HMD Global has announced the Nokia 8 V 5G UW, a new upper mid-range Android smartphone that will be available on Verizon. The hardware is similar to the Nokia 8.3 5G, save for a few key differences, namely the addition of mmWave antennas for Verizon’s Ultra Wideband 5G network.

Nokia 8 V 5G UW: Specifications

Specification

Nokia 8 V 5G UW

Build

  • Aluminum core and frame
  • Front: Gorilla Glass 5
  • Back: Gorilla Glass 3 vacuum-molded into a 3D shape

Dimensions & Weight

  • 171.90 x 78.56 x 8.99mm
  • 220g

Display

  • 6.81-inch LCD
  • 2400 x 1080 resolution
  • 20:9 aspect ratio
  • 120Hz refresh rate

SoC

  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G Mobile Platform
    • Octa-Core CPU (1 x 2.4GHz + 1 x 2.2GHz + 6 x 1.8GHz Kryo 475)
    • Adreno 620 GPU
    • 7nm EUV fabrication process

RAM & Storage

  • 6GB LPDDR4X RAM + 64GB storage
  • 8GB LPDDR4X RAM + 128GB storage
  • Expandable storage with MicroSD

Battery & Charging

  • 4500mAh battery
  • 18W fast charging via USB Type-C port

Rear Camera(s)

  • Primary: 64MP rear camera with Dual LED flash, ZEISS Optics,
  • Secondary: 12MP ultra wide-angle lens,
  • Tertiary: 2MP macro
  • Quarternary: 2MP depth sensor

Front Camera(s)

24MP front-facing camera

Audio

  • 3.5 mm headphone jack
  • FM radio receiver
  • OZO audio

Connectivity

  • 5G SA/ NSA / Dual 4G VoLTE,
  • WiFi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz),
  • Bluetooth 5,
  • GPS/GLONASS/Beidou,
  • Single / Dual SIM

Software

Android 10

Security

Side-mounted fingerprint sensor

HMD Global said it “strategically” placed three mmWave antennas around the Nokia 8 V 5G UW’s chassis, one more than you’d normally find. The idea is to provide people with an improved mmWave experience, which is notoriously finicky with offering a reliable and consistent connection. Despite the inclusion of three mmWave antennas, the device is still just 8.9mm in depth.

The Nokia 8 V 5G UW features a 6.81-inch Full HD+ LCD screen with a 120Hz refresh rate alongside the i3 display processor from Pixelworks. Under-the-hood, the smartphone is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 765G processor and comes equipped with 6GB/8GB of RAM and 64GB/128GB of storage. Both options offer expandable storage via microSD.

A side-mounted fingerprint sensor is included for biometrics, and there’s a quad-camera setup comprised of a 64MP main rear camera joined by a 12MP wide-angle camera, a 2MP macro camera, and a 2MP depth sensor. It’s all contained in a build comprised of an aluminum core and frame, the back of which is protected by a layer of Gorilla Glass 3 vacuum-molded into a 3D shape. There’s also a layer of Gorilla Glass 5 for the display.

The device also offers a 4500mAh battery with 18W wired charging support, runs Android 10 out of the box, and has a 3.5mm headphone jack, so you don’t have to worry about purchasing wireless headphones just yet. For those who like convenience, there’s a programmable Google Assistant button, making it very easy to start barking out requests.

Nokia 8.3 5G XDA Forums

Notably, the Nokia 8 V 5G UW isn’t part of the Android One program, unlike many of HMD Global's other Nokia-branded smartphones. None of HMD Global's carrier-branded devices are part of the Android One program, though HMD Global has committed to providing two years of OS updates and 18 months of security updates. Compare that to the Google Pixel 5, which offers three years of software and security updates.

Pricing and Availability

The Nokia 8 V 5G UW can be purchased from Verizon’s website, a Verizon store, or Best Buy beginning November 12. It’ll be available in Meteor Grey for $699. Verizon recently launched its 5G Nationwide network, so the new Nokia device comes at a fortuitous time.