Evidence suggests Nokia 9.3 PureView 5G launch is near
Nokia 9.3 PureView 5G concept render by Concept Creator
The Nokia 9.3 PureView 5G is one of the most highly anticipated flagship smartphones of the year and new evidence suggests HMD Global, the company behind modern Nokia smartphones, recently started preparing things for its commercial release in the fourth quarter.
HMD Global is getting things ready for the launch
Insider sources with knowledge of the matter have revealed that retail listings for official Nokia 9.3 PureView 5G cases and covers have started popping up at partnering retailers. Screenshots and links haven't been published at request of the sources, but NokiaPowerUserhas independently confirmed their authenticity.
This information lines up with the most recent launch timeline rumors and ultimately suggests the high-end device could hit shelves across Europe as soon as October. According to NokiaPowerUser, the Nokia 9.3 PureView 5G is in the final stages of pre-launch testing at the moment and production is scheduled to start later this month.
Nokia 9.3 PureView 5G concept render by Concept Creator
There's no word on when HMD Global will formally unveil its next flagship, but rumors point towards a virtual event in late September or early October. If the case, the company will be competing for attention because Apple, Google, Huawei, and OnePlus are all expected to hold press conferences around that time.
Flagship features and 5G connectivity as standard
The Nokia 9 PureView's successor looks set to feature a 6.3-inch PureDisplay V3 complete with minimal bezels. Earlier reports had mentioned the possibility of an under-display camera, but the technology is quite premature, so punch-hole technology is much more likely.
Nevertheless, HMD Global is looking to compete with the latest flagships. The company has reportedly selected a super-smooth 120Hz refresh for the flagship, although the option of 60Hz should be available to users looking to extend battery life.
The back of the phone should be made out of glass and sandwiched between the front and rear is likely an aluminum frame. Rumor has it that the back will be home to a Penta camera module with Zeiss Optics like the one on the original model.
Only this time around, it should support 8K video recording at 30fps and include updated sensors of up to 64-megapixels. The selfie camera, on the other hand, is rumored to boast a 32-megapixel resolution.
Nokia 9.3 PureView 5G concept render by Concept Creator
Sitting on the inside of the smartphone will be the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset rather than the slightly newer Snapdragon 865+ thar rival manufacturers have since started using. The decision means customers can expect 5G network support as standard.
Rather than being positioned as a Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and iPhone 12 Pro Max competitor, the Nokia 9.3 PureView 5G will most likely land as a so-called budget flagship. That's why 6GB of RAM and 128GB of RAM are expected, although a pricier 8/256GB model is said to be in the works.
Nokia 9.3 PureView 5G price and release date
There's no concrete information the pricing right now, but recent rumors do point towards a price tag of around €799 for the 6/128GB model in Europe. That means it could undercut the upcoming iPhone 12 Max and could match the Galaxy S20 FE 5G pricing.
As for the release, an exact date isn't available but a launch in the second half of October looks extremely likely at this stage.
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