Nokia 9 preview: Everything we know so far

MIGHTY NUMBER NINE

Under new owner HMD, the Nokia brand came back to life in 2017 with a handful of Android-powered smartphones – but only one of them, the mid-range Nokia 6, was really worth considering. They’ve had a bit more luck so far in 2018, with the second-gen Nokia 6 and the stylish mid-range Nokia 7 Plus (shown below), but Nokia’s next big handset might be the true flagship stunner to boost the brand to new heights. It’s reportedly called the Nokia 9, and it could pack some high-end surprises. Rumours suggest that we’ll see the Nokia 9 very soon, and we have a fair idea of what to expect from the new Nokia’s most significant and surely priciest handset to date. Here’s everything that we’ve heard so far.

WHEN WILL THE NOKIA 9 BE OUT?

We heard rumours that the Nokia 9 would debut much earlier in the year, but that never came to pass. Now, however, the rumour mill is churning once again. What’s the latest? Reports point to a possible debut at IFA 2018 at the end of August. If true, then we could see the handset debut within a matter of weeks thereafter, although that would put it in direct competition with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 and Apple’s next iPhones.

WHAT WILL THE NOKIA 9 LOOK LIKE?

The prevailing trend for Android flagships over the past year has been super-tall, 18:9 (or thereabouts) displays that dominate the front of the handset – many of which have lately sported an iPhone X-like notch at the top. A purported press booklet leaked in April suggested a “combination of ceramic and gold,” with a “ceramic back plate and 18-karat gold finish,” as well as a design that is “luxuriously weighted to balance perfectly in your hand.” It also suggests IP68 water and dust resistance. The Nokia 8 Sirocco looked a bit behind the times, aping the Galaxy S7 Plus while appearing very awkward and boxy in the process, so hopefully the Nokia 9 goes for something a bit more sleek and modern.

WHAT KIND OF CAMERAS WILL THE NOKIA 9 HAVE?

Many, apparently! There are conflicting reports out there, but they all suggest a main camera setup that packs in the megapixels thanks to a multi-camera array that could rival – or best – the Huawei P20 Pro. That purported leaked booklet suggests a 41-megapixel main camera, flanked by 20MP and 9.7MP cameras alongside. All of that comes with ZEISS optics and 4x optical zoom. Sounds like a hell of a setup. But what if the Nokia 9 went even crazier? MySmartPrice reports that the Nokia 9 will instead have a penta-camera configuration – that’s five (!) back cameras. It sounds completely absurd, honestly, but it would certainly help put Nokia back on the map.

HOW MUCH WILL THE NOKIA 9 COST?

Earlier rumours suggested an upper mid-range, OnePlus-like device and price, but with more recent leaks pointing to a true high-end flagship and some serious perks, we might be looking at a truly pricey handset. This year’s Nokia 8 Sirocco landed at £699 and wasn’t quite up to the class of the Samsung Galaxy S9 or Huawei P20 Pro, so an even higher-end Nokia flagship is sure to command an even larger price. A report from MySmartPrice suggests a launch price of US$999, the same as the Apple iPhone X. If true, then Nokia must be incredibly confident with its new super-phone… or a bit mad.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE NOKIA 9?

A leaked booklet mentions a huge 3,900mAh battery pack, which is just a smidge below the 4,000mAh cell in the Huawei P20 Pro. It also notes wireless charging in the mix. Interestingly enough, the WinFuture report mentions that the Nokia 9 will run Android 9.0 P. We expect to see Android P’s full version release this autumn, and the Nokia 9 could be one of the first non-Pixel handsets to run it. So far then, it’s a case of so good. The Nokia 9 could pack an amazing camera, huge battery, dazzling design, top-of-the-line display, and loads of power. Sounds like of a heck of a flagship, if true – but that’s a big “if” right now. In any case, we’re certainly excited to see what happens.