Have been you unhappy to see Nokia die a second (or is it third?) loss of life earlier this 12 months, when HMD International signaled fairly clearly it had no additional intentions of ever releasing one other smartphone beneath the enduring model that after dominated the cellular business?
If it makes you’re feeling any higher, HMD remains to be very a lot dedicated to the worldwide smartphone market, making an attempt to do its personal factor with its first-ever self-labeled Android handsets. The Nokia model licensee internationally unveiled the Pulse household round a month in the past, and sooner or later since then, the HMD Vibe was evidently discreetly launched within the US.
Whereas we missed that regional announcement, we’re right here at this time to inform you that the budget-friendly Android 14 telephone is now up for grabs stateside completely from HMD’s web site. Priced at a really cheap $149.99 in a single 128GB storage variant, the Vibe cohabits with such gadgets because the Nokia G100, C300, and XR21 on stated web site whereas clearly competing in opposition to the likes of Motorola’s Moto G Play (2024) and Moto G 5G (2023).
Opposite to what you will have anticipated after final month’s HMD Pulse sequence launch, the Vibe will not be 100% an identical with any member of that world trio. Whereas the non-Plus and non-Professional Pulse, as an illustration, packs a Unisoc T606 processor and 5,000mAh battery, the HMD Vibe comes with a presumably extra highly effective Snapdragon 680 chipset and considerably smaller 4,000mAh cell beneath the hood.
Regardless of its not-very-impressive measurement, the 4,000mAh battery is alleged to be succesful sufficient to maintain the lights on for 2 entire days between (10W) prices. That may solely be completed with a really frugal display, and certainly, you are taking a look at a modest HD affair right here with a diagonal of 6.56 inches.
Many of the different specs are equally unremarkable, even for a $150 worth level, together with a 13 + 2MP twin rear-facing digicam system, 5MP selfie snapper, IP52 water and mud resistance, a single speaker, and on the intense aspect, each a headphone jack and microSD card slot.
That leaves the HMD Vibe with 128 gigs of inside space for storing and a 6GB RAM rely as its key promoting factors, particularly in comparison with the aforementioned Moto G Play (2024), which solely provides 64GB storage and 4GB RAM at an an identical $149.99 worth level.
Sadly for HMD, Motorola additionally regularly sells the Moto G 5G (2023) for 150 bucks as a substitute of its $250 listing worth with 128GB storage, 4GB RAM, a hefty 5,000mAh battery, a silky easy 120Hz HD+ show, and, effectively, 5G connectivity. That is a mighty spectacular worth proposition that the 4G LTE-only HMD Vibe cannot actually match proper now.
Adrian, a cellular expertise fanatic because the Nokia 3310 period, has been a dynamic presence within the tech journalism area, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Traits, and Pocketnow earlier than becoming a member of PhoneArena in 2018. His experience spans throughout varied platforms, with a selected fondness for the range of the Android ecosystem. Regardless of the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood together with his work, Adrian’s ardour for tech traits, working, and flicks retains him energized. His dedication to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic assortment of gadgets, saved from private chapter by his choice for ‘sufficient’ over ‘overpriced’.
