Nokia has unveiled its Android based range of devices at this year’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. We detailed rumours of such a device possibly being released at MWC 2014 last week, and as it turns out, there isn’t just one, but three Android-powered devices.  The Nokia X, X+ and XL will feature an Android OS in the guise of a Windows Phone UI, with the Finnish manufacturer also showcasing two new additions to the Asha range - the 220 and 230.    

X marks the spot

Nokia is calling this new Android-based platform, ‘X’, aiming to reach new segments of consumers with the lure of Android apps.

The Nokia X, is setup as the all-rounder, featuring a 4” WVGA display, 3 MP camera, 1 GHz dual core Snapdragon processor, 512 MB of RAM and 4 GB of internal storage. The X+ is fitted with the same display and processor as the X, but has 768 MB of RAM and a micro SD slot for expandable storage, an aspect the X does not have. The XL, as the name would suggest, is the largest of the three devices, with a 5” WVGA screen, 5 MP front and 2 MP rear facing cameras,with the same chipset and RAM as the X+.

All three devices’ interface resemble a scaled down version of the Windows Phone metro-style tile layout we have come to expect from Nokia. Key differences from early hands-on videos, show the X range fitted with a single navigation key located at the bottom of the device. This allows users to both scroll backwards through menus and bring up the home screen. Nokia has also seemed to do away with any designated app tray, instead all apps are located at the bottom of the home screen menu. Users will still however be able to customise the size of tiles as well as have access to Nokia’s Fastlane feature, which collates all notifications, calendar content and recent activity into one seamless view.

New Ashas also

Although receiving less attention than the X range, Nokia also showed off two new Asha devices, the 220 and 230,designed for users “experiencing the internet for the first time”. The 220 is said to be an evolution of the budget Asha 110 feature phone, fitted with a 2.4” QVGA screen, 2 MP camera and micro SD slot to cater for up to 32 GB of expandable storage. The 230 features a slightly larger 2.8” QVGA display with a similar camera and microSD setup, tagged as the most affordable touch-enabled device Nokia has ever produced. Both devices will be available in single and dual-sim variants. 

Nokia Asha 220 (left)and Asha 230 (right)

Pricing for all these devices are designed to entice first time smartphone users, in an effort for the company to target emerging smart device markets, according to Nokia. The X is said to retail at €89, with the X+ and XL going for an estimated €99 and €109 respectively. The cost savvy Asha 220 will sell for €29 and the 230 will set you back €45.

Unfortunately pricing for SA markets is not confirmed, but both X and Asha ranges are expected go on sale by the end of Q1 2014.