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Nokia 6 marks the return of an old friend

The Nokia 6 and Arte Black Limited Edition bring Android Nougat, a shiny aluminum design and the return of an iconic phone brand.

Headshot of Kent German
Headshot of Kent German
Kent German Former senior managing editor / features
Kent was a senior managing editor at CNET News. A veteran of CNET since 2003, he reviewed the first iPhone and worked in both the London and San Francisco offices. When not working, he's planning his next vacation, walking his dog or watching planes land at the airport (yes, really).
Kent German
2 min read

Look who's back.

Nokia, the powerhouse phone brand that dominated the planet as the millennium turned, returned to Mobile World Congress today with two new phones, the Nokia 6 and the Nokia 6 Arte Black Limited Edition.

Nokia 6 brings smooth simplicity with a serving of Nougat

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Running on Android (no, not Windows Phone), the phones are part of a comeback strategy to regain a footing in an industry that Nokia helped create. The resurrection comes not from Microsoft, which absorbed the original Nokia's phone business in 2014, but from HMD, a new company formed of former Nokia employees that licensed the Nokia name.

Also announced today were two midrange Android phones, the Nokia 5 and 3, and a (very fun!) rebooted version of the classic Nokia 3310.

It's exciting news for nostalgic fans, but put aside your hopes for classic Nokia features like a kooky keyboard or a battery that will last forever. No, the Nokia 6 and 6 Arte Black Limited Edition take a straightforward "black rectangle" phone design with features that we've seen before.

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Still, that's not to say that the handsets are completely dull. The polished skin is carved from a single block of aluminum, HMD says. I'm not quite sure what the benefit is there, but the result is a pleasantly shiny and smooth design. Simplicity rules here, and there's nothing wrong with that. It even reminds me a bit of the not-so-old Lumia phones, which always were classy in their own right. You'll be able to get the Nokia 6 in two shades of black plus silver, blue and copper.

Feature-wise, they're almost the same except that the Nokia 6 Arte Black Limited Edition has more memory and storage, and a slightly glossier black finish. On both phones, the 5.5-inch display is full HD and covered by Gorilla Glass. Inside is a pure form of Android Nougat. That means no bloatware or special skins, both of which are welcome moves. HMD is pushing "immersive entertainment" as the most prominent features. You'll find a 16-megapixel camera, dual speakers and an amplifier with Dolby Atmos tech.

The Nokia 6 is already sold in China, but now it will be landing in other countries with a 229 euro price tag. That converts to $240, £195 or AU$315. The Nokia 6 Arte Black Limited Edition will sell for 299 euros, which converts to $315, £250 or AU$410. Nokia has not announced a release date or the specific markets for either phone.

Nokia 6 and 6 Arte Black Limited Edition specs