If you are fond of nostalgia, you may already find this phone attractive. So how much has the Nokia 3310 (2017) changed compared to before, or does it retain all the memories of the old phone? Let us know in the review.
Nokia 3310 design and build
The first thing you’ll notice about the Nokia 3310 (2017) is its stunning body, especially if you look at the glossy red or yellow color variants. It’s definitely an eye-catcher, and you’ll want to show it off to people just because of its looks. Compared to today’s smartphones, the palm-sized Nokia 3310 is extremely thin and light at just 80 grams. People who are using smartphones will find it very small in the beginning, but soon you will get used to using it.
The new Nokia phone is a new incarnation of the Nokia 3310, but its design is similar to the original phone. And the front of the phone is similar to the original Nokia 3310, with a white band around the screen, although the screen is now larger and in color. The body of the new phone is more curved than the original. But there is no attempt to make the Nokia 3310 (2017) exactly like the old phone. The buttons look quite distinct and the phone has modern navigation buttons. On the rear, you will find a brand new camera and LED flash. Just below this is the Nokia logo. And there is a 3.5 mm audio jack at the bottom of the phone.
The new Nokia phone is a new incarnation of the Nokia 3310, but its design is similar to the original phone. And the front of the phone is similar to the original Nokia 3310, with a white band around the screen, although the screen is now larger and in color. The body of the new phone is more curved than the original. But there is no attempt to make the Nokia 3310 (2017) exactly like the old phone. The buttons look quite distinct and the phone has modern navigation buttons. On the rear, you will find a brand new camera and LED flash. Just below this is the Nokia logo. And at the bottom there is a 3.5 mm audio jack.
Of course, one of the main reasons why the Nokia 3310 has stuck with us to this day is its durability. The new variant is also quite sturdy and will not make your heart skip a beat even if it falls.
However, HMD Global claims that the phone is easy to read in sunlight. And there is a little reflection on the 2.4-inch QVGA (240×320 pixels) display. And in bright light, you’ll have to set the backlight level to higher than average to read the screen. The original Nokia 3310 did not have a color screen like the newer screens, but this feature was important and made the device easier to use.
You will get updated Nokia ringtone in the new phone, listening to which can bring a smile on your face. However, when it comes to old memories, it ends here.
nokia 3310 specifications and features
The UI of the phone is new, but many features are the same as the original phone and are easy to understand. In the menu you will find apps like Photos, Music Player, Opera Mobile Store, Calendar, Weather, Calculator, FM Radio, Voice Recorder. Apart from this there is also a new version of the classic snake game. There is just something special in this feature phone. And if you are looking at it as an alternative to a smartphone, then you will be faced with the truth when after 5-10 minutes of using the phone, you will have nothing to do.
The biggest feature of the Nokia 3310 (2017) is the good old Snake game. Yes, the popular Snake game is back but as expected in a new style. It’s colorful and looks cool but that doesn’t mean it’s going to be fun to play. And as expected, the new Snake game (with all the modes) isn’t exactly as nostalgic as the old game. We did not get the same satisfaction playing the new game as the old game. Developer Gameloft has replaced the old game’s simple, fixed navigation with a busier, more modern look in the new version. In the process of making the game modern, the features of the old game have been lost. If you are excited to buy the 3310 phone because of the Snake game, you may be disappointed.
The Nokia 3310 (2017) has dual micro-SIM slots and supports microSD cards up to 32GB. The phone has 16 MB internal storage, out of which only 1.5 MB is for user work. Therefore, to store photos or songs, a microSD card will be required.
The retail box comes with a standard 3.5mm headset that can be used for listening to music and FM radio. Audio quality is fine. Call quality is great without the headset but with the headset the sound is clearer.
In our opinion, the D-pad for navigation is better than the single-axis scroll button on the original phone. You can access apps like SMS, Calendar, Contacts and FlashLight faster. The T9 keyboard is as good as the original, but having used a smartphone for almost a decade, typing on it can be a little frustrating.
Nokia 3310 performance, camera and battery life
It may sound funny to talk about the performance of a feature phone, but it is a mobile phone after all. And one can also talk about the merits and demerits of feature phones, even if their UI is made for limited purposes. There are no problems in using the new Nokia 3310 and the pre-installed apps run very well.
The Nokia Series 30+ operating system is developed by MediaTek and is great for a feature phone. Earlier this operating system has also been used for Nokia 150. Opera Mini browser comes pre-installed in the phone, through which Facebook, Twitter, Google, checking mail and many other websites can be surfed. But without Wi-Fi and 3G/4G connectivity, you might be left tearing your hair out over the time it takes to open a webpage. By going to the Apps & Games section, you can download versions of Twitter and Facebook apps. But there is no support for WhatsApp and this is a big disadvantage for customers with low budget. To send messages you will have to use SMS app.
The Nokia 3310 has a 2-megapixel camera on the rear with LED flash. There’s really nothing to praise when it comes to image quality. In sunlight, the camera produces pictures with good light and color, but the focus is not very sharp. Photos taken in the dark turn out bad even when flash is used. Therefore, it would not be good to depend on this camera in any situation. The pictures are fine to view on a 2.4 inch screen but not worth sharing on social media. Apart from this, video recording can also be done, but even slight movement takes away the focus, so to get better results you will have to record very slowly. Without a microSD card, you will be able to store a maximum of 7-10 photos on the phone. The camera also has effects like sepia, black and white, which will help in making the photos better.
The 1200 mAh battery provided in Nokia 3310 is claimed to provide talk time of up to 22 hours and standby time of up to one month. During my time with the phone, there was more than 50 percent battery left even after playing games, making calls and listening to music for 2-3 hours for four days. This suggests that the battery will last for about a week, however, this is not unusual for feature phones. The Nokia 150 has a 1020 mAh battery and is claimed to have similar battery life. Its price is around Rs 2,000.
To be honest, the Nokia 3310 could be a secondary handset. Apart from this, it can also be used as a common phone at home. The phone also lacks many essential features like Wi-Fi, 3G/4G connectivity and GPS.
our decision
It’s clear from the start that HMD Global is bringing back the Nokia 310 (2017) out of nostalgia. Classic Nokia ringtones, physical buttons, small body and sturdy build quality are the features that will make it feel like using the original Nokia 3310. And perhaps these are enough reasons for Nokia fans to buy this phone. And this feature phone is as fast as the Galaxy S8 in the US has been sold outThe question is whether people are buying this phone for use or just as a collection and memory.
HMD Global told Gadgets 360 that the Nokia 3310 has been receiving an extremely good response in India. And the initial stock has been sold out. This is proof that people buy Nokia brand handsets because of their strength, reliability and good looks.
The new Nokia 3310 has three things that make it better – looks, battery life and the Snake game. But at Rs 3,310, it’s not the most affordable handset to come with these features. Rather, at this price you will get many options for entry-level smartphones from companies like Karbonn or Micromax. And in a world where WhatsApp has now become a necessity, the Nokia 3310 (2017) doesn’t have everything buyers need.
HMD Global has made a lot of headlines by bringing old classic phones into the modern world. The Nokia 3310 (2017) feature phone is not the best choice for those looking for more functionality at a lower price. But there are many people who just want good voice quality, SMS functionality and a game or two, for them this is a good option.