Is This the End for Nokia Phones? Brand Seeks New Partner After Split from HMD Global

Nokia and HMD Global officially started parting ways last year, a move that became evident when Nokia-branded phones were de-listed from the official HMD website. In their place, HMD began rolling out its own branded devices. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean the end of the Nokia brand in the smartphone world.

According to a recent post on the Nokia subreddit, a Nokia Community Manager revealed that the company is open to collaborating with a “large-scale mobile manufacturer” to keep the Nokia phone legacy alive. While the source isn't official, it still signals Nokia’s interest in licensing its iconic brand to new partners.

Over the years, Nokia licensed its name across various tech segments – from TVs made by Streamview to headphones from RichGo and laptops via OFF Global. But those licensing agreements have reportedly ended, further distancing the company from consumer electronics.

Meanwhile, HMD Global is facing its own challenges and has announced plans to reduce its operations in the US. On the other hand, Nokia (the parent company) had to shut down speculation last year that Samsung was planning to acquire its network business. Nokia will reveal its Q2 2025 financial results this Thursday, following a Q1 report showing €156 million in operating profit and €4.39 billion in net sales.

With the future of Nokia phones uncertain, the big question remains: which company should take over the Nokia smartphone brand? Should an industry heavyweight like Xiaomi, Motorola, or TCL take the reins, or is there room for another startup like HMD to carry the torch?