Nokia 8 Officially Launches in Middle East

HMD Global officially introduced the Nokia 8 to consumers in the Middle East last night. The first flagship phone under the Nokia brand was unveiled in London a couple of weeks back.

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The European price set for the unit for 599 Euros which is about average for your typical high-end phone but HMD apparently had other plans for the Middle East. It was revealed that the phone would go on sale in the region for an astonishing price of AED 1699 ($465).

Considering the specs on this phone- a Snapdragon 835, 4GB RAM and 64GB storage along with dual SIM and dual Carl Zeiss cameras, this price is unheard of. The only handset that comes close is the OnePlus 5 which has more RAM but is 100 Dirhams more than the Nokia 8. It also does not have the premium Zeiss lenses that are equipped on the Nokia 8.

One of the defining features of the Nokia 8 is a mode that allows you to capture input from the front camera and back camera simultaneously, stitch them both in real time into one frame and live stream it to YouTube or Facebook. Nokia calls these #bothie. Another great feature on the Nokia 8 is OZO audio that combines three microphones with exclusive Nokia acoustic algorithms to capture audio with immersive 360° spatial surround sound. Last but not the least, you’re also getting a pure Android experience which means faster updates and performance.

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Sanmeet Kochhar, General Manager, Middle East, at HMD Global, said “It is exciting to witness how digital technology is changing lives throughout the Middle East region. We are seeing a new generation of creators who are forging their own paths in the world, on their own terms, and according to their unique outlooks. Our aim is to enable the sharing of their enriching experiences and, ultimately, to unite people and bring them closer. The Nokia 8 promises an innovative and unique experience to further inspire the MENA content creator.”