Since detaching itself from the Nokia brand, Human Mobile Devices (HMD) continues to prove that it's in no rush to release flagships. The company has launched several smartphones this year with dumbed down features, including HMD Vibe. These devices cater to a budget target audience, and now, HMD Atlas is joining the list.
Earlier in February, HMD released a pixelated poster urging fans to anticipate their upcoming phones. Among them was the classic pink Barbie phone designed in collaboration with Mattel. A leaker on X finally revealed the last piece of the puzzle as the HMD Atlas.
HMD Atlas is rumored to bring upgrades from previous specs
HMD Atlas, like its fellow branded phones, will not have the latest features. But it'll bring significant upgrades from what we've seen on the Nokia G400, HMD Vibe, and Pulse series previously. According to a leaker on X, the phone has a 6.6-inch LCD display with FHD+ (1080 x 2400 pixels) resolution and 120Hz refresh rate.
It'll sport only the Olive Green color, and will be a heavy one at 210g with a large 5500mAh battery. Though it doesn't have an IP68 rating, it's dust and splash resistant. Powering it is Qualcomm's Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 processor, which is several generations behind the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. Without being told, the newer chipset has a faster CPU speed, connectivity, and higher benchmark scores.
The device will also use Qualcomm's Adreno 613 GPU. There's only one memory option, which brings 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. However, you can expand it with a microSDXC card. The processor does bring WiFi 5, 5G connectivity, Bluetooth 5.1 and NFC for fast data transfer and compatibility with most devices and networks. It also supports GPS using the European Union's global navigation satellite system.
HMD Atlas cameras are decent performers
The HMD Atlas uses the modern punch hole design for the selfie camera. It has 16MP and can shoot videos in 1080p resolution at 30fps. The dual rear cameras are 48MP wide and 8MP Ultra wide respectively, and there's an LED flash to support them. You can also record videos in 1080p resolution at 30fps.
There's a 3.5mm audio jack where you can plug in your wired earphones, and a fingerprint sensor at the side for authentication. Like most smartphones, it supports text messaging with the SMS and MMS protocols, as well as Email, Push Email and IM. For browsing, it supports HTML5, which is the latest standard for web technologies.
No launch date for the Atlas yet
The HMD Atlas will have Android 14 preinstalled. For now, it's the latest OS until Android 15 comes later this year. Though HMD hasn't announced the phone's release date or key specifications officially, the phone is expected to have a $240 price tag. It's reasonably priced for a midrange smartphone and a competitive option in the budget-friendly market.
