Fans either raved about or scratched their heads when Nokia announced that it was going to come out with a refreshed version of the 3310, an iconic Nokia phone released in 2000.
In recent years the 3310 has had an internet resurgence, entering popular meme territory for its purported ductility and strength, in part made more significant by the presumed fragility of this era's glass-bedecked smartphones.
So what better way to milk that into something that'll spell profits? That's the entire premise behind the Nokia 3310 (2017), a slight look-a-like of the original outfitted with paltry specs, a colored screen, and a camera to boot. It won't hold a candle to today's lineup of touchscreen phones, but that's the point. Nokia wants to market it as purely a nostalgic plaything. Even Ars Technica says it's a feature phone for the token hipster elite.
Beyond being a chiefly throwback effort, the Nokia 3310 does win at bringing back the brand's name into popular dialogue — although HMD Global now owns Nokia branding. This is a difficult feat given Apple and Samsung's firm chokehold on the current smartphone industry.
So what are reviewers saying about the "new" Nokia 3310? Here's the consensus.
Nokia 3310 (2017): Purely For Nostalgia
Engadget tackles Nokia's evident dependence on nostalgia head-on, challenging the phone's supposed throwback appeal in its review. The Nokia 3310 is now 16 years old, the review notes.
"But does anyone really have fond memories of a cellphone that was only good for calling your dad to come pick you up from school?"
Let's get the specs out of the way: there's a 240 x 320 display, a 2-megapixel camera with a flash, an alphanumeric keypad, an FM radio, and a 1,200 mAh battery. No one in their right mind would ever consider purchasing a phone with that low display or that low resolution for the camera. But again — nostalgia. In addition, the new 3310 isn't "competition" phone.
Yet as a feature phone, the 3310 still shines.
"Having had no experience with feature phones for as long as I can remember, I'm relatively impressed with everything the new 3310 is capable of," writes Engadget.
But Engadget seems to think its presence in the market is awkward at best.
"All things considered, I really have no clue who HMD Global is making this phone for, and for what reason anyone would legitimately buy one."
Nokia 3310 (2017): Maybe Not Quite Nostalgic
Oddly, for a phone that hinges on its inherent nostalgia to push units, the Nokia 3310, well, isn't that nostalgic at all. For one, it looks notably different from the original, albeit the presence of retained elements to keep both visually aligned. Arguably, it's a sexier, more pleasant-looking phone — but to call it genuinely nostalgic might be a bit of a stretch.
"Nokia's design tweaks have divided fans, many of whom argue that the slick-looking new 3310 isn't a 3310 at all," writes The Independent in its review. "If you're considering buying the new 3310 in order re-capture those warm, nostalgic memories from 2000, you may end up disappointed."
Nokia 3310 (2017): The Verdict
Overall, reception for the new Nokia 3310 is lukewarm at best, especially considering that at its price tag — around $65 if converted to U.S. currency, but no release date is set — one could get another, much more feature-rich phone. That said, those who do purchase it will get a phone that's long-lasting, has a headphone jack, has basic social networking apps, and looks a bit like the original 3310.
"The Nokia 3310's sole purpose for existing is that it looks a little bit like the phones we used to own as teenagers. That's not really a selling point. It's barely an idea," writes Ars Technica.
The Nokia 3310 is now available in the UK.
