This is an archive article published on April 4, 2018
‘Notch is an interesting phenomenon’… can we read more into HMD Global CMO Pekka Rantala’s comment?
In an interview with Indianexpress.com, HMD Global’s Chief Marketing officer Pekka Rantala has admitted that the notch design is an interesting element to add to the smartphone.
Looks like HMD Global’s next-generation flagship smartphone, the Nokia 9, will have the notch design, similar to the iPhone X, (Image of Nokia 8 Sirocco for representation)
More smartphone manufacturers are embracing the notch, the design trend started by the Essential Phone and later popularised by Apple with the iPhone X. It not only helped Apple make the iPhone X a distinctive looking device, but also inspired other companies to follow the design language for their future phones. Even though HMD Global is yet to offer a Nokia-branded phone with the “notch”, the company’s CMO does find this aspect of the design language “interesting”.
In an interview with Indianexpress.com, HMD Global’s Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing officer Pekka Rantala has admitted that the notch design is an interesting element to add to the smartphone. Could this mean the company’s next flagship will have the controversial design element? Well, we are not hazarding a guess. “Some people may like the notch and some may not like it. We don’t have a phone with the notch, but it is one interesting phenomenon in the market,” Pekka said after the India launch of the company’s new line of Android smartphones.
Speculation is rife that HMD Global is working on the company’s next-generation flagship, likely to be called the Nokia 9, with an iPhone X-like notch and a triple camera setup with a 41MP sensor. The smartphone is expected to launch in the second half of the year.
When Apple launched the iPhone in September, the company chose to add the controversial notch on the top of the display. The idea behind the notch was to accommodate Apple’s sophisticated TrueDepth camera that is used to unlock the phone through advanced face-unlocking technology. But, now every other smartphone manufacturer has adopted the notch, the feature that was initially perceived as uncool.
Asus, Huawei, Oppo, Vivo, and OnePlus are some of the companies that have wholeheartedly accepted that the notch design is here to stay. OnePlus’ next flagship Android smartphone, the OnePlus 6, will come with a notch. The company’s co-founder Carl Pei insists the notch will give more real estate to the user. Even Google agrees that notches will be integral to the smartphone design. Android P, Googe’s next version of mobile operating system, will introduce display cutout support for Android apps, letting developers “take full advantage of the latest device screens with fullscreen content.”
HMD Global, the company formed by ex-Nokia employees which owns the rights to manufacture Nokia-branded phones, has launched three Android One-branded smartphones in India – New Nokia 6, Nokia 7 Plus, and Nokia 8 Sirocco. All three smartphones were initially announced at the annual Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February. Nokia 8110 4G feature phone didn’t get a mention at the press event held in Delhi, but it will be launched in India in the coming days.
Anuj Bhatia is a seasoned personal technology writer at indianexpress.com with a career spanning over a decade. Active in the domain since 2011, he has established himself as a distinct voice in tech journalism, specializing in long-form narratives that bridge the gap between complex innovation and consumer lifestyle.
Experience & Career: Anuj has been a key contributor to The Indian Express since late 2016. Prior to his current tenure, he served as a Senior Tech Writer at My Mobile magazine and held a role as a reviewer and tech writer at Gizbot. His professional trajectory reflects a rigorous commitment to technology reporting, backed by a postgraduate degree from Banaras Hindu University.
Expertise & Focus Areas: Anuj’s reporting covers the spectrum of personal technology, characterized by a unique blend of modern analysis and historical context. His key focus areas include:
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Anuj is a trusted voice in the industry, recognized for his ability to de-jargonize trending topics and provide context to rapid technological advancements. His authority is reinforced by his on-ground presence at major international tech conferences and his nuanced approach to product reviews. By balancing coverage of the world's most valuable tech brands with emerging startups, he offers a holistic and objective view of the global technology landscape.
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Looks like HMD Global’s next-generation flagship smartphone, the Nokia 9, will have the notch design, similar to the iPhone X, (Image of Nokia 8 Sirocco for representation)
