The Nokia eight Sirocco is the “final assertion of flagship design with the most recent display screen and digital camera know-how” in line with HMD International, the agency behind the enduring identify that adorns its collection of Android smartphones.

It is a daring declare, and HMD admits it is made the Nokia eight Sirocco “for the followers”, as these loyal to the Nokia identify have apparently been asking for a premium, high-end flagship that pushes the boundaries the inventory Nokia 8 did not.

The result’s a handset with a 5.5-inch QHD OLED show, a physique that is coated in 95% vacuum molded Gorilla Glass and has a stainless-steel body at its core.

You will additionally discover a Snapdragon 835 chipset, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, twin rear going through digital camera, a fingerprint sensor, face unlock and Android eight Oreo onboard – guaranteeing the Nokia eight Sirocco has a large spec sheet to justify a lofty price ticket.

Nonetheless, with a fleet of latest flagship telephones launching from fierce rivals, the Sirocco may have its work reduce out to steal among the limelight.

Nokia eight Sirocco launch date and worth

The Nokia eight Sirocco launch date is about for April 2018, which is a little bit method off and can see others beat the telephone to market, which could possibly be a little bit of a blow to its potential success.

Its price ticket could also be a little bit onerous to swallow for some too at €749 (round £660, $900, AU$1,170), particularly when you think about the OnePlus 5T is less expensive with an analogous characteristic set. 

It does match the likes of the Moto Z2 Force and it is cheaper than the iPhone 8, so all shouldn’t be misplaced within the worth division.

Design and show

Nokia has moved away from the design language that ties collectively its present vary of gadgets, with the just about all-glass physique of the Sirocco oozing premium enchantment and futuristic seems to be.

It seems to be like a fusion between the BlackBerry Priv and Samsung Galaxy S8, with its shiny black end and curving edges of the show.

Within the hand it seems to be and feels nice, like a correct premium smartphone, though the glass rear presents little in the way in which of grip.

The perimeters of the Nokia eight Sirocco taper from 7.5mm to 2mm, and on the fitting the facility/lock and quantity keys are situated on the thinnest tip. 

They’re flush with the aspect of the telephone too, and this makes them a little bit difficult to hit. Not inconceivable, and with time you will get used to it, however our preliminary impression was certainly one of slight annoyance.

A few different flagship options Nokia had added listed below are IP67 mud and water resistance, which suggests it ought to survive an unintended journey into the bathtub, and help for wi-fi charging.

Nokia eight Sirocco palms on gallery

On the bottom of the telephone a central USB-C port is flanked by an inside speaker, however crucially there isn’t any headphone jack current. Nokia has opted to take away the port on this telephone, regardless that it is saved it on all the opposite telephones it is launched at MWC 2018.

The 5.5-inch OLED curved show is vibrant and colourful, offering a wonderful floor for gaming and video playback. 

With a QHD decision, it runs shoulders with its flagship friends, and elevates itself above the cut-price flagships from the likes of Honor and OnePlus. 

It is responsive, with good viewing angles and provides to the flagship nature of the Sirocco. 

Digital camera

One other flagsh characteristic on the Nokia eight Sirocco is its twin rear cameras, tuned by Zeiss Optics.

The Nokia model has an extended standing historical past with Zeiss Optics which has been tuning its telephone cameras for many years. 

On the eight Sirocco you get a 12MP predominant sensor alongside a 13MP telephoto lens, permitting you to take Bokeh impact (background blur) photographs. 

It really includes a Stay Bokeh mode, which lets you positive tune the extent of background blur with on the spot visible outcomes on display screen, permitting you to arrange your image earlier than hitting the shutter key. 

Nokia’s Professional digital camera mode has been given a triumphant return on the most recent gadgets to launch, and the Sirocco advantages from this. 

A easy drag up of the shutter key take you into Professional Mode (drag in the wrong way to return to auto mode) permitting you to tweak controls corresponding to white stability, shutter pace and focus. 

We managed to take a handful of detailed photographs throughout our time with the telephone, however we’ll put it to the take a look at totally throughout our in-depth assessment. 

Around the entrance you get a 5MP digital camera which suffices for selfies and video calls. 

Efficiency and interface

There’s loads of energy beneath the hood of the Nokia eight Sirocco, though it is not probably the most innovative. 

Working the present is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, a chip which featured in 2017’s flagship telephones, so it feels a little bit misplaced in a 2018 top-tier gadget.

That stated, it is a nonetheless a high performer, and paired with 6GB of RAM the Nokia eight Sirocco needs to be able to working just about something you throw at it. 

The Android eight Oreo working system ran easily throughout our time with the telephone and we did not expertise any efficiency blemishes – though that would change as soon as it is stuffed with apps, video games, movies, images and music. 

Android followers will probably be happy to be taught that the Sirocco runs a inventory model of Google’s working system, so there isn’t any clunky interface getting in the way in which. 

It is also enrolled in Google’s Android One program, which ensures the telephone the following two huge Android dessert updates, and three years of safety updates. 

That is nice information for customers, because it principally ensures no less than three years of constant use from the telephone. And since the telephone is with Android One, it needs to be among the many first to get the most recent updates too. 

Early verdict

The Nokia eight Sirocco is a major step ahead for HMD International at is begins to point out it may well combine it with the established names available in the market moderately than simply knocking out me-too gadgets. 

The Android One integration is nice information for potential patrons, and the design and display screen are nice to take a look at. 

The jury continues to be out on the digital camera, and it is a disgrace to see final 12 months’s chipset working the present right here, which makes it a little bit more durable to justify the value tag. 

Whereas the Sirocco will not be an enormous hit for HMD, it is constructing strong foundations for the model. 

MWC (Cellular World Congress) is the world’s largest exhibition for the cellular business, stuffed filled with the latest telephones, tablets, wearables and extra. TechSwitch is reporting stay from Barcelona all week to deliver you the very newest from the present flooring. Head to our devoted MWC 2018 hub to see all the brand new releases, together with TechSwitch’s world-class evaluation and shopping for recommendation about your subsequent telephone.