Introduction
The famed Nokia 3310 is back, and the hype around it is real. While some are eager to get their hands on this feature phone, others are skeptical that HMD will deliver on its promises of a better 3310.
We here at PhoneArena don't have the habit of reviewing feature phones, especially in such a low price range (between $60 and $70 in Europe), but for the successor of one of the most iconic devices in history, we had to make an exception. So, let's get straight into it.
What's in the box:
- Nokia 3310
- Micro USB wall charger
- 3.5 mm headset
- Quick start guide
- Warranty
Design
The Nokia 3310 is a cheap feature phone, that feels even cheaper. Its front and back plates are made of somewhat low-grade plastic that scratches at the slightest touch. No matter how careful you are with the phone, you will see permanent streaks appear on its body from day one. There isn't even a hint of glass or metal anywhere, which makes for a device that lets out cracking sounds every time you press anything, similar to a cheap plastic toy.
When it comes to the buttons, the numeric keypad is pretty comfortable and easy to use, but the navigation buttons are way too small for a grown adult's hands. This made for the extremely unpleasant feeling of the buttons digging into our fingertips every time we had to scroll through a menu.
Software
The new Nokia 3310 runs on a proprietary firmware known as Series 30+. Overall, the software seems to work okay, and it's pretty responsive. It features the Opera Mini browser, which is a staple for feature phones these days, and even a small app store of its own. It also supports standard Java applications, so if you happen to have a nostalgia-powered folder of .jar games lying around somewhere on your hard drive, now would be the time for one last go.
As for the most important piece of software on the new Nokia 3310 – Snake – we were somewhat disappointed by it. The endless slithering game has been transformed into something completely different, adding levels with goals, mazes, and whatnot. The Endless mode was supposed to be the classic Snake with new graphics, but the various power-ups and traps that were added by Gameloft make it feel like a completely different game (one we don't quite enjoy).
Hardware
The 16 MB of storage are so insufficient that you can't even install a game from the app store without a microSD card in the device. It fills up once you take 6 or 7 photos with the 2 MP camera, or you shoot five seconds of video.
On the other hand, the call quality on the Nokia 3310 is pretty good for a phone in its range. We couldn't pick up anything inherently wrong with it, although it would be better if calls were a little louder.
What about the promised one month of battery life? Well, sorry to disappoint you, but that's just the standby time. If you happen to connect a Bluetooth headset to it, or you play some games, you will get 2 to 3 days out of the 1,200 mAh power pack, at most.
Conclusion
The Nokia 3310 is selling like hot cakes. However, there is nothing of its 17-year-old predecessor left in this device. The sales are completely due to marketing and nostalgia, in our opinion. If you want a solid feature phone, HMD Global has produced far better options in the same price range, such as the Nokia 230, for example, which retails in Europe for $75, give or take.
If you want a collector's item which could be worth a lot one day, though, do consider the 3310. Just don't open the box, ever.
37 Comments
2. Johnnokia
Posts: 1158; Member since: May 27, 2012
Cons.. Extremely insufficient storage?????
Did anyone tell you this is a feature phone and its primary use for basic PHONE functions like making calls or sending SMS, and not for downloading movies or Marvel games???
ROFL!
posted on Jun 19, 2017, 5:15 AM 21
3. DBoss
Posts: 102; Member since: Feb 18, 2017
Whats the use of havin camera and music player with tis ridiculous 16mb storage... r u kidding? 16mb! Its not even sufficient to store contacts and to receive sms. In jus day 2 u will start gettin ass infos lik insufficient space.. any phones deserves atleast 1gb of space to store contacts n sms
posted on Jun 19, 2017, 5:22 AM 4
27. microsoftnokiawin
Posts: 1268; Member since: Mar 30, 2012
"there is nothing of its 17-year-old predecessor left in this device" this reviewer is probably too young to remember anything about the original i doubt he's even touched one the original was also plastic and easily scratched although the replaceable cases on the original was probably on of the cooler features i had a car one aha, still though no glass or metal anywhere this isn't some $800 smartphone
jesus christ the buttons make a sound when you press them ??? has this reviewer held a feature phone in he last decade
and lastly "If you happen to connect a Bluetooth headset to it, or you play some games, you will get 2 to 3 days out of the 1,200 mAh power pack, at most." do you connect a bluetooth headset to every smartphone you review and see if it lasts an entire day give me a break also given this is phone is what is majority of people buying won't use as their main phones and as a backup so ofc it's about the stand by time
another reviewer trying to be controversial or what not given how ridiculous majority of his criticisms are
all in all lazy review stupid criticisms
posted on Jun 20, 2017, 10:38 PM 1
5. Cat97
Posts: 1604; Member since: Mar 02, 2017
So basically is a crap Chinese copycat.
posted on Jun 19, 2017, 5:43 AM 0
14. Tabby_Tiger
Posts: 304; Member since: Jan 23, 2017
HMD ain't Chinese
posted on Jun 19, 2017, 7:52 AM 4
7. nebula
Posts: 1009; Member since: Feb 20, 2015
The phone is crap, speaker is crap too as long as you stay in a quieter environment you are OK but as soon as you go to the street you are buried in an ambient noise sadly.
3310 is nothing more than a gimmick in my opinion sub par build quality but the battery life is great. If you're only for random calls and few messages it's OK otherwise a waste of money
And hay PA what about photo quality? You could have at least throw in a few images
posted on Jun 19, 2017, 6:08 AM 0
9. drifter77
Posts: 396; Member since: Jun 12, 2015
Didn't really have any high hopes for this phone. A phone from days gone by. 16MB storage are you kidding me? This should have been a mid ranger in a classic old body, rugged and all.
posted on Jun 19, 2017, 6:51 AM 0
18. skips
Posts: 437; Member since: Oct 04, 2015
https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-MicroSD-Adapter-MB-ME32GA-AM/dp/B06XWN9Q99/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1497888169&sr=8-1&keywords=32+GB+MICRO+SD
oh wait no it would be ridiculous to use something like t h a t
posted on Jun 19, 2017, 11:03 AM 0
15. Tabby_Tiger
Posts: 304; Member since: Jan 23, 2017
"No matter how careful you are with the phone, you will see permanent streaks appear on its body from day one."
That's an unforgivable flaw even for a budget phone.......won't be buying one for my elderly parents!
posted on Jun 19, 2017, 7:54 AM 0
24. ElgyVeeten
Posts: 2; Member since: Jun 14, 2017
If you want to know how bad this phone is in details check VoloKin Project review on YouTube, sorry I can't post the link as I'm too new.
posted on Jun 19, 2017, 9:56 PM 0
25. rbsoft
Posts: 2; Member since: Oct 30, 2011
Does this mobile phone have not submitted the homologation application to the FCC? I was searching the FCC database and did not find it, and I see in the photograph where the label appears in the battery compartment that does not indicate the FCC ID of the phone.
posted on Jun 20, 2017, 2:49 AM 0
28. Damian.M
Posts: 19; Member since: Nov 01, 2016
We apologize for the lack of comment on the core functionality of this phone - the call quality. We have now edited the review, and you can find our thoughts on it in the Hardware section.
posted on Jun 21, 2017, 6:57 AM 0
31. yann
Posts: 604; Member since: Jul 15, 2010
Hey brat, which phone, and i mean any phone or smartphone, will last 2-3 days with connected bluetooth headset? You're total moron and i don't know how you still writing for this site. You're so lame and illiterate.
posted on Jun 29, 2017, 1:37 AM 0
32. mrfone
Posts: 1; Member since: Jun 30, 2017
Loads of phones have micro SD slots and they expect you to use them. So no difference here. The browser is ok for a feature phone. The way opera compresses the data makes it's 2G speed acceptable. By setting up the RSS feeds of your choice you can get all your favourite websites updates quickly. The Facebook and Twitter apps are ok. You can also access these services via the browser. Bluetooth to my headphones is good. If you compare this feature phone to other feature Phones I am sure it would be up with the best. No use comparing with a Smartphone as it clearly isn't. Mine has no scratches after a month but I always put the phone in a pocket with nothing else. I would do this with whatever phone I was using. For camping and work this phone is excellent.
posted on Jun 30, 2017, 11:14 AM 0
* Some comments have been hidden, because they don't meet the discussions rules.
- Display 2.4" 240 x 320 pixels
- Camera 2 MP
- Processor
- Memory
- Storage 0.016 GB + microSDHC
- Battery 1200 mAh
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