Nokia 6.1 officially launches in the US as part of Google's Android One family

If you're planning to buy a new mid-range smartphone that doesn't cost more than $300 unlocked, as of this week, you can get an official US variant of the Nokia 6.1. Announced back in February (and known as Nokia 6 2018 in some markets), the Nokia 6.1 succeeds the Nokia 6 of 2017, bringing improvements on almost all fronts.

Made out of aluminum, the Noia 6.1 employs a unibody design, sports a 5.5-inch 1080p IPS display with a traditional 16:9 aspect ratio, and runs Android 8 Oreo. The phone is part of Google's Android One program, which means it'll receive timely software updates for at least 2 years from now.

The Nokia 6.1 is powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 processor, further featuring 4 GB of RAM, 32 GB of expandable storage space, and a 3,000 mAh battery with fast charging. On the back, the new smartphone has a fingerprint reader and a 16 MP Zeiss-branded camera with 4K video recording, while the front hosts an 8 MP camera. 

One thing that you definitely have to keep in mind is that the Nokia 6.1 is fully compatible only with GSM/LTE carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile, so getting it for Verizon, Sprint, or US Cellular is not a wise idea.

According to HMD Global (which develops and sells all Nokia-branded phones), the official US launch date of the Nokia 6.1 is May 6 - this Sunday. Both Best Buy and Amazon already allow you to order the new handset for $269 - via the source links below - but they won't ship it before Sunday. If you're not sure you need this new device in your life, our Nokia 6.1 hands-on might help you make a decision.  

P.S.: You may have seen a new Nokia 6 listed on Amazon last month, but that wasn't the phone's official US variant.

sources: Press release, Best Buy, Amazon