CheckMag | Four classic Nokia smartphones HMD Global should have remade

Smartphones with a QWERTY keyboard got a brief renaissance a few years ago with the launch of models such as the BlackBerry Keyone, BlackBerry KEY2, and the Unihertz Titan. Considering Nokia’s E series of smartphones were famous for their QWERTY keyboard and productivity features, it would have been a great chance for HMD Global to launch a modern remake of one of the models from the series. While there are a lot of models from the series that HMD can choose from, the Nokia E72 is my personal choice.

A modern version of the Nokia E72 would get several key upgrades such as a larger screen with touch support, better cameras, a bigger battery with fast charging, and of course, Android OS. In addition, some features from the 2009 model should be retained such as dedicated keys for email, calendar, and contacts, and an optical trackpad. The trackpad can double as the fingerprint scanner. It would also be nice if it was available to buy in one or more of the original colors such as Amethyst Purple, Rose Gold, or Topaz Brown.

Another Nokia classic smartphone that could have benefited from a relaunch is the Nokia N95. Among its unique features is that you could slide it upwards to reveal the alphanumeric keyboard or  downwards to access a set of media control buttons. Just a few years ago, slider smartphones made a comeback when manufacturers were looking for ways to make smartphones that were completely bezel-free, and that would have been a perfect time for a refreshed Nokia N95.

A refreshed Nokia N95 with a bezel-free display that could slide downwards to reveal the hidden front-facing camera(s) would have been a match for the Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 and the Samsung Galaxy A80.

Nokia’s Communicator series was quite popular in its heydays, and the Nokia E90 was the last model of the series. Boasting a clamshell design, Nokia Communicator smartphones looked like a a regular phone (a display and alphanumeric keyboard) on the front, but when opened, it had a large screen on one side and a QWERTY keyboard on the other, similar to a laptop.

A modern version of the Nokia E90 could be made in two ways. One could be a foldable smartphone like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 (curr. available for $1,799 on Amazon) or they could adopt a design similar to the Microsoft Surface Duo 2 but with a slimmer form factor. However, rather than a display on each side when opened, the right side would house a QWERTY keyboard, allowing the device to be used like a laptop, just like the original. HMD Global could also add stylus support, so it can be used to take notes or doodle.

The Nokia E7 was the last E series smartphone released by Nokia. It had a full touch AMOLED display which users could slide upwards when in landscape mode to access a backlit QWERTY keyboard. Unlike the Nokia E90 Communicator, you couldn’t adjust the angle of the display on the Nokia E7. However, when opened, the hinge would tilt the display towards the user similar to the more recent F(x)Tec Pro1-X.

For a modern remake, a larger display, bigger battery, and of course Android OS are some of the expected features. However, instead of sliding up to reveal a hidden keyboard, HMD Global could put gaming controls there; thus making this refreshed Nokia E7 a gaming smartphone instead of a business-oriented smartphone like the original.