nokia-x-browsermarkThe nearly mythical Nokia X may be so close to release that Benchmark numbers are starting to appear online. The handset is also known as Nokia Normandy and under the codename Nokia RM-980. Typically, benchmark start appearing online when the device’s software is pretty much done, and optimizations are somewhat in place. Company employees are usually careful not to leak any names, but if the Benchmark numbers start to appear on sites like Rightware.com (the high-profile benchmark developer behind BaseMark X), it may indicate that units have started to go out of the Nokia inner-circle and into a second tier of people who are not as diligent (carriers, retail partners, government entities…)

While this is not definitive “proof” of the existence or the performance of the Nokia X handset, it seems like a good indicator to validate that the Nokia X will be an entry-level or mid-range handset. With a score of 1898 in Browsermark, it is far behind the leading handsets (iPhone 5s, NVIDIA Shield etc…) which can get more than 3600 points.

Several leaks claim to depict the hardware specs (including many colors), and while they vary at time (1GHz to 1.7GHz), things revolve around a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon platform, a 4” (800×480) display, a 5 Megapixel camera and a 1500 mAh battery. Not drool-worthy specs, but the pricing will be critical to the value of the overall package. If the phone is indeed launched at Mobile World Congress, it will make history as Nokia’s first Android handset, and open a new chapter for the company.

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