 b/g/n
WCDMA;GSM
2000 mAh battery
Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual-core 1 GHz
RAM: 768 MB
Mass memory: 4 GB
Expandable memory card type: MicroSD
Maximum memory card size: 32 GB
Main camera sensor: 5 MP
Camera resolution: 2592 x 1944 pixels
Camera digital zoom: 4 x
Sensor size: 1/4 inch
Main camera f-number/aperture: f/2.8
Audio playback file formats: MP4, AAC, MP3, MIDI
Radio features: Stereo FM radio
Camera video resolution: FWVGA (864 x 480
Camera video frame rate: 30 fps
Camera video zoom: 4 x
Nokia Budget Devices
If the price point of the Nokia X devices might seem a little too rich for you, then Nokia have released their home-grown Asha devices. The Asha 220 and Asha 230 will be priced at 29 Euros and 45 Euros respectively. Although not the most exciting devices – we would imagine that you’d be hard pressed to find many devices that cost less than a monthly line rental. Throw in a battery life of up to a month and you’ve got some simple but useful connected devices. The 220 is available now.
