Nokia has resisted joining the Android train for years even when they were not doing so well and the Android platform was awesome. That has now changed with the launch of the Nokia X family of devices at Mobile World Congress yesterday. The first three phones in the family – the Nokia X, Nokia X+ and Nokia XL – run on the new Nokia X software platform, that is based on Google’s Android operating system.
The Nokia X operating system is a forked variant of Android that has open-source elements of Android and elements of the Asha and Windows Phone OS. The new OS is similar to the operating system Amazon has on the Kindle Fire. Nokia X users will use a curated list of Android apps because they will not have access to the Google Play Store for apps.
The Nokia X users will have access to Nokia apps like HERE Maps, Nokia MixRadio and they will also come pre-loaded with a variety of third-party apps and games. Microsoft services will also come to Nokia X and they include free cloud storage using OneDrive and one month of Skype’s Unlimited World Subscription for a limited time.
Nokia X
The Nokia X will run on the Nokia X OS and will come with a 4-inch (480×800 pixel) LCD touchscreen, a 3 megapixel fixed-focus back camera (2048×1536 pixels), a 1GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor, 512MB RAM and 4GB of storage (expandable to 32GB via microSD).
Other specifications
Dimensions: 115.5 x 63 x 10.4 mm
Weight: 128.7 grams
SIM: Micro-SIM
Battery: Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery
Talk time: Up to 13 hours on 2G and Up to 10 hours on 3G
Available colours: Bright green, bright red, cyan, yellow, black and white
The Nokia X will retail at around Ksh. 11,000 (EUR 89).
Nokia X+
The Nokia X+ will run on the Nokia X OS and will come with a 4 inch (480×800 pixel) LCD touchscreen, a 3-megapixel fixed-focus camera (2048×1536 pixels), 1GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor, 768MB RAM and 4GB of storage (expandable to 32GB via microSD).
Other specifications
Dimensions: 115.5 x 63 x 10.4 mm
Weight: 128.7 grams
SIM: Micro-SIM
Battery: Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery
Talk time: Up to 13 hours on 2G and Up to 10 hours on 3G
Available colours: Bright green, bright red, cyan, yellow, black and white
The Nokia X+ will retail at around Ksh. 12,000 (EUR 99).
Nokia XL
The Nokia XL is the biggest in the Nokia X family. It will come with a 5 inch (480 x 800 pixels) LCD touchscreen, a 5 Megapixel back camera (2592Ñ…1944 pixels), 1GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor, 768MB RAM and 4GB of storage (expandable to 32GB via microSD).
Other specifications
Dimensions: 141.4 x 77.7 x 10.9 mm
Weight: 190 grams
SIM: Micro-SIM
Battery: Li-Ion 2000 mAh battery
Talk time: Up to 16 hours on 2G and Up to 13 hours on 3G
Available colours: Bright green, orange, cyan, yellow, black and white
The Nokia XL will retail at around Ksh. 13,000 (EUR 109).
First hands-on video with the Nokia X family
Nokia X Family Specs Comparison
| 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 Snapdragon1GHz Dual Core | 8225 Qualcomm Snapdragon1GHz Dual Core | 8225 Qualcomm Snapdragon1GHz Dual Core |
| Networks | ESGM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900WCDMA 900 / 2100 | ESGM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900WCDMA 900 / 2100 | ESGM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900WCDMA 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 days3G = Up to 22 days | 2G = Up to 28.5 days3G = Up to 22 days | 2G = Up to 41 days3G = Up to 26 days |
| Talk time | 2G = Up to 13.3 hours3G = Up to 10.5 hours | 2G = Up to 13.3 hours3G = Up to 10.5 hours | 2G = Up to 16 hours3G = Up to 13 hours |