Update [Nov 30]: Apparently, the Nokia 8.1 will be launched in Dubai on December 5, 2018, which will mark the device’s global availability, but details about the pricing remain unclear. Just to clear things up, the Nokia 8.1 is the same device that launched in China as Nokia X7. Initially, we thought this would go global as the Nokia 7.1 Plus, but it seems HMD is pulling a surprise on fans – a surprise that throws the existence of the Nokia 7.1 Plus into the shadows. Original story follows.

According to reports, the much-awaited HMD Global offering, Nokia 8.1, is all set to hit the Indian market on November 28, much ahead of the MWC in February 2019 that was being touted earlier. HMD, the sole rights holder for the Nokia brand phones and tablets, has a habit of renaming its X series phones before launching it in the world market.

Nokia 8.1 launch date rumored to be November 28

HMD had previously rechristened Nokia X6 as Nokia 6.1 Plus and thereafter the Nokia X5 as Nokia 5.1 Plus before launching them in the world market. In an interesting turn of events, it is being expected that Nokia X7, which was launched in China earlier this month, will be rechristened as Nokia 8.1 before the Indian launch on November 28 and not Nokia 7.1 Plus according to Russian tipster, Nokia Anew.

If this is true, we’re all set to see a phone with a 6.18-inch FHD+ display with an 18.7:9 aspect ratio. It could be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 processor and Adreno 616 GPU. The Chinese version, Nokia X7, comes in three versions – 4GB RAM+64GB ROM, 6GB RAM+64GB ROM, 6GB RAM+128GB ROM but it’s unclear whether Nokia will launch all three versions in India.

Coming to the camera, the phone is expected to flaunt a dual rear camera setup (12MP+13MP) with AI functionalities like AI portrait mode and studio light. The front camera is expected to be a more than capable 20MP lens. It is also expected to run the stock version of Android 9 Pie out-of-the-box, being a part of Google’s Android One program.

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Although we do not have any official word about the actual launch date, phone specifications, and price, it is rumored that the top variant (6GB RAM+128GB ROM) of the Nokia 8.1 phone may be priced at INR 23,999 while the base variant (4GB RAM+64GB ROM) may cost INR 16,999.