Nokia launched the unique 3210 all the way in which again in 1999, however this basic telephone has been given a spit and polish and is again on the cabinets in 2024. It is now acquired a colour display, 2-megapixel digital camera and 4G LTE and comes with a price ticket of £75 within the UK — round $95, AU$140.
As a function (or “dumb”) telephone, it does not have apps, NFC, wi-fi charging or a touchscreen. You may type of browse the web and ship SMS messages by tapping on the keys repeatedly till you get the letter you need — the fun of a T9 keypad.
Whereas the telephone’s rerelease is arguably one thing of a gimmick by Nokia and its father or mother firm HMD, the 3210 does boast an extended battery life and a really small design. So these of you trying to change off from the hustle and bustle of recent life however nonetheless wish to be contactable in case of emergencies might properly discover some use in it.
Right here, then, are some questions you might have about this telephone.
Cellphone meets boot.
Can I stand on it?
The unique Nokia 3210 and 3310 turned memes over time because of their iconic sturdiness. The brand new mannequin feels extra plasticky to carry than I keep in mind the unique being, however I donned a sturdy pair of Nicks leather-based boots and put my complete 205 pound weight on the telephone. It creaked unpleasantly, but it surely did not shatter or crack so I am assured it might probably put up with a good quantity of abuse.
That mentioned, it does not have any form of waterproofing, as has turn into normal on most trendy smartphones, so you will should be very cautious round liquids or taking calls within the rain.
Snake in 2024.
Can I play snake?
Sure, Nokia’s basic recreation Snake is preloaded and stays fairly addictive. There are additionally cut-down variations of Crossy Street and Doodle Soar on the telephone and whilst you get three makes an attempt at enjoying every recreation totally free, you will must then purchase each for the price of 10 worldwide textual content messages (or about £5/$5).
Can I obtain apps and browse the web?
No. There is a Fb app emblem within the menu, but it surely’s only a shortcut that opens the Fb web page on the Opera Mini net browser. There isn’t any app retailer so you will not have the ability to obtain WhatsApp, TikTok, Instagram, Spotify or Netflix. Utilizing this telephone means shutting your self off from social media. Perhaps that is factor.
CNET spends some huge cash on web site design and this telephone ruins it.
The Opera Mini browser does can help you entry the web, but it surely’s not a pleasing expertise, with web sites being extraordinarily troublesome to view and navigate utilizing the telephone’s buttons. Nonetheless, for checking climate studies or sports activities scores, it is in all probability adequate.
I wish to dwell prefer it’s 1999, what else can I do?
Hit up your nearest thrift retailer for some basic ’90s threads, ask all of your colleagues to “fax it to me” if you’re in a piece assembly and hear completely to Eiffel 65’s Blue (Da Ba Dee), Witch Physician by The Cartoons and, in fact, No Scrubs by TLC.
Then you should purchase a CD-ROM to guard your pc from the Y2K Millennium Bug and crack open a Coors or Miller Lite as a result of sadly you’ve got acquired an extended look forward to the craft beer revolution to kick in.
Do not be fooled by the Fb emblem; there aren’t any apps right here.
Does the battery final endlessly?
No, however you may count on to get a number of days of use from a single cost. It will not final weeks at a time as the unique might have been in a position to as the brand new colour display and 4G connectivity are approach greater energy drains than the OG mannequin needed to take care of.
Can I take pictures with it?
There is a 2-megapixel digital camera on the again, but it surely’s terrible so do not count on to do a lot with it. Even in good situations pictures look poor, with horrible publicity, picture noise and colours. It is rather more akin to the types of telephone cameras you’d discover on telephones within the early 2000s, and for those who care in any respect about taking good pictures, then it will not be the telephone for you.
I’ve by no means seen a rainbow look so depressing.
What as soon as had been beautiful inexperienced leaves are actually grim, desaturated circles of unhappiness.
No thanks.
I ponder the place Nokia even acquired such unhealthy digital camera items from. Did they’ve them left over from again within the day or are these new cameras merely designed to be appalling?
Can I hearken to music?
There is a radio in-built so you may hearken to common scheduled AM/FM programing with it, if that is your factor, however you will not have the ability to use Spotify, Tidal or Apple Music. You may, nevertheless, load music recordsdata (I will not ask how you’ve got acquired them) onto a 32GB microSD card and play them with the telephone and you may even join a pair of Bluetooth headphones.
The again cowl comes off revealing the battery and SIM card slots.
Oddly, although, I could not get the radio to play by means of the Bluetooth headphones, solely by means of the speaker or utilizing a pair of wired headphones plugged into the three.5mm jack.
If I am unable to use Instagram on it, how will individuals know the way cool and retro I’m?
You will should make up in your lack of social media visibility by going additional laborious on the ’90s thrift retailer vogue. That approach, there will be no query who essentially the most retro is round right here. Failing that, think about a leaflet drop from a scorching air balloon or a focused marketing campaign of mail-outs, despatched by provider pigeon, in fact.
For those who keep in mind feverishly texting your mates on buttons like these, retaining the character rely low so that you solely needed to pay for one textual content message then howdy, pal, what plans do you may have in your upcoming fortieth? How’s your decrease again? Mine’s terrible.
Ought to I truly purchase it?
The Nokia 3210 is a enjoyable novelty for these of you who, like me, grew up with the unique telephone in your pocket. Its lengthy battery life and relative sturdiness means it could possibly be a helpful backup telephone for those who’re going tenting for a number of days.
I personally would not wish to use such a fundamental function telephone as my principal telephone, and as CNET’s Jessica Fierro discovered, residing with out a smartphone is extra problematic than it would seem. Nonetheless, for those who’re determined to change off from social media for some time, it could be the answer you want.
