HMD Global’s first US 5G phone could be Nokia 8 V 5G UW

For all the marketing that network operators and mobile manufacturers do around 5G, the one thing they leave for customers to learn in the fine print is the availability of 5G networks around the world. Indeed, it is increasing, but at a slow pace and, like 4G, with different bands used by different carriers mean different variants for different networks. HMD Global launched what it advertised as the world’s first truly global 5G phone last March, which might only arrive in the US next week and only from a single carrier.

The Nokia 8.3 5G, which also happens to be the only 5G Nokia handset, makes the “truly global 5G” claim. Thanks to its ability to support all the 5G bands in operation, at least those in the sub-6GHz category. That suggests that it can be used around the world on almost every 5G network, assuming the phone is available there.

Despite the word “Global”, in the US, the Nokia 8.3 5G is ironically missing. And now that it’s moving in that market, ironically, it’s going to support just one band that its foreign rivals don’t support, and only one US carrier.

Before the YouTube footage was taken down, Android Police caught sight of a countdown timer for an event on November 9. It was for a Nokia 8V 5G UW, which made it exclusive to Verizon. “UW” is the marketing word the carrier uses, For the 6GHz mmWave 5G network. That much is certainly not a surprise anymore.

What needs to be seen is that this version would be precisely the same as the only other 5G handset from HMD Global, the Nokia 8.3 5G. If so, Verizon subscribers should expect an exceedingly affordable 5G device with a 6.8-inch FHD+ screen, a large 4,500 mAh battery, and a rather eye-catching circular camera bump.