HMD Global wants: under the name Circular to offer subscriptions on smartphones and tablets in the future. With the G60 5G, one of the smartphones presented at the IFA is already available for monthly rental, as are the XR20 and the T10 tablet. HMD Global also has the Nokia X30 5G and T21 Tablet in the luggage for the fair in Berlin.
The company wants to ensure that users use their smartphones and tablets for longer than when they bought one of the devices with a series of “environmentally friendly bonuses”. Longer use of a rented device is rewarded with Seeds of Tomorrow points, which can be used for global sustainability and charities. For example, users can choose to plant trees through partner Ecolog or clean up polluted rivers with Clear Rivers.
If the smartphone is no longer needed one day, subscribers can return it to the manufacturer, who will arrange for the data to be erased before the device is offered to the next customer, if it is still in good condition, or donate it through good goals what to do after more than three years of use.
The first devices offered via Circular are the new G60 5G for 15 euros per month, the XR20 (test) for 25 euros per month, and the T10 for tablets for 12 euros per month. The prices mentioned include a one-time set-up fee of 35 euros. Customers can also add a cellular tariff to their subscription, as the company running HMD Mobile is also an MVNO, a virtual cellular provider that can log into others’ networks. A package with unlimited calls and texts within Germany and 4 GB data volume costs 10 euros extra.
The G60 5G offered by Circular costs 349 euros and is now available in Germany for 349 euros with 4 GB/64 GB in the colors Pure Black and Ice Gray, but would also be available with 4 GB/128 GB and 6 GB/128 GB to be offered. The back of the smartphone is made entirely from recycled plastic and the manufacturer specifies a 60 percent share for the frame.
The main data of the smartphone include a 6.58-inch display with 1,080 × 2,400 pixels at 120 Hz, the Snapdragon 695, a triple camera with 50 MP (wide angle), 5 MP (ultra-wide), and 2 MP (depth) a 4,500 mAh battery. In terms of software, there is a so-called “3-3-3” promise of three years of Android major versions, three years of monthly security patches, and a three-year warranty on the device.
In the X series, the X30 was presented at the IFA, but it will not be available until the fourth quarter for 519 euros with 6GB/128 GB or for 549 euros with 8 GB/256 GB in Cloudy Blue or Ice White target colors. The same three-year promise applies to the device in the areas mentioned. The device also comes with a Snapdragon 695, dual 50MP and 13MP cameras, and a 4,200mAh battery. Instead of the G60 5G’s LCD IPS panel, there’s a 6.43-inch AMOLED panel at 90 Hz that displays 1,080 × 2,400 pixels.
Also in the fourth quarter, the new tablet T21 for 249 euros in the color anthracite gray to Germany. For this device with a 10.4-inch display in 5:3 format (1,200 × 2,000 pixels), HMD Global relies on the Unisoc Tiger T612 as the processor, which uses even older Cortex-A75 and Cortex-A55 cores. The focus here is on the aluminum housing, two years of Android updates, the stereo speakers, Widevine certification for HD streaming, and the NFC interface.
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