Home Technology Nokia’s new 3310 would fit right into the cellphone world of 2000

Nokia’s new 3310 would fit right into the cellphone world of 2000

2 min read
23

Nokia brings back the 3310

Nokia and their incredibly popular 3310 are emblematic of how good, relevant design can garner longstanding support for a brand. Ignoring the fact that Nokia fell from its perch after the introduction of smartphones, the 3310 remains a household model name. And it’s why they’re leveraging that love again, nearly 17 years later. With the help HMD (a Nokia branded company), the 3310 is coming back to market. And it’s a phone that wouldn’t be out of place in the early 2000s.

The new 3310 takes advantage of newer designs in its make up, ditching the near indestructible materials that held it together from countless drops in the past. As a result, the handset is lighter, smaller and generally thinner. It’s unmistakable still the 3310 in terms of its design, but Nokia also understands how everyone wants their phone to stand out now. It’s why the 3310 comes in a variety of colours, ranging from bright yellow and red to more matte black and blue.

Don’t be mistaken though – this isn’t a smartphone parading as a classic. The new 3310 features some specifications that its very old sibling would be jealous of, but it’s still a handset that’s being marketed off almost nostalgia alone. The 2.4 inch QVGA display is paired with a 2 mega-pixel camera and very limited smart functionality. It doesn’t even support 3G. There’s Opera for web browsing and even a MicroSD slot (for some reason), but Nokia understand that you’re likely just going to be texting, making calls and playing Snake from time to time.

It’s why the 3310’s battery is so impressive, boasting a massive 31 days on standby and 22 hours of talk time. That’s night and day to what smartphones can achieve, and indicative of just how robust older cellphones used to be. Granted they could only do a fraction of what the computers in our pockets can do now, but there’s some use case somewhere where battery life like that will come in handy.

Nokia is planning to start shipping their new 3310 in the second quarter of this year. It’ll retail for as low as $52 (a direct conversion of around R675 at time of writing.)

Last Updated: February 27, 2017

23 Comments

  1. Gavin Mannion

    February 27, 2017 at 11:44

    Honestly I’ve thought the entire idea was dumb… but I actually like the look of this

    Reply

  2. Original Heretic

    February 27, 2017 at 11:57

    Wait wait, hold up. The one aspect of this phone that made it such a legend was that it was nigh indestructible. If they’ve lost that aspect in this remake, I dunno, it seems like a step backwards then.

    Reply

    • Matthew Holliday

      February 27, 2017 at 12:51

      It was nigh indestructible compared to nowadays phones, thinking back, it was durable, but not THAT durable.
      Seen my share of cracked screens, bent cases and destroyed power buttons etc.
      But it only cost a chappie to repair, that was its saving grace.

      most of my friends had them for the cool cases you could get though.

      The 5810 (I think) however, that was unkillable, antishock casing would save it when thrown at the wall and hardware that would have it surviving swims in the ocean.

      Reply

      • Original Heretic

        February 27, 2017 at 12:55

        Twice (that being TWO times), I dropped my old 3310 from a 3rd storey (escalators in a shopping mall). It hit the cold, hard ground and shattered into the various components: battery, back casing, sim card, front section.
        And in both cases it lived to tell the tale.

        In my mind, it was Superman punch proof.

        Reply

  3. Hugh Lashbrooke

    February 27, 2017 at 11:58

    I really would like to switch back to a “dumb” phone as smart phones are generally very distracting and have too much stuff that pulls me away from things. This new 3310 pretty much ticks all the boxes for what I’d want, except that it doesn’t have WhatsApp – if they could work out a way to get that running on its platform then I’d definitely switch to it.

    Reply

    • konfab

      February 27, 2017 at 13:28

      I am in your boat.

      I would rather get a nice 7 inch tablet for that has all the “smart” stuff in it, and have a simplified phone that does the basics:

      This very much might be the case:
      “Certain markets will also be able to download simplified Twitter and Facebook apps, but these weren’t available to use during our hands on. ”
      http://www.techradar.com/reviews/new-nokia-3310-2017-review

      If HMD are clever they would make it so it is relatively easy to write a basic app for it. That type of functionality would explode in the developing world.

      Reply

    • GooseZA

      February 27, 2017 at 13:59

      Whatsapp and google maps. Everything else is unnecessary.

      Reply

      • Gavin Mannion

        February 27, 2017 at 14:03

        I’m not sure I could survive without google maps either

        Reply

  4. VampyreSquirrel

    February 27, 2017 at 12:02

    Saw someone with a 3310 yesterday… the original one. He told me it lasts a week and a half on one charge, and he’s on his second battery.

    Reply

    • Matthew Holliday

      February 27, 2017 at 12:53

      What cover did he have? and what 8bit ringtone was he using? What was his high score on snake 2?
      These are questions 3310 users must have answers for.

      Reply

      • VampyreSquirrel

        February 27, 2017 at 12:57

        lol, it was the original blue cover, original tone and no idea what score he had on snake.

        Reply

        • Matthew Holliday

          February 27, 2017 at 12:58

          Stock standard 3310?
          Filthy casual.

          Reply

          • VampyreSquirrel

            February 27, 2017 at 13:12

            Not everyone gets a phone to “pimp” it out.

            He probably just had the phone as it is functional for what he needs (or can afford).

  5. Kromas Ryder

    February 27, 2017 at 12:06

    I can’t buy this phone because of where I live.
    ….
    ….
    ….

    The 21st century! 😛

    Reply

  6. konfab

    February 27, 2017 at 12:12

    Snake?
    SNAKE?!

    SNAAAAAAAAAAAKE!!

    Reply

  7. geel slang

    February 27, 2017 at 12:20

    Nah, there is no going back now, I love my smartphone. If you turn off everything on your smartphone except the phoning and sms part, the battery easily lasts a week. I have done it, it works.

    Reply

  8. Magoo

    February 27, 2017 at 12:23

    My goodness gracious me.. I think that I am alone on this but that is one ugly-ass redesign. :S

    Reply

    • Matthew Holliday

      February 27, 2017 at 12:45

      You’re not alone.

      Reply

    • HvR

      February 27, 2017 at 13:03

      Jip as if somebody designed a 3310 for a Austin Powers movie

      Reply

  9. HairyEwok

    February 27, 2017 at 12:26

    Now Jack Parow – Cooler as ekke one song verse will be irrelevant.
    “Jy rol met ‘n selfoon in jou pen, ek rol nog met ‘n 3310”

    Reply

  10. Viper_ZA

    February 27, 2017 at 12:37

    Finally, a Nokia Grandma can use…

    Reply

  11. Matthew Holliday

    February 27, 2017 at 12:44

    It would fit into Alcatels 2000 budget range.
    Nokia build quality pride, where you at?

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Check Also

HMD unveils the new line-up of Nokia phones

Nokia may not be the brand it once was, but its new line-up of phones is still pretty impr…