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HMD Announces Arrow, First Non-Nokia Smartphone, Launching in India Soon

Published on 14 May, 2024, 10:26 AM IST
Updated on 14 May, 2024, 10:35 AM IST
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Jamshed Avari
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HMD currently sells smartphones under the legacy Nokia name, which still has great recognition in India.

HMD, in partnership with the Rajasthan Royals IPL cricket team which it sponsors, has announced that its first own-branded smartphone in India will be called Arrow. The company’s first teaser doesn’t have much solid information but promises a launch in “only a few weeks”. According to HMD, the name Arrow won its #HMDNameOurSmartphone contest, which was announced on its social media channels in early May. 

The announcement did not include the name of the winner or any details of the company’s selection criteria. Among the hundreds of replies to HMD’s call for name options were “Virtue”, “Punk”, “Sensation”, “Snap”, and “Cosmic”. Several people called for the company to revive Nokia’s distinct Lumia, or go with an Indian-language name such as “Meghnaad”, “Sahas” or “Urjah”. HMD itself highlighted a few presumably tongue-in-cheek entries such as “Naruto” and “GigglesGalore” while thanking users for participating.

HMD’s contest posts referenced the word “sharp” multiple times, referring to the device’s camera, display, and design, but not much is actually known about this upcoming device. It will likely be a rebadged version of one of the HMD Pulse smartphones which were launched in Europe in late April. Three models were announced, the HMD Pulse, Pulse+, and Pulse Pro, so the company might be launching an Arrow series and not just one device in India. Some specifications and design details could be altered to fit local needs and tailor the HMD Arrow to a suitable price point for buyers in India. Additional teasers with more information are likely to be released in the runup to the planned launch. 

HMD will be selling smartphones under its own brand as well as the Nokia brand, which it still holds the licence to for now. The company has in recent years focused more on the entry-level market segment with models such as the Nokia G42 and C42, as well as feature phones such as the Nokia 105, 110 and 215. Capitalising on nostalgia for the classic Nokia portfolio, HMD has also released reimagined and modernised versions of phones from the 1990s and 2000s including the iconic Nokia 3310, 8110, and most recently the 3210.

The HMD Pulse series devices, which mark a new beginning for the company in international markets, are meant to be easily repairable and eco-friendly, with user-replaceable batteries and easily available spare parts. However, specifications remain basic, with all three models based on the entry-level Unisoc T606 SoC, with 720p HD-resolution displays and starting with 4GB of RAM.

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