Nokia appears to be using camera technology to differentiate the newest flagship device in its Lumia line of Windows-based smartphones. Although the struggling Finnish phone maker is not expected to officially launch the 928 until May 14, advertisements for the device appeared this week. One was a two-page Vanity Fair ad, suggesting that Nokia is looking to build excitement among mature, affluent smartphone buyers. The ad promises optical image stabilization and Carl Zeiss optics, to enable blur-free photos even in low-light conditions.
The other ad appeared on a billboard in an undisclosed location, touting the Nokia 928 as “the best low-light smartphone camera.” The billboard also displays the Verizon Wireless logo, and have led to speculation that the 928 will be a Verizon Wireless exclusive.
Previous Nokia phones have used 5mm cylindrical capacitors to power flash cameras, but these are power hogs. Recent reports of a much smaller, more efficient capacitor have led to speculation that the 928 will include a Xenon flash, which would enable much better low-light photos.
Sales of the existing Lumia phones have started to pick up steam this year, with 5.6 million phones sold during the first quarter. In comparison, Apple sold 37.4 million iPhones during the quarter and Samsung sold roughly 68 million smartphones.
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