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Nokia D1C release date, specs rumors: Two variants to launch at MWC 2017; four new devices to arrive in Q2 or Q3 2017

Nokia is expected to launch five Android-powered smartphones next year. The D1C is slated to launch at MWC 2017. | Reuters/Dado Ruvic

Nokia is hoping to regain its former glory by returning to the mobile phone market in 2017. According to the latest reports, Finnish company HMD Global is gearing up to introduce five different devices in the coming year and that the Nokia D1C will be the first smartphone to be released.

While Nokia may be working on several devices right now, it is the D1C that is most popular among tech enthusiasts as its specs and design have been the subject of touted leaks and speculations for several months now. The device has also been spotted in several benchmarking sites such as AnTuTu and Geekbench.

It is said that the Nokia D1C will have two versions. The first will feature premium specs while the second model will serve as a midrange offering. The former will reportedly have a 5.5-inch display with a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels, while the latter will have a 5-inch display with the same resolution. The smartphone is rumored to be equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 series processor, 4 GB of random access memory (RAM) and 64 GB of internal storage. Both devices are said to come with similar specs and will come preinstalled with the Android 7.0 Nougat operating system. However, only the high-end model is expected to have a fingerprint scanner on the front panel.

The high-end Nokia D1C is said to cost $200, while the cheaper version will be priced at $150.

Meanwhile, it was recently revealed that four other Nokia models will be launched in 2017. According to Digitimes, industry sources have revealed that these devices will have displays ranging from 5 to 5.7 inches. The resolution will also range from Wide Quad HD to Full HD. LG Display, Century Technology (CTC) and Innolux are said to be supplying the display panels for Nokia.

The first Nokia device is expected to be introduced at the upcoming Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February 2017. Following the release of the Nokia D1C, the four other devices are said to arrive in the second and third quarter of next year. However, it should be noted that HMD Global has yet to make an official announcement.