The Nokia 3310 emerged as the sentimental favorite among the mobile devices that were introduced via the MWC 2017 last February and estimates indicate the retro phone will sell like hotcakes on release date. But grabbing the reimagined 3310 is not exactly an easy decision to make.
Sure the remake unboxing in red, blue, yellow and grey will be compelling and more so the asking price, which HMD Global said will be €49 or roughly $52. Add to the mix that the 2017 version is thinner than the original but nearly as durable, and buying seems nearly automatic especially for those looking to score a backup phone but do not want to overspend.
And making the new Nokia 3310 even more irresistible is the promise of extended battery life - up to 22hrs of talk time in a singled charge and guaranteed one month of standby power, which cannot be found on even the most advanced flagship smartphones these days.
For the really heavy phone users, the 3310 can keep going forever provided a fully-charged second battery is always on hand. The device has a back cover that can be peeled off anytime so users can swap a battery that is running out of juice for a charged up replacement.
However, there is one important thing to know before finalizing the buy decision. According to WCCFTech, the Nokia 3310 2017 will only connect on 2G GSM networks. The same feature, in fact, is one of the reasons the device can last longer than any other powerful smartphones.
The 3310 having only 2G connectivity will mean that the device will have limited support from network service providers around the world. In the U.S., for instance, 2G, both in 900MHz and 1800MHz standards, will be completely phased out by 2020, and the same will happen in Canada and major European nations.
That means Nokia fans from these regions will only be able to use the Nokia 3310 three years max and afterwards connectivity for the device will be next to impossible. The same is true for progressive Asian countries like Japan, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea. These markets will soon fully embrace 4G and 5G, thus pushing 2G to eventual extinction.
Inevitably, the new Nokia 3310, however durable it is, will be rendered a museum piece or a collector's item. So on release date, which reportedly set by HMD Global on May 2017, it's best to think doubly hard before taking the plunge on the Nokia 3310.