HMD unveils Nokia 123 Shield as its 'most affordable water and dust-resistant feature phone'

HMD has unveiled a new 2G feature phone called Nokia 123 Shield, which the brand touts as its "most affordable water and dust-resistant feature phone" that's also optimized for "reliable call quality."

HMD says the Nokia 123 Shield can withstand rain, splashes, sand, and dust, and while it isn't advertising any IP rating for the phone, a footnote on the official website says the Nokia 123 Shield "meets the requirements of IP65 rating under IEC standard 60529."

Furthermore, HMD states that the Nokia 123 Shield is built from the ground up for outdoor workers. It has a slip-resistant texture on the sides, and also features a rubber seal to protect the headphone and charging ports.

Regarding call quality, HMD claims that the Nokia 123 Shield is optimized for a stronger, more reliable signal for clearer calls and better connectivity compared to 2G feature phones like the Nokia 105.

That said, the Nokia 123 Shield is powered by the Unisoc SC6531E chip, runs S30+ OS, and has 4MB RAM and 4MB of onboard storage, which is expandable up to 32GB via a microSD card.

The Nokia 123 Shield features a 2.4" QVGA display and a QVGA camera on the rear, joined by an LED flash, which can be used as a torch and is 300% brighter than the Nokia 110's flash.

The 2G feature phone packs a 1,750 mAh removable battery that charges via a USB-C port and can offer up to 19 days of standby time and 27.9 hours of talk time.

Other highlights of the Nokia 123 Shield include a 3.5mm headphone jack, dual SIM support, and FM radio (wired and wireless).

Nokia 123 Shield's color options

The Nokia 123 Shield comes in green and purple colors. HMD hasn't revealed its price, but the phone is listed in Bulgaria by multiple retailers for around €35, and in Greece for around €40.

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