Nokia's reboot of the 5310 is a blissfully dumb phone that will lug some mp3s about just fine
- Reference: 1590764409
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2020/05/29/relive_your_happy_slapping_days/
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Fond memories, right? Now you can relive them again as HMD Global has just announced the UK pricing and availability of its Nokia 5310 XpressMusic throwback.
The Nokia 5310 doesn't run [1]KaiOS as you would expect from a contemporary feature phone, instead (like the [2]rebooted 3310 ) using the Nokia Series 30+ operating system.
Amusingly, it packs less internal memory than its predecessor. The remake offers just 16MB of internal storage, while the 2007 model came with 30MB. Instead, punters are expected to store their music libraries on a micro SD card, with the remake supporting drives up to 32GB.
With 8MB RAM, no Wi-Fi, and support only for 2G, you can forget about streaming music or video. And I doubt you'd want to do the latter on the Nokia 5310 anyway, considering it only has a 2.4-inch QVGA display, though it does support the 3GP video codec.
But for a portable offline music player, the Nokia 5310 is weirdly compelling. The specs cite support for wireless FM radio, which is a nice touch. There's also Bluetooth 3.0, which will allow you to move files wirelessly between devices without plugging in the micro USB cable – as well as connect to a headset.
It also comes with a 1,200mAh battery that promises 30 days of standby time (although that goes down to "just" 22 days if you slip a second SIM in) and 20.7 hours of talk time.
Considering most smartphones offer a fraction of that, the Nokia 5310 could serve as a decent backup phone for when you're away from the mains, like at a music festival. Remember those? And with a price tag of just £35, you probably won't feel too sad when you drunkenly drop it down a Glastonbury chemical latrine.
If you're tempted, it's available to buy today from Nokia's own online store, as well as Amazon. ®
*Well, that and the tube strikes.
[1] https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/02/26/firefox_os_vindicated_in_nokias_budget_nostalgia_trip/
[2] https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/09/28/nokia_updates_classic_comeback_mobe_3310/
Re: Would this be a good 'phone to have ...
Given that most operators are looking to refarm their 2G spectrum to be a higher G, I would expect this phone to cease to be functional in the moderately near future
Re: Would this be a good 'phone to have ...
"refarm 2G spectrum...'
Depends what they re-use the spectrum for. TV receiver? Emergency services broadcast scanner? Auto-driving disaster maker?
Re: Would this be a good 'phone to have ...
My gut feel is that 2G will survive for a long time, but 3G & 4G support will dwindle as 5G increases in coverage.
Re: Would this be a good 'phone to have ...
It actually (inexplicably) seems to have a Facebook "app" on it.
Does it manage and play podcasts I wonder?
if you download then somewhere else and store them in the sd card, sure. (RTFA, it doesn't do wi-fi)
It's a piece of junk
Having fond memories of the original I bought one of these as a cheap MP3 player and radio. I shouldn't have. Compared to the original it feels cheap and flimsy. However the most annoying aspect of the device is the MP3 player. I loaded up an SD card with some music files and started the player. It gave me a list of every file on the card with the only way to select a particular album being to scroll through the list to get to the start of the album I wanted to play. There's no wayy to list albums or navigate folders.
Obsolete on Arrival?
It doesn't seem like a good idea to buy a phone that only supports spectrum living on borrowed time. The US announcement of 2G/3G sunset dates is the canary in the coal mine. Others will soon follow. That spectrum is too tempting a target for low band 5G.
Re: Obsolete on Arrival?
Yeah, but it's [1]only thirty quid . If it lasts a year or two (and 2G will probably be around [2]for a lot longer than that in the UK), you're still winning. Seriously thinking about upgrading from the 105 just to get threaded text messages and Bluetooth. Can't quite work out what internet it has though (WiFi? WAP?! ) – personally I'd like it to have none, but it seems to have a browser for some odd reason.
[1] https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nokia-2-4-Inch-SIM-Free-Feature-Phone/dp/B0876SXM35
[2] https://www.techradar.com/uk/news/2g-may-not-be-switched-off-in-the-uk-for-another-decade
Would this be a good 'phone to have ...
when crossing some international borders. "No, I can't login to social media from this 'phone."
But I don't know how long 2G will be enough everywhere.