🎉 Nokiamob Turns 14: Still Here, Still Fighting

So, recently (8.04.2012.) this blog reached its 14th year of existence, and honestly, it’s been quite a turbulent ride, especially over the past year or two. We’ve witnessed something many of us (didn’t) expect, the clear decline of HMD Global and what feels like the slow dismantling of its original vision. New devices are reaching only a limited number of markets, often without much impact, and in some cases, they’re simply not worth covering. Even feature phones, once a stronghold, seem to be left without proper promotion.

The direction the company is heading today isn’t even 5% of what it once was back in 2016, when the dream was to revive a brand that felt almost immortal. There are occasional leaks hinting at a return to older design ideas, like centered camera modules, but from where we stand, it feels more like a change of manufacturer than a true comeback (HMD Ace by smashx_60).

The State of Nokiamob? The Nokiamob crew is still here, alive and kicking, but life has caught up with most of us. Work, family, and everyday responsibilities have naturally slowed down our writing. Still, behind the scenes, we’ve been thinking a lot about the future.

In collaboration with our partner site Mob.hr, we’ve been exploring new directions. It’s still a work in progress, but there are bright spots, especially thanks to Krešo, who has been incredibly productive, publishing multiple engaging posts daily and keeping the site alive and relevant. I’m personally very grateful for that effort.

Maybe it is time for a change? You may have noticed subtle changes already, even in our banner. Some letters have faded… much like the meaning of “Nokia” in today’s smartphone world.

We’ve even been thinking about renaming the site. But who knows, maybe this year surprises us. Maybe a new manufacturer steps in and truly invests the emotion, time, and resources needed to bring Nokia phones back to life. Realistically, though, the market is brutal. Companies like Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo dominate huge portions of global shipments, alongside giants like Apple and Samsung. Breaking into that space, or returning to it, is anything but easy (Counterpoint research).

Despite everything, Nokiamob is still here. Yes, we rely heavily on ads to keep things running, and we know that doesn’t always make for the best reading experience. We’ll try to improve that. In the meantime, switching to desktop mode still offers a cleaner view. Maybe we’ll see a great Nokia phone again. Maybe not. Maybe it’s time to look at alternatives, even something like Jolla and its different approach. Who knows what the future brings.

❤️ To all our readers, thank you for sticking with us and being a crucial building block of this blog. And to the Nokiamob crew around the world, Stipe, Krešo, Zlatko, Milorad, Indranil, J.K., Abdulla, and Jett, thank you for being part of this story.