Nokia announces not one but three new Android devices: The Nokia X, X+ & XL

After months of speculation and leaks, the hotly anticipated Android device from Nokia has been officially announced at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. A bane to Windows Phone users and many die hard Nokia fans, this device is likely to be the last mobile phoneannounced by Nokia before it officially hands off its mobile phone division to Microsoft. The Nokia X runs a forked version of Android called Android Open Source Project AOSP similar to devices offered by Barnes & Nobles and Amazon. These devices are unique in that they are greatly customized and are not loaded with the google services generally seen in devices from Samsung, HTC etc.

Nokia has struggled to build traction for its Asha line of devices since launch and the Nokia X is their attempt at responding to the growing number of lower end android devices eating into Nokia’s market share in developing economies. The Nokia X, X+ and XL specs speaks low end through and through and come with exciting features.

On the software side, the biggest showcase is the new Nokia App Store and its highly customized UI. The new Nokia Store will come preloaded with a host of apps but will also connect to other third party App stores such as Yandex to ensure access to all Android apps is possible. Borrowing heavily from the Windows phone tiled interface and its Asha counterpart, the Nokia X’s home screen comprises of boxed colorful re-sizable live tiles which can easily be customized to your liking. The core of the device includes Nokia’s HERE suite of applications and interestingly, a host of Microsoft services including Skype and OneDrive.

Launching immediately is the Nokia X which will retail for 89 Euro or about $125. All Nokia X devices will come with one month of free global skype calling and 10 GB of Microsoft OneDrive

One of many questions that is expected to popped up on the interwebs is whether or not Microsoft will continue to develop and produce more Android devices post acquisition. It has been argued that the codename “Normandy” signifies Microsoft’s involvement with the project to seed Applications to the new Nokia store that will ultimately be ported to the Windows Phone store as a stop gap for the app gap. For many, the irony that Nokia’s last device happens to run a version of software loathed by Microsoft is an understatement and will continue to be a big subject for debate over the next few weeks.

SPECS

	Nokia X	Nokia X+	Nokia XL
Screen	4-inch IPS LCD, 800 x 480px	4-inch IPS LCD, 800 x 480px	5-inch IPS LCD, 800 x 480px
RAM	512MB	768MB	768MB
Storage	Up to 32GB MicroSD	Up to 32GB MicroSD; 4GB card included	Up to 32GB MicroSD; 4GB card included
Rear camera	3-megapixel fixed focus	3-megapixel fixed focus	5-megapixel with autofocus and flash
Front camera	-	-	2-megapixel
Processor	8225 Qualcomm Snapdragon 1GHz Dual Core	8225 Qualcomm Snapdragon 1GHz Dual Core	8225 Qualcomm Snapdragon 1GHz Dual Core
Networks	ESGM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 WCDMA 900 / 2100	ESGM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 WCDMA 900 / 2100	ESGM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 WCDMA 900 / 2100
Dimensions	115.5 x 63 x 10.4mm	115.5 x 63 x 10.4mm	141.3 x 77.7 x 10.8mm
Weight	128.66g	128.66g	190g
Standby time	2G = Up to 28.5 days 3G = Up to 22 days	2G = Up to 28.5 days 3G = Up to 22 days	2G = Up to 41 days 3G = Up to 26 days
Talk time	2G = Up to 13.3 hours 3G = Up to 10.5 hours	2G = Up to 13.3 hours 3G = Up to 10.5 hours	2G = Up to 16 hours 3G = Up to 13 hours