Yahoo News The new Nokia 3310 review: Are retro phones worth a go?
Holy nostalgia, the iconic Nokia 3310, the unforgettable "indestructible" mobile phone of our youth, is finally back. Before Apple and Samsung took hold, this was the device carried by a generation in the Noughties – and now it has been reimagined and reborn.
But how does an "upgraded" version of a 17-year-old phone really compare to the retro classic in the features that matter? And can it actually do a decent impression of a phone now? We found out…
Nokia 3310: Snake
Right, first things first: if you're in for a 3310, you're here for Snake.
We all remember Snake, that game of endlessly chasing dots to make your row bigger, and faster, that aggressively wasted time way before Candy Crush and Angry Birds were even a thing.
The new version, Snake Xenzia, ditches the familiar monotone for full-colour graphics, and a control shift – plus bigger 2.4-inch screen – makes it much easier to play, too (just use 4 and 6). There's also a Platform mode, providing levels progressively harder than the last for modern players who want a bit more structure.
We're not sure if messing with the blueprint does it any nostalgia favours – certainly we'd have liked an option to get the Game Boy-style colours back – but old-schoolers can at least get their kicks in Survival mode, where you can eat apples till your snake heart's content (so long as you don't hit your tail).
Nokia 3310: Ringtones
"Diddle-dee-dah, diddle-dee-dah, diddle-dee-dee-dah." That's how our classic Nokia ringtone used to sound, and again they are at front and centre of the 3310's repertoire. A range of simple ringtones and the "Nokia classic" sound are here, though the latter breaks out into more of a melody as your phone continues to ring, which is all a bit too fancy for us.
And if you were hoping to key in some of your own classic monotonic tunes into the phone, well, sorry – this feature is well and truly gone.
;-(
Nokia 3310: Battery Life
Beyond the retro gimmicks, this is the real winner in Nokia's stable. Swaggering in like a Kindle, the new Nokia 3310's 1200mAh battery promises month-long power on a single charge thanks to the lower spec.
Festival-goers are an obvious target, and the phone is durable enough to face a drop without fear of cracking your screen or being hit with a sizeable repair bill.
A slight to change to the original comes in the form of charging, though – the new 3310 doesn't bother you with new take on the proprietary charger, using the widely used MicroUSB port so you can charge and back-up with a cable lying around the house.
Nokia 3310: Camera and Social Media
So if Nokia giveth with the battery, it well and truly taketh away with the social apps. For a start, the phone is only 2.5G compatible – which gives less reach, speed and functionality than those flagship handsets we're used to.
WhatsApp is giving it a big swerve, while Facebook and Twitter are due to appear, but aren't in Nokia's app store yet, which is scant compared to Apple and Android.
There's no front-facing camera for selfies, either, so you'll have to do the 'did-we-get-the-shot?' rear-snapper shuffle, although at two megapixels, and with them shown back in glorious 240 x 320 resolution, you may not feel like bothering.
Nokia 3310: Specs
The Nokia 3310 at 115.6 x 51 x 12.8mm is not much bigger than a Sky Q remote. Clocking in at just 79.6g, it's a lot, lot lighter than the likes of the iPhone 7 at 138g or the Samsung Galaxy S8 at a whopping 173g. It's a perfect addition to your pocket, rather than unwanted protrusion.
Storage is a small 16GB, but is expandable up to 32GB with MicroSD card. You can download music and listen through an in-built radio, while Nokia still supports traditional cabled headphones, keeping it old-school.
Before there were hashtags, of course, there was the hash key, and this remains a great tool for silencing your phone – albeit no longer in the middle of class – and Nokia did well to keep it in as a retro nod. Just as they did with the colour scheme – the shiny plastic yellow, red, blue and grey of old all represented .
Nokia 3310: The Verdict
The new Nokia 3310 isn't a phone to win your head, but it can certainly do strange things to your heart. Sure, it doesn't have super-fast internet connectivity, or a selfie-ready camera, or the latest apps, but if you're looking for a reliable second phone to throw in a travel bag and last for ages, this could be the phone for you.
For less than £50, it's the price of a decent powerbank and is a strong option to offer similar support services when your big and expensive phone inevitably decides to desert you.
The Nokia 3310 is out from today on various tariffs for £49.99. The first stores in the UK to have it in stock will be London's Carphone Warehouse (262 Oxford Street) and Vodafone at 341-349 Oxford Street and White City Westfield Centre
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