Almost 17 years after its release, Nokia has finally relaunched a newer version of its iconic and original phone, the 3310.
The mobile phone was announced at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain as a homage to the Nokia 3310 this weekend.
Earlier last month, the start-up company confirmed that they have acquired the rights from Nokia to resurrect the famous model phone since last year.
The original Nokia 3310, which was released in September 2000, sold more than 126 million units before it was phased out in 2005.
The revamped version of the handset will be sold under license by Finnish start-up HMD Global, which was also behind some of Nokia’s Android smartphones.
The new Nokia 3310 qualifies as a feature phone rather than a smartphone because it only provides limited internet functions.
The phone feature basic functions like an FM Radio, a web browser, and a voice recorder. It features a 2.4-inch QVGA display, a dual-SIM slot, and even a microSD slot.
The handset heavily mimics its predecessor both in design and form factor. The device comes in an array of colors just like the Nokia 3310 as well: dark blue, red, gray, and black among others.
The modern variant of Nokia’s iconic handset is smaller, thinner, and lighter all around. Opera Mini is bundled with the device for basic web surfing.
The device relies on 2.5G connectivity and is powered by the S30+ operating system, which allows web browsing but has a much smaller range of apps than Android or iOS.
The smartphone also comes with a modern version of the classic game “Snake” pre-installed. Tech analysts say that the game is an upgraded version of Gameloft’s “Snake Xenzia.”
Unlike Nokia phones that have the pin charger, the new Nokia 3310 is charged via MicroUSB just like most Android phones. It also has a headphone socket in the bottom.
Unlike its predecessor, the device boasts a camera and video recording options, but is limited to 2MP. However, the real deal breaker for the phone is its long battery life.
HMD Global says that the handset’s colored screen has up to a month’s standby time and delivers more than 22 hours of talk time.
HMD’s CEO Arto Nummela tells BBC that the phone is a digital detox or a holiday phone. It’s perfect for those who want to disconnect but still need to have a lifeline.
He adds that they think the device will really do well with the market because the phone has nostalgia written over it.
While it doesn’t necessarily bring one back to the early 2000s, it will definitely ring quite a few bells to the time before iPhones and the plethora of smartphones.
HMD promises that the new Nokia 3310 will be durable as the old one. It adds that there’s a segment of the population that just wants a basic phone and the handset is actually the perfect device for them.
HMD is planning to release the phone by 2017’s second quarter. HMD has not yet given a specific date, but many countries have already announced that the device will be available to them as soon as possible.
The company plans to retail the device for $51.75, a huge decline from the original Nokia 3310’s $161.40 price tag during its 2000 release.
According to The Verge, the device has already been getting rave attention, with many users wanting to get their hands on the phone.
Tech analysts believe that Nokia’s latest release will allow people to step back with how technology is becoming a crucial element in their daily lives.
Along with the new version of the 3310, HMD also announced three Nokia Android-based smartphones during the Mobile World Congress They are the Nokia 6, Nokia 5, and Nokia 3. There is no Nokia 4 nor has there ever been as the number is considered unlucky in China.