Nokia 3310 relaunch: Everything you need to know about the updated classic
The handset has been treated to a camera, a colour screen and a new look
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Your support makes all the difference.The Nokia 3310 has officially returned.
Originally revealed 17 years ago, Nokia has resurrected the classic mobile phone at MWC 2017, with a handful of modern tweaks.
The new version of the handset is clearly a direct descendant of the 2000 version, but one that’s been treated to a makeover that should please all but the most hardcore of 3310 fans.
It looks fresher and slicker than its predecessor, with its enlarged, 2.4-inch 320 x 240 colour screen and significantly slimmer frame particularly welcome changes.
The new model is 12.8mm thick and weighs 79.6g, as opposed to 22mm and 133g.
It’s also now available in glossy red and yellow colour options, as well as the familiar grey and dark blue matte schemes.
Nokia has altered the phone’s main keys too. The large blue button has been ditched, along with the ‘C’ and arrows buttons.
Replacing these is a square-shaped central keypad, flanked by large ‘call’ and ‘end call’ buttons.
“Nokia phones stir real emotions,” said Juho Sarvika, the chief product officer of HMD Global.
“For the Nokia 3310 we just couldn’t resist. We wanted to reward loyal Nokia phone fans and make a statement that rich heritage, innovation and modern design can go hand-in-hand.”
The handset is being marketed as a feature phone, with HMD Global, which owns the rights to the Nokia brand, saying it’s designed to be used as a festival, weekend or ‘fun’ mobile.
As it takes micro-SIM cards, HMD Global also says it will also appeal to users who just fancy a 'digital detox'. All they'd need to do is pop their SIM out of their regular smartphone and into the significantly less capable 3310.
I asked if the handset was waterproof, but HMD Global executives would only say that it was “incredibly durable” and “reliable”.
The original was remarkably hard-wearing, but as YouTube videos have demonstrated, it didn’t always fare particularly well in water tests.
Around the back is a basic 2-megapixel camera capable of capturing grainy shots, as well as an LED flash that can be used as a torch.
Nokia has improved its battery life too, with the new 3310 offering 22 hours of talk-time and a month of standby time between charges.
It runs Nokia Series 30+ and users will be able to surf the web via the Opera Mini browser and an extremely limited 2.5G connection, but we imagine most will while away the time by playing Snake instead.
Both single-SIM and dual-SIM options will be available when the handset hits the market in Q2, and HMD Global says it “will retail at an average global retail price” of €49 (£41).
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