Nokia 8 News: Release Date, UK Price, Features & Specs

In September we finally got to see the long-anticipated Nokia 8, though sadly it wasn’t announced alongside the Nokia 9 which is expected to be the more exciting of the two with an 18:9 screen.

We say “see”, but actually the live stream of the launch event was a disaster, and the two YouTubers Nokia hired to present its fancy new phone for content creators never actually published anything online. Awkward. Still, you can check out Nokia’s own promo video at the top of this page.

With the Nokia 8 the company has not followed the likes of Samsung, LG and countless Chinese manufacturers in implementing the hot new trend of a virtually full-screen display. And that’s a shame, because it makes the new Nokia 8 seem a little old-hat. (See how the Nokia 8 compares to the Galaxy S8.)

The specifications aren’t much different to any of the other flagships we’ve seen launch this year, with a Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB of RAM and 64GB storage, but Nokia does have a few tricks up its sleeve to tempt consumers.

Carl Zeiss cameras

Front and rear cameras are Carl Zeiss-branded, with a dual 13Mp camera at the rear that has one colour lens and one mono. There’s also a 13Mp selfie camera on the front, and all three have an f/2.0 aperture.

Dual-Sight

Nokia talks about ‘Bothie’ photos, which are created by combining snaps from the front and rear cameras to get the whole picture. Dual-Sight also lets you stream photos and video over live services.

Ozo Audio

Ozo Audio captures 360-degree audio thanks to three mics and the company’s own acoustic algorithms. This sound can then be enjoyed in high-fidelity even on devices that don’t support Ozo.

Pure Android

Nokia offers a virtually pure Android experience. While the Nokia 8 currently runs Android N, it will be one of the first to receive Android O. The company promises timely updates throughout the phone’s lifespan.

Nokia has confirmed its Nokia 8, pitched squarely at content creators with 360-degree spatial Ozo Audio recording, three premium Carl Zeiss cameras, and a new ‘Bothie’ photography mode that lets you capture the entire picture from both the front and rear cameras.

Nokia 8 specifications

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor
• 5.3in Quad-HD (2560×1440 pixels) IPS display with 700 nits brightness and Gorilla Glass 5
• Android 7.1.1 Nougat
• 4GB RAM
• 64GB storage plus microSD support up to 256GB
• Dual 13Mp rear cameras (one colour, one mono), f/2.0, 1.12um, OIS, Laser autofocus, dual-LED flash
• 13Mp selfie camera, f/2.0
• IP54 splashproof
• 3090mAh battery with Quick Charge
• 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth 5.0
• NFC
• Fingerprint scanner
• USB-C
• 3.5mm headphone jack
• 151.5×73.7×7.9mm
• 160g
• Available in Polished Blue, Polished Copper, Tempered Blue and Steel

When is the Nokia 8 release date?

The Nokia 8 will go on sale on 13 September in the UK. You can pre-order it now from Carphone Warehouse.

Sadly, the company has confirmed the Nokia 8 will not be available in the US. It does not have the necessary bands to work correctly in America, and since Nokia can’t promise full customer satisfaction it will not offer it there.

How much will the Nokia 8 cost in the UK?

HMD has confirmed the Nokia 8 will start from £499 for 64GB storage, and will be available in silver or blue in the UK.

What is the difference between the Nokia 8 and Nokia 9?

Many of the specifications for the Nokia 8 and unannounced Nokia 9 are similar, but the Nokia 9 is thought to be larger and to feature a higher screen-to-body ratio. While the 5.3in Nokia 8 features a 16:9 panel, the 5.7in Nokia 9 could see a 18:9 virtually full-screen display. Both are Quad-HD displays with protective Gorilla Glass 5.

The Nokia 9 may also feature an iris scanner, and extra helpings of memory and storage – at 6GB and 128GB respectively.

Also see: Best new phones