Nokia’s Lumia 920 replacement, codename Catwalk, could be supermodel thin

Nokia may be considering switching from using polycarbonate to aluminum in the construction of its Lumia 920 sequel, rumored to be codenamed Catwalk and expected later this year.

The Nokia Lumia 920 is a great looking phone, and thanks to its solid construction and hefty weight, it could easily double as the type of hammer that would make Thor a bit jealous. However, such devices aren’t for everyone, and in a market where most other manufacturers are continually working towards thinner and lighter phones, its robustness could be seen as a disadvantage.

According to sources speaking to The Verge, this could all change when Nokia introduces its next Lumia range, as the company may move away from using polycarbonate and adopt aluminum instead. This would enable it to make the phone considerably slimmer than before, and for the device to shed more than a few grams in weight too. The report specifically mentions the Catwalk, which could be Nokia’s codename for the Lumia 920 replacement, as being the prime candidate for an aluminum chassis – a name which hints at the potentially incredibly svelte dimensions of the device.

Nokia has used aluminum to construct phones in the past, so it has some experience in the matter. However, when Apple transitioned from the glass iPhone 4S to anodized aluminum panels on the iPhone 5, it caused the company several headaches, including complaints the material scratches too easily.

While the outside of the phone sounds like it will undergo a considerable change, the internals are said to remain virtually identical, meaning the 920’s sequel could still have the same 1.5GHz dual-core chip, 4.5-inch HD touchscreen and 8-megapixel camera. As the Lumia 920 has only just gone on sale, it’s unlikely we’ll see its successor just yet, despite Mobile World Congress being just around the corner. Instead, a separate event closer to the Lumia 920’s first anniversary is more logical, except, if we’re only talking about a visual redesign, there’s a chance it could come sooner. Also, when – and indeed, if – it does arrive, it’s rumored to be accompanied by another two Lumia phones, presumably to replace the Lumia 820 and Lumia 620.