Nokia 2.2 Android Phone With AI Camera Now Shipping In The US

HMD Global's Nokia 2.2 Android smartphone is now shipping in the United States, the company has announced. The launch gives consumers another attractive budget phone option at a very modest price, one that features an AI-powered camera for low-light environments, face unlock, and access to Google Assistant. Though the handset ships with Android 9 Pie, HMD says the model is Android Q ready with the promise of operating system updates for two years and monthly security updates for three years.

The Nokia 2.2 has a sleek, modern design with a display that nearly covers the entire front of the device and a 'hole punch' camera positioned at the top. This is the first model in the Nokia 2 series lineup to be part of the Android One program.

This model features a 5.71-inch HD+ edge-to-edge display with 400 nits brightness alongside a MediaTek A22 quad-core chipset, the promise of all-day battery life, and support for Nokia Xpress-on covers. As well, HMD includes a dedicated Google Assistant button on the phone to immediately access the assistant.

The Nokia 2.2's most notable feature is its AI-powered rear camera, which HMD claims is able to capture 'detailed photos' in low-light settings, which are typically beyond the capabilities of smartphones. The software makes this possible by capturing multiple images nearly instantly, then using algorithms to create a single low-grain, higher detailed image.

In addition to the camera, HMD is emphasizing the phone's face unlock feature, which the company says is an 'AI-driven' feature that utilizes 'liveliness detection' and deep-learning algorithms to avoid simply trickery. The features are notable given the Nokia 2.2's low $139 USD price tag; the handset is available in the US starting today from Amazon and Best Buy.