HMD is reviving the Nokia 3210 candybar telephone

Human Cellular Units this week introduced the reincarnation of one other well-known Nokia telephone, the 3210. Like the unique, the remake makes use of a candybar design and lacks entry to most trendy apps. In truth it is being marketed as a “digital detox,” a means of staying related to folks by way of calls and texts with out the temptations of social media and different distractions. As an alternative of an OS like Android, it makes use of an up to date model of Nokia’s S30+ platform.

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There are some upgrades to match the calls for of recent customers. The 2024 mannequin has a slicker design with a bigger, 2.4-inch QVGA (320×240) coloration display screen, a two-megapixel rear digital camera with flash, and higher connection choices together with 4G, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. There’s solely 128MB of inside storage, however that may be expanded by as a lot as 32GB by way of a microSD slot, which is important for MP3 playback. There’s an FM tuner should you’re content material listening to native radio stations.

The telephone additionally sports activities twin SIM slots, Nokia’s well-known preloaded Snake recreation, and a 1,450mAh detachable battery good for as much as 9.8 hours of calling. In some areas — specifically Africa, India, the Center East, and some Asia-Pacific international locations — HMD is providing entry to “cloud apps” for issues like information, climate, movies, and extra video games. One in all these is a devoted YouTube Shorts app.

As for the machine itself, there is not a complete record of nations and costs, however within the UK it is out there for £75 ($94) — a fraction of the price of most smartphones. HMD is promoting the 3210 in three completely different retro-themed colours: Scuba Blue, Y2K Gold, and Grunge Black.

A quick historical past of the Nokia 3210

The unique 3210 shipped in 1999, and was notable for a couple of causes. It was the primary usually inexpensive cellphone with an inside antenna, serving to to maintain it compact, and the inclusion of video games like Snake made it extra enticing to youthful consumers — cellphones had principally been a luxurious for professionals to date. In contrast to the 2024 mannequin, you would additionally purchase swappable faceplates should you wished to personalize its look. That helped set up the telephone accent market, which has continued increasing ever since.

HMD was fashioned from the remnants of Nokia’s unique telephone enterprise, and has been utilizing that model affiliation to promote smartphones, tablets, and fundamental “characteristic” telephones. The 3210 is not its first try at capitalizing on nostalgia — that honor belongs to a 2017 model of the Nokia 3310. The unique 3310, from 2000, was a successor to the 3210, and arguably much more well-known. It developed a status for being indestructible, one which continues by means of trendy memes. Typically that is in distinction with present smartphones, which by their nature use a variety of glass and are typically fragile if they are not put in a case.