Nokia 5310: Retro feature phone shamelessly panders to nostalgia, but is charming enough to be forgiven
- Reference: 1595233805
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2020/07/20/nokia_5310_review/
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The new Nokia 5310 embodies that temptation. This revived phone from yesteryear comes with all the accoutrements long abandoned by phone manufacturers – like a T9 keypad, removable batteries, and Snake . While internet connectivity is present (along with a pre-installed Facebook app), it's not really a fluid and contemporary experience.
It reminds me of Montgomery Scott in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode [1]"Relics" , in which Kirk's Caledonian engineer is thrust into the 24th century and struggles to feel relevant. Next to the Xiaomis and iPhones of the world, this revamped feature phone feels decidedly out of place.
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But it's not without its charms. The phone's diminutive size and lightweight frame makes it feel decidedly comfy in one's pocket. Meanwhile, it boasts battery life in abundance, making it a sound choice for a backup.
Snake – although slightly flashier than the version that appeared on the iconic Nokia 3310 – dragged me back kicking and screaming to my high-school IT classes, where I'd stealthily steal a game or two while Mr Collins droned on about Microsoft Publisher.
[3]
Typing on a T9 keyboard was frustrating as the muscle memory I developed as a teen has long since faded. Then again, you're unlikely to use this phone as a productivity device so it's a moot point.
Where this device really shines is as a media player, thanks to its loud and (surprisingly decent) front-facing speakers. With support for micro SD cards up to 32GB, it can easily carry your music library – or at least five Leonard Cohen songs.
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Meanwhile, controlling playback is intuitive, thanks to the audio controls present on the side of the device. There's also a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is also used for the phone's FM radio.
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A few contemporary trappings are present. I've already mentioned Facebook. There's also room for two SIM Cards, as well as a (slightly naff) VGA rear-facing camera.
Ultimately, this is a fairly fresh-faced take on an old concept, and while it won't be for everyone, it's hard to fault the execution. And with a price tag below £30, it's easily justifiable for those looking for a retro throwback.
That said, you can fault Nokia's timing. This device feels particularly well suited for two things: going to mud-drenched festivals and travelling. And given the rampage of COVID-19, nobody's doing much of that right now. ®
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[1] https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Relics_(episode)
[2] https://regmedia.co.uk/2020/07/16/nokia_5310_box_shot.jpg
[3] https://regmedia.co.uk/2020/07/16/nokia_5310_battery_enclosure.jpg
[4] https://regmedia.co.uk/2020/07/16/nokia_5310_media_buttons.jpg
[5] https://regmedia.co.uk/2020/07/16/nokia_5310_snake_screenshot.jpg
[6] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
This is NOT that suitable for older people
There's already several phones out there that are better. Just search on Amazon
What most older generation people need are:
1. A VERY loud ringtone that is lower frequency than most of the normal stock ringtones
2. A VERY loud speakerphone mode that is easy to engage
3. Large buttons, with the answer button easy to find
4. Easy to set up speed dial for single press calling
5. As larger screen as can be reconciled with point 3
6. A large, clear font, together with an appropriate UI to make selecting contacts as easy as possible
7. A long battery life, together with easy charging, like a cradle
8. Anything that is not directly associated with making and receiving calls not cluttering the UI
9. An emergency call button easy to find when wanted, but not so easy that it can be pressed by accident.
And this should all be in a package that is easy to hold for people with grip issues, and robust enough to survive being dropped.
This Nokia phone does not meet many of these criteria.
This is not an advert, but I bought a Chinese phone badged Ushining from Amazon for my dad recently, as it ticks nearly all of the points I outlined. There are several other phones from Doro, Artfone and Easyfone, amongst others.
Re: This is NOT that suitable for older people
Oh, yes it is.
I bought one of these last week for my 92-year old neighbour. It was to replace an Alcatel which had recently in turn replaced his old Nokia which had died.
The Alcatel was rubbish and none of us could make it work properly. I switched the SIM and the Nokia burst into perfect life immediately.
Without any instruction, he sent his first ever text on Friday. It's a great little phone.
Re: This is NOT that suitable for older people
As always, it depends on the users capability and what they want to use it for. My father is deaf to frequencies above about 1KHz, and literally cannot hear the ringtones that come as standard on most phones.
Add to that the fiddly nature of plugging in a micro USB cable to charge, the ease that most phones like this can be dropped and the inability of some people with presbyopia to see the screen and legends on the buttons for phones like this one, and you can see why it is not that suitable for many older people.
Of course, many are lucky to still be dexterous, able to see close up, and still have their hearing, but I know a fair number of older people with at least one or more of the problems I've outlined, for whom this phone would be a difficult to use.
Is it 4G, and can it work as a wifi hotspot?
If so, sold.
Re: Is it 4G, and can it work as a wifi hotspot?
Unfortunately it [1]appears not to and only does 2G. Pity as otherwise it would sound perfect.
Beware: Nokia released a 5310 in 2007 - this is not the same thing, but looks similar.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_5310_(2020)
Re: Is it 4G, and can it work as a wifi hotspot?
They improved the new 3310 (2G) after several months, I imagine they'll do the same with this one.
I wanted desperately to mock this thing.
But that's so cheap that I'm really impressed. Looks like great value for money to me, might be worth having just as a spare.
Lose facebook, I'll never use it anyway ...
... and I don't really need/want any other Internet access on my phone, either. I'll probably try one anyway, it may be exactly what I've been looking for. The game I can ignore, just as I did on the late, much lamented 5185 that lasted almost a decade and a half ...
"pre-installed Facebook app"
I really do hope it's not slurping when you're not logged in and using it as any app from [1]Google or [2]Facebook running on the two big mobile platforms is wont to do. That would ruin the nostalgia.
[1] https://www.theregister.com/2016/09/12/turn_off_location_services_go_ahead_says_google_well_still_track_you/
[2] https://www.theregister.com/2018/05/22/facebook_data_leak_no_account/
I'm looking forward to when they retrify the 6310
I still have mine, almost pristine, with a little hand polish
Yes, with an upgraded 4G or so modem it will become my new phone. Minimum lifespan of 15 years should be mandatory for this kind of technology.
cool
I had the original Nokia 5310 Xpressmusic
It was a great phone, was very disappointed when it broke and I could'nt get any similar replacement.
With the size of smart phones these days, and how badly they often perform as actual phones, shouldn't we all consider going back to having a mobile phone like this in your pocket and a small table in your bag?
Re: cool
If I read the specs right, the new 5310 has a worse camera and less RAM than the original, 13 year old model.
https://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=2087&idPhone2=10144&idPhone3=8597
Re: cool
What size of a bag do you have, that you can carry furniture about with you?
Perfect burner phone!
Definitely the phone to take on trips to strange countries with creative interpretations of individual liberties: Just let the TSA try to slurp/bug that one at the airport... And if they brick it while doing so, well, it's not a big financial loss.
Re: Perfect burner phone!
Try the L8star BM10. Nothing suspicious about that phone at all.
Re: Perfect burner phone!
Never buy one second hand.
Re: Perfect burner phone!
Just curious, what is the problem? The attached ID might be associated with dodgy prison based comms?
Better?
> If you're a techie, things have never been better. For less than £500, you can get a tiny battery-powered computer that's faster than the workstation your boss spent £2,000 kitting you out with just 15 years prior.
I'm not sure things are better now. Yes, my phone has better specs than my workstation 15 years ago, but it can do much less.
Most of it is taken up with bloat, or apps I don't want but can't remove, on an OS that is designed to restrict and spy on me. All blanketed in a GUI that was made by people who seem to have gone out of their way to ignore all good HCI practices and make user interaction as much of a PITA as they could manage.
I end up spending a lot of time fighting the OS to get it to do what I want, and it is a losing battle.
The HW has improved by leaps and bounds, but the software has gone in full reverse. My old Nokia N900 could do more than my current phone, despite having completely anemic specs in comparison.
Fat good having all this power in your pocket is, when you can't make use of it.
As for the Nokia 5310. Dual sim, long battery life, headphone jack, removable battery. It would be up my street if it wasn't for the built in Facebook app, and no high speed tethering (give me 4G + unrestricted bluetooth/USB tethering and I'm sold).
The state of smartphones has gotten so bad, that when my current Android dies, I will go back to a simple phone + tethered laptop when on the go.
Handy as a secondary phone
Living on the irish border we used to need two phones for everything. one for the uk networks and one for the southern networks, and having the wrong phone in the wrong room of the house could cost dearly.
Then add a work phone and some people were carrying around 1 main phone and 4 cheaper phones. My mother still uses nokia's last colourful nostalgia phone as her work pieces (one for the north, one for the south, because the public sector is not smart)
As for me, this or the aforementioned 3310 would be my "going through American border" phone with just my sim and no sensitive data
Re: Handy as a secondary phone
Surely EU wide roaming will work for the two counties (at the moment)?
Backup phone
If only you could get a pay as you go SIM card which didn't expire if you haven't used it for a few months.
Re: Backup phone
Three UK has a free SIM on the 123 tariff that only needs one call or text every 6 months to keep activated. At least I don't have to give my real number out to delivery people any more.
Re: Backup phone
No good for this phone. Three only do 3G and up.
Re: Backup phone
I have an O2 PAYG SIM that doesn't expire AFAICR. It's not the one you get in shops, I think I ordered it online in 2018.
Facebook App
That is my deal breaker.
I can't stand baked in apps.
Re: Facebook App
That's a bit like saying you won't buy a phone with a 3.5mm jack because you never use a headset. Or a house with a bath and a shower because you only ever take showers.
There's also room for two SIM Cards
is it a real 2-sim set-up, or the usual "one for sim, one for micro-sd"? I think I know the answer :( Shame really, as it does about 70% of what I need. But if it only runs 2G, it can't be used on 3 network. And with that facebook application it's a no-no. Otherwise I'd be happy to take it on trips abroad, give to kids on their trips, etc. But then, I can just hand out rooted S2, we've got a few around. So sorry, Nokia.
Can also see that sort of phone being very popular with both the older generation who don't want bells and whistles, and also parents buying first phones for their children who want to restrict what they can do, especially at the price.
Hell, I would not be at all surprised if people would pay £30 for snake and a cheap device to use as a media player out running/cycling either.