Brands
Microsoft launches Nokia XL in India
MUMBAI: Last week after launching Nokia 630 in the affordable category, Microsoft Devices today announced that Nokia XL. Nokia XL is considered to be the flagship large screen offering under the Nokia X family of affordable smartphones that run Android apps, will begin selling in India soon. The device is priced at Rs 11,489.
Commenting on the launch of the product, Nokia India Sales (subsidiary of Microsoft Mobile Oy) Director Marketing Viral Oza said, “With the Nokia X Family we look to offer a variety of choices to our consumers at different price points. After receiving a great response with the Nokia X, which introduced the category to this market, we are now bringing the much awaited Nokia XL and X+ to our consumers. Nokia XL, our flagship offering within the Nokia X family, comes packed with a large screen experience with a superlative front camera and a wide array of apps, offering a great Smartphone experience at an affordable price point. This will be further amplified through the X+ which will be simultaneously launched with the XL completing the Nokia X family serving as the perfect introduction to the world of Android apps, coupled with signature Nokia experiences, and the most popular Microsoft services.”
To allow consumers to enjoy apps on Nokia XL, Microsoft Devices has tied up with Airtel to give users free unlimited download of Android Apps for six months. The plan allows upto 500MB of free usage through which consumers can download the apps via the Nokia Store and the 1Mobile store.
The Nokia XL device is the next offering in the Nokia X family which includes Nokia X, launched earlier this year in India, and the Nokia X+ launched simultaneously comes armed with an enhanced RAM (768MB) for even faster multitasking and is priced at Rs. 8,399. The new Nokia X family is the perfect introduction to the world of Android apps, coupled with signature Nokia experiences, and the most popular Microsoft services.
Consumers can access and download a wide array of Android apps, which can be side loaded as well as downloaded through Nokia’s own store and several popular third-party apps. Leading global apps will be available at launch for the Nokia X family of devices, including Facebook, LINE Free Voice and Messages, LINE Camera, LINE Bubble, Picsart, Plants vs. Zombies 2, Real Football 2014, Skype, Spotify, Swift key, Twitter, Viber, Vine and WeChat, among others. Additionally, as a first for Nokia customers around the world, BBM, a premier mobile messaging platform, will also be available on the Nokia X family of devices.
Brands
Victorinox sharpens Swiss watch ambitions in India
From Jura precision to bold Indian launches, 2026 marks a serious horology push
MUMBAI: From pocket tools to precision timepieces, Victorinox is tightening its grip on time itself.
In 2026, the Swiss brand best known for its iconic Swiss Army Knife is turning the spotlight firmly on its watches in India. This is not a seasonal refresh or a cosmetic marketing tweak. It is a clear statement of intent: Victorinox wants to be recognised not merely as a dependable accessory brand, but as a serious Swiss watchmaker.
At the centre of this transformation lies Delémont, Switzerland. Since 2016, the company’s 17,800 square metre Watch Competence Centre in the Swiss Jura has brought every discipline of watchmaking under one roof. More than 200 Swiss specialists design, prototype, manufacture, assemble and test each timepiece in house. Bezels, cases, movement integration and final assembly are handled internally, ensuring quality control at every step.
Sustainability is also part of the story. The facility’s 2,750 square metres of solar panels generate around 500,000 kWh of clean energy each year. It is a blend of traditional horology and future focused responsibility.
Every Victorinox watch can take up to two years to move from design board to wrist. Each piece undergoes rigorous multi stage testing that goes beyond legal Swiss Made requirements. For Indian consumers, the message is clear: these watches are Swiss crafted, Swiss controlled and Swiss tested.
In India, the shift is being anchored by a new campaign titled “Spend Your Time Wisely”. Under the leadership of Debraj Sengupta, Managing Director Sales and Marketing, and Avirup Mukhopadhyay, Head of Marketing, Victorinox is positioning its watches as the emotional and technical core of its future strategy. Sengupta brings three decades of watch industry experience, including 15 years at Victorinox India, while Mukhopadhyay’s FMCG background adds a fresh consumer first approach.
The 2026 portfolio reflects that renewed ambition.
The Air Pro GMT Automatic is built for globally mobile professionals, tracking up to three time zones with ease. It pairs a refined GMT complication with everyday wearability, making it as practical in a boardroom as it is in an airport lounge.
The Concept One arrives in both automatic and solar powered versions. The solar models offer up to eight months of autonomy without light, while the automatic models deliver a 68 hour power reserve. It is a confident showcase of energy efficiency and mechanical know how.
For those drawn to the deep, the Dive Pro collection carries full ISO 6425 diver certification, with 300 metre water resistance, anti magnetic protection and serious shock resistance. These are purpose built instruments rather than lifestyle props.
Then there is the Square One, a bold square cased automatic that signals a more contemporary design language for the brand. It is confident, distinctive and refreshingly different.
Victorinox has also refreshed two of its most popular lines for the Indian market. The Maverick returns with bolder aesthetics aimed at modern wearers who prefer to lead rather than follow. Meanwhile, the I.N.O.X. Elegant combines the brand’s trademark toughness with refined detailing and interchangeable straps, offering durability with a touch of polish.
Together, the collections nod to India’s dual personality: resilient yet expressive, practical yet stylish.
After more than 140 years of Swiss craftsmanship, Victorinox is making it clear that in India its future is measured not just in heritage, but in horological credibility. From the engineering floors of Delémont to wrists across the country, the brand is no longer simply keeping time. It is staking a claim to lead it.
