Nokia Normandy Specs Leak; Would Microsoft Actually Release It?

Brian P. Rubin -

There are so, so many leaks regarding Nokia’s long-rumored, never-seen Android-powered smartphone, codenamed “Normandy” or “Nokia X” depending on the time of day. Today’s no different, with @evleaks posting alleged specifications for the smartphone in the wee hours of the morning. Even though none of this has ever been concerned, @evleaks has had a really solid track record in terms of accuracy, and is the source for the majority of the leaks regarding the Nokia X thus far.

Behold:

As you can see, these are far from impressive in terms of technical horsepower. With a measely half-gig of RAM, only 4 GB of internal storage, and a dual-core, 1 GHz Snapdragon, the Nokia X isn’t going to be setting any speed records. My girlfriend just traded up from a Samsung Victory, a solid if basic smartphone that we got last summer. The specifications marked for this supposed Nokia X—which hasn’t even been released—are less impressive than what could be considered an already under-powered phone here.

However, the key is in the dual-SIM card, a detail that was first spotted earlier this month. The significance of the dual-SIM, again ably pointed out by a post on Neowin, is their popularity in “developing markets,” around the world, such as certain Asian markets and in India. That last territory seems like a very likely target for the Nokia, if the people and names we’ve seen used in supposed images of the UI are anything to go by. The details of its comparatively lower-powered—and therefore lower-priced—specs also help make an argument for the Nokia X being targeted for these other markets around the world.

All of which begs the question: is Microsoft actually going to allow Nokia to release a product that isn’t powered by Windows? We’ve discussed this possibility before, and I have a feeling that the company could do just that, especially because it’s got Windows stylings, and wouldn’t necessarily hurt its brand in more affluent territories like the U.S. and Western Europe.

Moreover, clearly the Nokia X has gotten a significant amount of attention and funding from its designers—enough that it’s been built, spec’d out, and that it’s being leaked all over the Internet every other day. Microsoft may want to at least try to get a return on that investment by putting it out into the world and recouping that money to put Nokia’s ledger more into the black. And, hey! Maybe the thing will turn a profit.

But as for the Nokia X ever making its way to the United States? I have major doubts. Shame. I’m always interested in tech that turns ideas on their head, and a Windows-skinned Android phone is just that.