Nokia 3310 Reboot Set for Release

The updated release of one of the most iconic phones, the Nokia 3310, has been announced. With 126,000,000 units of the original sold, Nokia will be hoping that this retro icon will be as famous.

Can we expect from the new Nokia 3310?

The new Nokia 3310 is going to be an updated release of the original. It will still hold all of the familiar key features, however updated with modern enhancements. The original Nokia 3310 was released in 2000 and became one of the best-selling mobile phones of all time. Popular for its ease of use, excellent battery life, slim (ish) design and games practically everyone in the UK had contact with a Nokia 3310.

So why are Nokia re-releasing this phone?

Recent years have seen a boom in the retro phone market with the 3310 being one of the most popular models. The 3310 was popular not just for its innovations, but also because it was exceptionally easy to use. With modern phones being quite a complicated affair these days, older phone users have been flocking back to the original familiar designs.

What modernisation have they made to the new Nokia 3310?

They’ve added a colour screen and added a camera. It’s as simple as that. Perhaps though one of the most impressive features is that with modern innovations in batteries, the new Nokia 3310’s battery will last 10 times longer than the original. The original was popular for lasting nearly a week on a single charge, so if true, this really will be impressive.

Should I buy one?

Not if you’re a fan of the more modern technologies. The new 3310 will not be suitable for Facebook or Snapchat. This is quite simply a 17-year-old phone with some minor modernisation. Even the camera isn’t too fantastic as the phone itself will only have 16 megabytes of data. This really is stone age technology by modern standards. However if all you want to do is call, text and kill 20 minutes on Snake, this might be just the phone for you. Whilst other companies such as Doro might be innovating their technology, this is more of a step back in time.

When it is release and how much?

The new Nokia 3310 will be released on the 24th of May in the UK with a retail price reported as either £42 or £49 depending on who you believe. Whilst the £42 sounds a lot more attractive to myself, I still feel that the price is a little steep for what is essentially a design that’s nearly 20 years old. It however is a price which is close to that in which the original retro phones are being sold. I therefore would cynically suggest that the demand for the original has dictated the price for this re-launch.

There is perhaps 1 key difference between the original and the re-launch. You likely won’t see business men ambling around city centres screaming “can you hear me now?!” with this 3310 in hand.