HMD Global To Unveil 'India-Made' Crest Series, First Non-Nokia Branded Devices

HMD Global is gearing up to introduce its new Crest series smartphones in India on July 25, marking the launch of company's first devices without Nokia branding.

HMD Global is gearing up to introduce its new Crest series smartphones in India on July 25, marking the launch of company's first devices without Nokia branding. The Finnish company announced the upcoming launch through a teaser posted on social media platform X, formerly Twitter. While the teaser does not disclose many details, it does confirm that the new phones will feature a glass back panel.

This announcement represents a shift for HMD Global, as it moves away from the Nokia brand name that it has been associated with in recent years. The HMD Crest series will be available for purchase exclusively through e-commerce platform Amazon in India.

These smartphones are said to be manufactured locally in India. In line with HMD's recent product philosophy, the new series is expected to bring user-friendly repair options. Regarding the launch timeline, HMD India's official account (@HMDdevicesIN) revealed that the Crest series will debut on July 25. The company shared an image showcasing the rear of one of the devices.

According to speculations and rumours, the upcoming HMD Crest might be a rebranded version of the HMD Pulse, which was released in European markets earlier this year. If these reports are accurate, we can expect the following specifications for the HMD Crest series.

Processing Power: The device could be equipped with an octa-core Unisoc T606 chipset, built on a 12nm process.

Operating System: It's likely to run on the latest Android 14 operating system.

Battery and Charging: A substantial 5,500mAh battery might be included, supporting 10W charging capabilities.

Display: The smartphone could feature a 6.65-inch LCD screen with a smooth 90Hz refresh rate.

Camera: For photography, it might offer a 13-megapixel main camera on the rear and an 8-megapixel front-facing camera for selfies.

Finnish company HMD Global has built its reputation primarily through its production of Nokia-branded mobile devices. The company recently expanded its feature phone lineup with three new Nokia models: the Nokia 3210, Nokia 220 4G, and Nokia 235 5G.

These feature phones stand out by offering capabilities typically associated with smartphones. All three models come pre-installed with popular apps such as YouTube and YouTube Music, allowing users to access video content and music streaming services. Additionally, they include support for Unified Payment Interface (UPI) applications, enabling users to perform digital financial transactions directly from their feature phones.