Nokia May License Its Brand to a New Smartphone Maker After Split With HMD
Nokia and HMD Global began distancing themselves from each other last year, with Nokia-branded phones slowly disappearing from HMD's official website and being replaced by HMD-branded models. Now, the iconic Nokia brand might make a return to the smartphone market — but under a new partnership.
A post from a Nokia Community Manager on Reddit mentioned that the company is open to collaborating with a “large scale mobile manufacturer,” hinting at a new licensing opportunity. While this isn’t an official confirmation, it does spark speculation about who could take on the Nokia name next.
Over the years, Nokia has licensed its brand across several segments:
Streamview for TVs
RichGo for headphones and mobile accessories
OFF Global for laptops
Most of these licensing deals have now ended, but the Nokia name still carries weight in the mobile world. Despite some industry rumors — including a now-denied report about Samsung's interest in Nokia's network business — the Finnish brand remains active and is expected to release its Q2 2025 financial results this Thursday. For Q1, it reported a solid operating profit of €156 million on net sales of €4.39 billion.
Meanwhile, HMD Global isn’t doing so well, recently announcing that it would be scaling back its U.S. operations. This further opens the door for Nokia to consider new brand partnerships in the phone market.
Would you like to see an established manufacturer take over the Nokia brand, or a startup like HMD once was? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Image Source: Shutterstock
