Back when the Nokia Lumia 1520 was known by its Bandit codename, a few images did the rounds of an accompanying device, often with the codename Guru attached to it. It was small and square, with more than a passing resemblance to the sixth-generation Apple iPod Nano. Could it be Nokia’s first music player, many wondered?
The device didn’t launch at Nokia’s September event for the Lumia 1320, 1520, and 2520, so was quickly forgotten. Today, Nokia has pushed it straight back into the spotlight, as the BH-121 has been made official. However, before you get too excited, it’s not an iPod-like music player. No, it’s a Bluetooth headset designed not for listening to calls, but for music instead.
One of the first things you notice about the BH-121 is its bright color scheme, as Nokia has tied the little device into its Lumia range, so you can select a model which best compliments your smartphone. The BH-121 itself may remind us of an iPod Nano, but it’s probably more likely Nokia is trying to emulate the look of the Windows Phone operating system’s famous icons. If you’re using it with a Windows Phone device, it even gets its own Live Tile, complete with all the connectivity controls you’ll need.
The Bluetooth stereo headset can be paired using NFC, where simply tapping the two devices together will get them working in unison, or with Bluetooth if you’d prefer. There’s a volume rocker, general playback controls, a micro USB port for charging, and an LED indicator to show you the battery status. Best of all, the BH-121 has a 3.5mm headphone port so you can use your own earbuds, or the set of Nokia WH-208 buds included.
Nokia will put the BH-121 on sale before the end of December, when it will cost a reasonable 40 euros, which is around $55. We’re still waiting to hear Nokia’s international release plans for the device.
