The device shipped on the same day as the unveiling, with Nokia targeting the product for emerging markets, and was sold and maintained by Microsoft Mobile.

[9] The phone was unveiled by Stephen Elop at the 2014 Mobile World Congress, Barcelona on 24 February 2014.

[13] A third phone, the Nokia XL, was announced, with a larger screen, front-facing camera, rear flash, and longer battery runtime.

[14] Very soon after release, a developer had rooted the device, and enabled the installation of Google's apps and services.

In an interview with Forbes, former HMD Global CEO Arto Nummela stated that analysis showed that the Nokia X series became surprisingly popular with users of high end Samsung and Apple smartphone devices, despite the fact that it was a mid to low end device family.