Add GIZMOCHINA as Preferred Source on Google
HMD has dusted off a familiar name from Nokia’s past and is bringing the Asha sub-brand back with a new entry-level smartphone, which is built on top of the Android Open Source Project. It’s a clear move toward simple, affordable devices for people who just want the basics without the extra cost of more capable Android phones.
It comes in black and lime green, is 10.2 mm thick, and weighs just 145 grams. Up front there’s a 5″ LCD screen with 854×480 resolution and a 2MP selfie camera. On the back sits a matching 2MP main camera with an LED flash.
Inside, it runs a Unisoc T137 processor with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage, which you can expand with a microSD card up to 128GB. It has a removable 2,500mAh battery that charges at 5W and is claimed to last up to 32 hours. Connectivity covers dual 4G SIMs, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS, and a USB Type-C port.
The phone runs on Pulse OS, which is based on Android. One notable difference is that it doesn’t come with Google Play services or the usual Google apps pre-installed. Instead, HMD offers its own app store with a selection of lighter apps. While the brand didn’t mention any supported apps except for TikTok Lite in their website, unofficial reports name Facebook Lite, Instagram Lite, WhatsApp, and YouTube. The idea is to keep the system simple and focused on core communication and entertainment.
Pricing:
HMD hasn’t announced official global pricing yet, though the phone has shown up in places like the Philippines for about 3,990 Philippine pesos (around $65 / ₹6,000). It’s being positioned as a lite smartphone that sits between HMD’s basic feature phones and more capable (and more expensive) budget Android devices.
It doesn’t have the high-resolution cameras or larger display you’d find on a regular Android phone, but that also means it should feel less distracting. The one trade-off is that it leans a bit more into the app ecosystem, including social media, compared to HMD’s more digital-detox-friendly feature phones. Still, it could make a solid secondary device that’s neither too dumb nor too boring.
The removable battery, compact size, and Asha branding only add to the appeal for anyone who owned the original Nokia Asha 305.
Don’t miss a thing! Join our Telegram community for instant updates and grab our free daily newsletter for the best tech stories!
For more daily updates, please visit our News Section.
(Source: HMD)
Comments