Update, April 20 , 2020 (5AM ET): We have rumors to suggest that the Nokia 9.2 PureView will feature an in-display selfie camera and a 120Hz screen refresh rate. We’ve updated the original article to reflect the new information. Read on for more.
HMD Global isn’t known for making flagship smartphones, but the Nokia 9 PureView from 2019 was the company’s best shot in the category. The follow-up to the Nokia 9 will likely be mostly an iterative upgrade, tentatively known as the Nokia 9.2 PureView.
HMD Global officially revealed the Nokia 9 PureView in February 2019 after several months of delays. The Android One smartphone sports a whopping five rear camera lenses along with a time-of-flight (ToF) sensor. We expect the follow-up to the Nokia 9 to feature another multi-lens camera setup with some new upgrades. We also expect some of the internal specs to get bumped up as well.
Nokia 9.2 PureView: Name and release date
Judging from prior HMD Global naming schemes for its Nokia-branded smartphones (which even the company itself says are confusing), we assumed the name for the follow-up to the Nokia 9 would likely be the Nokia 9.1 PureView. Later rumors suggested the handset will carry the 9.2 moniker instead while others suggest it could even tout the 9.3 name. Until Nokia releases its official branding, we will refer to the handset as the Nokia 9.2 PureView.
Since the phone might be 5G-capable (more on that in a bit), it’s possible the device will have 5G in its official name, something like Nokia 9.2 PureView 5G. However, the “9.2” aspect of the name, as well as the PureView moniker, will almost assuredly be a part of the title.
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According to sources speaking with Nokia Power User, the planned launch of the Nokia 9.2 was originally slated for the third quarter of 2019 before it was delayed until Q2 2020. However, due to HMD wanting to include more updated internal specs, it was delayed again and likely won’t see a release until Autumn 2020.
As such, we should expect the Nokia 9.2 PureView to launch at some point before the end of the year but no sooner than September. October is usually a big month for smartphone releases so HMD could possibly release the handset then.
Design
It’s very unlikely we’ll see too many design changes with the Nokia 9.2 PureView. Instead, it’s far more likely we’ll see the same overall design but with a few tweaks.
That means the penta-lens camera setup on the back of the device will likely look very similar. It’s possible the lenses and other related hardware could get some upgrades, but the overall look will likely be the same.
The front of the device is likely where most changes could occur. One rumor stemming from Nokia Anew (@nokia_anew) claims HMD could be planning to include an under-display selfie camera on its upcoming flagship.
Great news
HMD is currently testing under-the-display front camera in Nokia 9.2 PureView.#nokia #nokiamobile #hmd #nokia9#innovation pic.twitter.com/NxsFTdDpHD
— Nokia anew (@nokia_anew) January 29, 2020
Another report from Nokia Power User notes that the under-display selfie camera is almost confirmed for the final market version of the phone. The report attributes this information to sources close to HMD Global, the official Nokia mobile licensee. It says that Nokia was testing both a pop-up selfie camera and an under-display camera, but has found the latter to be stable enough for the final retail version of the new flagship.
If that ends up being the case, the Nokia 9.2 would be one of the first handsets (possibly even the first) to tout the feature. Several companies such as Oppo, Xiaomi, and Samsung could also release handsets with under-display selfies soon, but there is no official word on when that might be.
This would also mean the display bezels of the Nokia 9.2 could likely be much smaller than what we saw on the Nokia 9, which had a large forehead and even larger chin.
The in-display fingerprint sensor will also still be around, as it would seem a step backward to put a rear- or side-mounted fingerprint sensor on the Nokia 9 follow-up.
Specs and features
As one would expect, the most notable rumored upgrades for the Nokia 9.2 PureView relate to its rear camera system.
Unfortunately, even with a whopping five rear camera lenses on board, the Nokia 9 failed to impress many smartphone camera reviewers, including us here at Android Authority. Many of the problems with the camera didn’t stem from the hardware; it was the software that didn’t measure up.
For example, the camera app took too long to start up and actually crashed a few times during testing. HMD pushed software updates to address these early issues, but even then the camera system didn’t compete with photo-centric heavyweights such as the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G and the Huawei P30 Pro.
With the Nokia 9.2 PureView, the software is rumored to be getting an upgrade and the hardware could as well. This is what an anonymous source had to say to Nokia Power User:
We can expect even better camera performance with a special focus on video and low-light performance. Camera speed has also been improved with a combination of better processor and software algorithm improvements with the help of Light. But the development team still is working on optimizations.
Interestingly, a later report from Nokia Power User claims Nokia will likely do away with the last generation’s Light camera technology. The Nokia 9 PureView used five 12MP cameras (three monochrome sensors and two RGB sensors) powered by multi-lens camera company Light.
This enabled better HDR and low-light snaps and more granular depth effects but led to a lack of detail and slow camera performance. This potentially means the updated handset could feature a more conventional normal/wide/telephoto camera layout. The latest rumors from Nokia Anew suggest the company is experimenting with a 24MP, 20MP, and 48MP camera setup and at least one of those sensors could feature OIS.
Hopefully, the omission of Light’s camera tech doesn’t completely take away from the handset’s rumored upgrades. We still hope the Nokia 9.2 PureView can be the promised photo powerhouse we were supposed to get with the Nokia 9.
Read also: The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra camera makes me think I don’t need a DSLR anymore
Elsewhere, we expect the internals of the Nokia 9.2 to get some upgrades. Several rumors suggest the smartphone will feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865. On the other hand, Nokia confirmed plans to launch a Snapdragon 765 phone but said nothing about a Snapdragon 865 device.
Either way, this would enable the Nokia 9.2 to be 5G-capable, which is rumored to be the case. This would make the Nokia 9.2 the flagship 5G smartphone from HMD (there is likely to be a cheaper, non-flagship 5G smartphone from the company as well).
There are rumors that the Nokia 9.2 PureView could feature the 5G-capable Snapdragon 865 chipset.
It’s also likely that the Nokia 9.2 PureView will get a 120Hz display, as noted in a report by Nokia Power User (NPU). Word has it that the phone will get a “highly impressive” display with PureDisplay V3 technology.
PureDisplay is HDR tech that HMD uses on its phones like the Nokia 9, Nokia 8.3, and others. It’s capable of upscaling SDR content to HDR, on both OLED and LCD screens. Sources tell NPU that “the display will be one of the best seen on any smartphone.”
For software, the new phone will likely come with Android One and launch with Android 10 out of the box.
There are no solid rumors yet related to internal storage or the amount of RAM in the device. Considering the Nokia 9 came with 128GB of internal storage and 6GB of RAM, it’s reasonable to assume that Nokia 9.2 will come with the same levels or more. Other than that, we also expect to see either a 32MP or 48MP selfie camera and wireless charging — but no 3.5mm port.
Price
The Nokia 9 PureView launched with a retail price of $700. Since then, there have been numerous opportunities to get the phone for even less, with a $500 price tag pretty easy to find. Judging from that launch price, it’s reasonable to assume the Nokia 9.2 PureView will be around the same.
A report from Nokia Power User backs up this general price range, claiming HMD could adopt a Nokia 8-style approach. The Nokia 8 was a more affordable flagship, offering high-end power and a sub-€600 (~$662) price tag compared to premium handsets.
However, the upgraded processor and the potential for the device to be 5G-ready could mean a hefty increase in the starting price for the phone. It’s not unreasonable to assume the Nokia 9.2 PureView could launch at $800 or more if 5G is on the table.
The lackluster critical response to the Nokia 9 PureView — HMD’s primary flagship device — could make the company reconsider raising the price for the follow-up too much. It’s possible HMD could sell the device with the intention of breaking even rather than earning a hefty profit just to convince people that the Nokia brand isn’t only for mid-rangers and budget devices.
With all that in mind, as of now, it’s anyone’s guess what the price could be. It’s a good bet, though, that it will be more than $700. How much more, we are not sure.
Those are all the reputable rumors we know so far about the Nokia 9.2 PureView. Be sure to bookmark this page and check back often for the latest news!
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