HMD wants to revive a Nokia slider phone — but don't hold your breath
HMD Global is floating the idea of bringing back a canceled Nokia slider concept from 2020, pitching it as a way to stand out in a mid-range market full of identical glass rectangles. The phone would be based on a prototype Nokia N95 that was quietly shelved before it ever reached stores. No official announcement has been made, and HMD's confirmed product pipeline for 2025–2026 — Skyline 2, Fusion 2, and GT variants — includes no slider, per a Notebookcheck roadmap leak.
The prototype
The original N95 2020 prototype, first shown publicly by YouTuber MrMobile, featured a screen that slides sideways to reveal a hidden section — complete with dual speakers and a built-in kickstand. It was a genuine attempt to rethink smartphone design, and it was never produced.
The proposed specs lifted from that 2020 design include a 6.39-inch FHD+ IPS LCD display, a 4,500mAh battery with 20W charging, and a triple rear camera system (48/8/5MP) with ZEISS optics. A 16MP front camera rounds it out. On paper, that's a solid mid-range package — though IPS instead of OLED signals a budget-conscious build, which fits HMD's current lineup.
Early concept sketch of the proposed slider design. Illustration: HMD / @smashx_60
The catch
Speculation is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. The 2020 prototype was canceled for a reason, and HMD hasn't said anything publicly about reversing that decision. The company's current strategic focus, announced at MWC 2024, centers on modular, repairable phones — best illustrated by the HMD Fusion at $299, which uses swappable back panels called Outfits. A mechanical slider would sit awkwardly alongside that ecosystem, not neatly within it.
In the US, HMD sells primarily through prepaid channels and Amazon, with no carrier commitments disclosed. There's no retail timeline, no pricing, and no confirmed availability for any slider device.
Worth watching
HMD has shown it's willing to lean into nostalgia — the Nokia 3210 reissue and the Barbie-edition flip phone are real products that shipped. A slider revival isn't impossible. But right now, this is a concept looking for a business case, not a product heading for store shelves. If HMD does pull the trigger, it would be the most distinctive mid-range phone in its lineup. That's a meaningful "if."