Need to dial back your smartphone usage? The Nokia 3310 ‘dumb phone’ is making a serious comeback, proving old is still gold…
We have seen the memes, it’s an important part of mobile phone history, and some of us actually lived a chunk of our lives with the iconic gadget – yup, the honorable and durable Nokia 3310 is making a comeback in Singapore from October.
Since it was first introduced in September 2000, Nokia has shifted over 126 million of its original 3310 phones. But nostalgia aside, did you really think they would roll out the original 3310 phones again in this technological landscape where iPhones exist?
Far from the brick-like “dumb” phone we used to have – the new and improved 3310 variant comes with new software, 3G connectivity, a 2.4-inch display, a 2-megapixel camera, and also a microSD slot. The new phone is also a lot more colourful this time, with glossy red, yellow, and sky blue being brighter options on top of the familiar matte grey model. What is a bonus is that you still can play an updated version of Snake on the new 3310 if you’re waxing nostalgic.
It’s still pretty basic by the modern smartphone standard, but if you’re looking to dial down from being too wired up, then this is a fun and retro way to do just that. The Nokia 3310 is already getting lots of hype as the perfect starter phone that allows kids to reach their parents (but without all that illicit screen time), or a mobile phone for grandma and grandpa who don’t want all those pesky apps anyway. It has all the essential functions like texting and making calls, without being too fancy. And it comes in at less than $100? Take that, all you kids who think you need a $1k phone so you can ‘be contactable’.
Say what you will about dumb phones but in a city like Singapore, dominated by hyper-connectivity, the power of smartphones and masses of people being able to watch TV serials on their handheld devices, the right mix of nostalgia and primitive technology might just be the thing to get people to finally look up from their phones – especially when walking in public places.
Nokia 3310 3G phones will be available in Singapore from October.
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