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The Nokia Android handset you’ve been waiting for is reportedly coming

Published Jul 7th, 2014 6:50AM EDT
Nokia Lumia Android Smartphone

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It took Nokia several years to launch an Android handset of its own, but the company’s Android vision wasn’t exactly what fans were expecting. In early 2014, Nokia announced budget-friendly Android smartphones that weren’t top-of-the-line flagship handsets and didn’t even run an Android OS version filled with all the goodies most Android users have grown to love. Following the Microsoft purchase, Nokia released one more mid-range Android handset, which was in line with its predecessors. However, Microsoft is now rumored to launch a different kind of Android handset in the future, one that will be included in the Lumia family rather than the X family of affordable devices.

The news comes from famed leaker @evleaks. “Big news: Android-powered Lumia incoming, from Nokia by Microsoft,” he wrote, without providing any other details about the handset.

It’s not clear when such a device will be released, or whether Microsoft will embrace Google’s Android complete with Google services for a Lumia Android handset – a scenario that seems highly unlikely – but assuming the report is accurate, an Android handset part of the Lumia family should at least offer better specs and build quality.

For what it’s worth, Microsoft is already used to making money from Android. The company has in place multiple licensing agreements with many Android device makers, with some reports indicating that Microsoft may be getting around $2 billion in fees from Android OEMs per year.

Chris Smith Senior Writer

Chris Smith has been covering consumer electronics ever since the iPhone revolutionized the industry in 2008. When he’s not writing about the most recent tech news for BGR, he brings his entertainment expertise to Marvel’s Cinematic Universe and other blockbuster franchises.

Outside of work, you’ll catch him streaming almost every new movie and TV show release as soon as it's available.