- HMD Global has developed a modern concept inspired by the Nokia N95 that was never launched.
- The phone has a sliding display with a large speaker and two selfie cameras.
- The concept also has a built-in stand that is attached around the rear camera array.
HMD Global has redesigned several Nokia devices over the years, including the iconic 3310 and the 8110 from the Matrix film franchise. Now it turned out that the company was planning to redesign another classic: the Nokia N95.
According to a tweet from HMD’s Juho SarvikasThe flagship of the N-series inspired a modern planing concept that was ultimately abandoned. And the company actually made a reference device as described in Mr. Mobile’s video below (skip to 6:10).
Unlike the N95, which has been slid up to reveal a T9 keyboard or down to control playback, the modern N95 concept slides from left to right, showing a selfie camera duo and a continuous one Speaker grille. Aesthetically, it retains Nokia’s current design language: a circular rear-view camera array and smooth lines. However, a flip ring around the cameras acts as a built-in stand.
A vertical sliding system was also considered. Sliding the screen up will display a “very loud speaker,” while sliding it down reveals two front cameras and LEDs. Sarvikas notes that the problem with this design is that users don’t “Access cameras and speakers at the same time. “
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In the age of crazy smartphone form factors that have spawned leaflets, T-screens, and modern flip phones, the Nokia concept doesn’t seem that far-fetched. If anything, the concept would arguably be the most practical non-traditional form factor available, especially when viewing content. According to Sarvikas, the “The aim was to ensure user-friendliness in both landscape and portrait format as well as convenient one-handed operation. “They probably nailed that with the sideways slide.
Unlike the more adventurous form factors currently available, a simple side slider is likely cheaper to build than a foldable phone or flip phone. Dare we say, if it’s anything like the N95, it should be pretty rugged too.
While there doesn’t seem to be a plan to bring this concept to market right now, we see no reason HMD wouldn’t consider sliding phones in the future. Whether this device can capture the magic of the N95 and bring something really useful to the market remains to be seen.
Would you buy a Nokia N95-inspired slide phone if HMD made one? Let us know what you think in the comment below or vote in the poll above.