Nokia revealed a total of five new devices at the weekend which included the budget 8110 feature phone, some new mid-range smartphones and an all-new flagship called the Nokia 8 Sirocco.
This latest top-end phone may look slightly familiar as it includes a design reminiscent of the Galaxy S8.
With a dual curved display and an all-glass design you’d be excused for thinking it came straight off of Samsung’s production line but, HMD Global who are behind the re-launch, is adamant that their Sirocco is better than the award-winning S8.
During an interview with Express.co.uk we asked why consumers should consider the Nokia 8 Sirocco over the Galaxy S8.
“It’s got a great camera story with the dual-lens Zeiss optics,” said Sarah Edge, HMD Global UK and Ireland general manager.
“The other thing to mention is it’s Android One which offers a really lovely Android experience.
“We don’t add on any apps that you don’t want, we don’t slow down the experience, we’re not draining the battery with things you don’t actually want to use.
“We’re also sticking with our commitment that we update it with the latest Google software every month or as soon as it’s available and that’s something that is quite unique.
“The Nokia 8 is an example – that device came out on Android Oreo back in October.
“Where as we know our competitor devices, in that flagship space, are not on it (Android Oreo).
“In fact we’re even on 8.1 with Nokia 8, that’s a really nice story there as we’re making it secure with the latest software and you’re not having it slowed down with bloatware.”
Clearly, with Samsung Galaxy S8 owners still waiting for Android Oreo this gives the Sirocco an edge over its rival.
But what about the rest of the phone?
The S8 and Sirocco both feature similar processing power, can be charged wirelessly and include a dual curved display edge-to-edge OLED display.
There’s also facial recognition and water resistant deisgns on the S8 and Sirocco.
However, the Sirocco does have a slightly larger battery and includes its dual-lens camera on the rear case – something you’ll only find on the more expensive Galaxy Note 8 or new Galaxy S9+.
We hope to bring you a full review of the Sirocco in the coming weeks and we’ll then know if it really is a contender to take on the Galaxy S8.
But, with a more expensive price tag than its Samsung rival, the smartphone-loving public might need some convincing to switch back to Nokia and its Sirocco.