Midrange Nokia 8.1 available on February 21 for $699

HMD is kicking off its year in smartphones with the Nokia 8.1 - a semi-premium midrange handset that will sell for $699 locally.

$699 might seam cheap when compared to the upper echelon of devices, but it actually buys you a decent amount of phone. The Nokia 8.1 is powered by an eight-core Snapdragon 710 processor, which is a fairly high-end chip. To date, the only phone we've seen with it in Australia is the OPPO R17 Pro, which sets you back $899 outright. And of course, the Nokia 8.1 also has the now typical inclusions of notched display and glass back.

Other key specifications for the Nokia 8.1 include a 6.18-inch 1080p+ display, 64GB of expandable storage, 4GB of RAM, a 12MP + 13MP rear-facing camera, and a 3,500mAh battery said to last up to two days on a single charge. The Nokia 8.1 runs Android One, based on Pie.

You'll find the Nokia 8.1 outright at JB Hi-Fi and Officeworks from February 21 for $699. It comes in a choice of blue or "steel".

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

Read full bio