HMD Global has been set to release the Nokia 9.3 PureView smartphone, but the device has been delayed once again due to issues stemming from the Coronavirus pandemic. The smartphone is slated as the next-generation of HMD’s penta-camera line, following the Nokia 9 PureView, which released in early 2019. Rumors suggest the device will be a flagship tier, running the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chip, to enable 5G.
The Nokia 9.3 PureView release is now delayed until the second half of 2020, according to tech blog, NokiaPowerUser. The device was expected to launch in February, during Mobile World Congress, much like its predecessor. Due to several halts in its release, HMD has not officially announced the device and many of its features remain unconfirmed.
Rumored specs suggest a 6.29-inch Quad HD+ display for the device with an in-display fingerprint sensor and a Corning Gorilla 6 protective cover. Hardware may include 6GB or 8GB RAM options and 128GB or 256GB internal storage options, a USB-C powered 4,500mAh battery, Qi wireless charging support, and stock Android 10 software.
Currently, details on the Nokia 9.3 PureView’s camera system remain scarce, other than the word that the device will feature multiple lenses featuring Zeiss optics. Meanwhile, rumors do suggest its front-facing camera may be a 32-megapixel with a unique set up, either pop-up or under-display to avoid a notch or hole-punch design.
The Nokia 9.3 PureView name is also not 100 percent official at this point. Reports suggest that HMD had plans to call the smartphone the Nokia 9.1 PureView, which then became the Nokia 9.2, and how the 9.3. Many expect the latest change has been to get the device on brand with other recent HMD smartphones, including the Nokia 8.3, Nokia 5.3 and Nokia 1.3. Notably, the Nokia 5.2 was called the 5.3 and was ultimately rebranded.
HMD’s uncertainty about the specifications of the Nokia 9.3 also contributed to its delay. The device was originally supposed to run the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chip, following the Snapdragon 845 on the Nokia.
At one point the device was rumored to be running the Snapdragon 765G chip to enable 5G at a lower cost, but HMD ultimately released the Nokia 8.3 with that chip and branding. Now, reports claiming a Snapdragon 865 chip for the Nokia 9.3 PureView could hint at a high price, likely approaching or exceeding $1,000.
