MWC 2017: Nokia 3310 Re-Launched in New Version After 17 Years

The iconic Nokia 3310 phone has been re-launched in a revamped version nearly 17 years after its debut.

Many consider the original handset iconic because of its popularity and sturdiness. More than 126 million were produced before the model was phased out in 2005.

The new Nokia 3310 will be sold under license by the Finnish start-up HMD Global, which also unveiled several Nokia-branded Android smartphones.

The announcement was made ahead of the start of the Mobile World Congress tech show in Barcelona. Huawei, Lenovo and LG are among others to have unveiled new devices.

Nokia no longer makes phones itself, but manufactures telecoms equipment, Ozo virtual reality cameras, and health kit under the Withings brand.

The new 3310 qualifies as a “feature phone” rather than a smartphone as it only provides limited internet facilities.

It relies on 2.5G connectivity – which has slower data speeds than 3G or 4G – and is powered by the S30+ operating system, which allows web browsing but has a much smaller range of apps than Android or iOS. Its single camera is also restricted to two megapixels.

However, the new version’s advantage over more powerful handsets is its battery life. HMD says the color-screened phone has up to a month’s standby time and delivers more than 22 hours of talk time.

Nokia 3310 also comes with the modern version of the classic game Snake preinstalled.

Its launch price is €49 ($51,75).

HMD also confirmed the Nokia 6 Android smartphone would be released worldwide following its China debut in January.

The device has a 16 megapixel rear camera, a 5.5in 1080p “full definition” screen and includes the Google Assistant helper – the search engine’s rival to Apple’s Siri.

Nokia 6 is priced as a mid-tier device at €229, alongside a glossy black special edition that costs €299.

In addition, the company showed off smaller, lower-range Nokia 5 and Nokia 3 models.

Taiwan’s Foxconn will manufacture the phones, which may offset concerns that networks might have about HMD’s capacity to deliver.