Three new retro-inspired feature phones based on iconic designs from the early 2000s to the 2010s have been unveiled by HMD Global, the firm that created the Nokia brand.

Updated with modern functionality like increased accessibility capabilities, Bluetooth 5.0, and USB-C charging, the Nokia 6310 (2024), Nokia 5310 (2024), and Nokia 230 (2024) are modern twists on phones from 2001, 2007, and 2015, respectively.

The three phones were introduced on the HMD website, which offers a complete feature list and specifications but does not presently provide information on release dates or prices. However, prior re-releases have often been priced under £125, £100, or AU$200.

But don’t expect to use these phones to browse Instagram or play Call of Duty Mobile. The experience is more akin to the first Nokia phones than the finest phones, even though the technology can be fresh. This entails a lack of app stores, restricted internet access, and 2G support exclusively—none of which will function on more recent networks. Users who no longer have access to 2G networks may find this problematic because these networks are gradually being shut down in several nations.

These phones have a far more straightforward user interface, a long standby battery life that is expressed in weeks as opposed to hours, and a design that is reminiscent of the earlier Nokia phones, which many of us remember from our childhood.

According to Nokia, these phones are easier to use and can aid with a “digital detox” from things like social media because of their fewer functions. They lack a touchscreen, streaming music and video apps, a considerably less powerful camera, and a few other functions that we take for granted on modern phones, as you might anticipate.

This is not the first time HMD has revived vintage Nokia aesthetics. Updated models of the Nokia 130 and 150 were introduced the previous year, along with a redesigned 6310 that debuted in 2021 and used Micro USB and had a lower battery than its 2024 predecessor.

Vintage Specifications

All three phones share some hardware and have comparable specifications. Their 2.8-inch QVGA IPS screens may be removed to reveal a 1,450mAh detachable battery with a maximum standby period of 27 days.

The Unisoc 6531F processor, which powers them, has 8MB of RAM and 16MB of internal storage that can be expanded to 32GB with a microSD card.

The three phones are mostly different in terms of appearance and a few other hardware tweaks. For instance, the Nokia 230 (2024) boasts a 2MP rear camera, while the other two phones only feature a very basic 0.3MP camera.

Similar to the original 5310, the new model has two front-facing speakers for playing music and specific buttons for music playback. There are built-in traditional apps, such as FM radio and the game Snake, on all three phones.

These 2024 reboots of the Nokia 230, 5310, and 6310 may appeal to retro tech buffs as well as people who grew up with the originals, but they may also be more of a nostalgic homage to the past than a useful phone.