- Analysis by KJ David
An updated version of the Nokia 8, the Nokia 8 Sirocco was the highest-specked smartphone to come out of Nokia during the 2018 Mobile World Congress. Despite being Nokia's principal MWC 2018 entry, however, it does not look like a solid contender with respect to selfies, offering a depressing 5-megapixel-only front-facing camera -- the best selfie phones on the market do not settle for anything less than 13-megapixel front cam resolutions. Its cons also include the absence of a standard 3.5mm headset jack , which basically forces users to use a USB-C-to-3.5mm adapter or just go with wireless headsets.
Adding to its weak points is a 3260mAh battery capacity that sounds uninspired in comparison with the roughly 4000mAh power caps boasted by some of its high-end rivals as well as some of the best phablets out there. The Nokia 7 plus, which is a lesser phone in terms of technical pros and cons, even packs a higher capacity of 3800mAh. Additionally, its battery does not quite match the sophistication of the Sirocco's flagship-caliber 5.5-inch Quad HD (2560 x 1440) pOLED display , which, by the way, flows out towards its edges and is shielded by a scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass 5 panel . Fortunately, it supports Qi-standard wireless charging , claiming to refill up to 50 percent of the battery's full-tank capacity in 30 minutes.
Joining the forenamed competitive display in the Nokia 8 Sirocco's list of pros is a dual-lens rear camera that brings to mind our list of the best smartphones for photography . Its dual cam consists of a 12-megapixel f/1.7 primary lens and a 13-megapixel subsidy telephoto lens , the latter enabling things like optical zooming (2x) and background blur adjustment. ZEISS optics , which we have observed on several older Nokia Androids as well, and a dual-tone flash also join the mix.
Also part of its multimedia pros and cons is a three-microphone system coupled with Nokia's spatial audio-recording technology , promising distortion-free captured audio at volumes of up to 132 decibels. It only has one speaker , though, whereas a lot of other high-enders pack dual-speaker systems, but at least Smart Amp tuning is also on board.
Powering the Sirocco's specs from inside its stainless steel housing is a respectable Snapdragon 835 2.36GHz + 1.9GHz processor partnered with a hefty 6GB DDR4X RAM . Its 128GB internal storage capacity also befits a flagship smartphone, at least as of this data-driven review, while an IP67 rugged certification gives it a layer of waterproofing .
Our verdict: Although not exactly an immaculate flagship contender, especially when it comes to selfies and raw battery power, this Nokia 8 offshoot points Nokia's smartphone lineup in a favorable direction by catering to multitaskers and multimedia junkies.
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