Design and Build Quality
Original Nokia 3310 (2000)
The original Nokia 3310 was like a brick, kind of phone. It had a tough, no-nonsense build that could handle the usual chaos of day to day life. Its design felt plain but useful , with a recognizable look that leaned on a monochrome screen, a bold physical keypad , and a durable plastic shell. Even back then it looked, sort of, “simple, done”.
Build Quality
The build quality on the Nokia 3310 was pretty exceptional for its era. The plastic casing wasn’t just firm , it also stayed fairly resistant to scratches and dents. It could take accidental drops and rough treatment, so it worked well for people who wanted a handset that could live through daily wear and tear, without much drama.
Design Aesthetics
In terms of looks the Nokia 3310 went straight for utilitarian style. It had a small monochrome display, with a resolution listed at 48 x 84 pixels, plus a physical keypad where the buttons were spaced out in a clear way and a set of navigation keys. The body shape was compact, and it was kind of ergonomically made so it fit comfortably in your hand. The design also came in several shades, like gray blue and green. Nothing fancy , but it felt practical.
Nokia 3310 (2017)
The 2017 Nokia 3310 kinda tried to redo that classic vibe for the modern era, while still holding onto the main stuff that made the original so unforgettable . It showed up with a fresher look, a color display, newer internal bits, and software that felt a bit more polished not just a plain throwback or something like that.
Build Quality
The 2017 Nokia 3310 kept that rugged stubbornness people associate with the first model, but it also mixed in more modern materials here and there. The plastic outer shell was still pretty hard to break , still tough in a practical way, though it also looked a little sleeker and more polished overall. In general it felt solid, like the phone was built to shrug off everyday life with minimal drama.
Design Aesthetics
The newer Nokia 3310 still kind of gave off that nostalgic mood, but there were a few small, sensible upgrades baked in and i t. You get a 2.4 inch QVGA color screen, running at 240 x 320 pixels. The keypad was reworked too, with bigger buttons that feel more tangible to press , plus a slightly altered navigation key layout that you notice right away. It also came in multiple color choices, warm red, matte blue , and classic gray, depending on what a store happened to have that week.
There was also a more curved design on the 2017 model. That curve makes it sit in your palm a little nicer, so it feels less clunky during long use. In general the look is a mix of modern and retro, like it pays respect to the old days but still tries to match current preferences.
Being one of those all-time best-selling phones, the Nokia 3310 is easy to recall thanks to its nearly impossible to demolish style and the long-lasting battery life, plus the Snake game – Snake Hunting – Legend . The newer Nokia-branded production line really leaned back into that popular segment by using those familiar nostalgic name choices. If you were a fan of the 3310, you could even pick up a “3310 version 2017”, in case you wanted the classic vibe again.
Take this new 3310 on hand, and you’ll suddenly have to say yes, this is Nokia from the old days, here can not be mistaken. The plastic shell of the device is made quite solid, only time can prove if the strength of the new version really beat the first 3310 or not. The T9 physical keypad separates the feel of a natural ,comfortable keypad rather than the lyrical touch keys with a lack of life. This “divine” keyboard is so preeminent that it lets users text without looking at the keys, which is not really possible on the touchscreen of today’s smartphones.
The overall design of the new model completely follows the mold of the 3310 , with slightly curved edges instead of rectangular shaped like many existing basic phones. The navigation key is zoned into the little array located just below the screen. Unlike previous seniors who only used two-way navigation keys up and down, the Nokia 3310 Edition 2017 features a modern fast five-way navigation key. The physical measurements of the two 3310s are roughly the same, only the newer millimeter version with a 12mm waistline helps the device escape the nickname “brick” like the elder.
The weight of the machine is just over half that of the older model, exactly 79.6g compared to 133g , light enough for you to put in your pocket and forget about the machine’s presence.
There was no left sideways, legendary back cover key, nor a prominent logo in a separate area like before. The separate power button on the top of the 3310 also switches to the integrated call button in the new release.
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Function
The development of technology has deprived the black and white LCD of the 3310 line of characters and instead is a 2.4-inch color screen with a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels on the new version. Brighter and sharper, showing more content but making sure that the screen on the new 3310 has lost its simplicity and the ability to display in the sunshine of the 3310 in the 2000s.
Similar to many previous Nokia phones, the 3310 2017 with the Nokia Series 30+ platform. This basic platform provides the necessary utilities such as call logs, contacts, PCs, instant messengers, web browsing, photo viewer, radio, music player, recording and photo taking applications. The Nokia 3310 is also equipped with an online application store that downloads additional software. Even social networking apps like Twitter and Facebook will also appear on it.
Unfortunately, you only download applications via 2.5G connection, not 3G, 4G or Wi-Fi, which is not supported by your device. The Nokia 3310 2017 is also equipped with Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity for voice and data sharing. Proud to replace the 3.5mm headphone port is not removed as on many high-end smartphones today. The machine has built-in 16MB of internal memory, enough to accommodate a snapshot from the camera’s 2MP camera. If you need more memory then you can get to the microSD card slot below the battery cover.
One of the easy-to-remember elements on the 3310 myths comes from the game (Skake). And 3310 copies of this 2017 continue to revive this memory region with Snake Xenzia, a new version developed by Gameloft with many levels. The presence of the four-way navigation key is quite timely, but also require the player to do exactly because the navigation key size is quite small. And Snake is not the only game available on the 3310, plus Asphalt 6: Adrenaline, Diamon Twister 2, Doodle Jump and Drag Race.
The 1200mAh battery packs up to 31 days of talk time or 22 hours of talk time to help the new Nokia 3310 inherit and upgrade the energy of the old model, which has a timeline of 11 days and 2.5 hours, respectively pin 900mAh. GSM-equipped GSM devices only support dual 800/1900 bands, similar to the old 3310, which may cause the Nokia 3310 to be unable to operate in certain locations such as the United States, Canada, Australia. or Singapore, where there are not many carriers supporting these bands. The new Nokia 3310 is equipped with the most popular microUSB charging port, instead of using the “legendary” charger port.
Software and Features
Original Nokia 3310 (2000)
The software on the original Nokia 3310 was kind of simple , and focused on the basics. In practice the phone did calling , texting, and then a handful of built in games. That’s it really, nothing too fancy.
User Interface
The user interface on the original Nokia 3310 felt straightforward and pretty intuitive. The phone had a simple menu system, with options that were easy to get through, so you could access the essentials without fuss. The physical keypad also gave tactile feedback , so typing a message or dialing a number was much less annoying than you might expect.
Built-In Games
The original Nokia 3310 was famous for its built in games , especially the classic Snake. Snake became almost iconic, and it was one of the most popular mobile games back then. The whole thing was basic yet somehow addictive , and it helped the phone stay popular with a lot of users.
Nokia 3310 (2017)
Then the 2017 Nokia 3310 came along, with updated software and more functional additions. It still kept the classic charm of the original model, but felt slightly more current.
User Interface
For the 2017 version , the user interface was made to be easier on people, and still intuitive. There was a revamped menu system with larger icons, plus navigation that felt smoother. The software kept that same simplicity as the older model but it added more modern touches, just not too much.
Pre-Installed Apps
The 2017 Nokia 3310 arrived with a few pre installed apps, meant to polish the day-to-day experience without turning the phone into something complicated. They were pretty straightforward and not much more than that. For example :
Opera Mini Browser: a light web browser, tuned for feature phones. It let users roam around the internet, and open more or less basic websites.
Facebook App: a simpler Facebook app version was included , so you could keep in touch with your social world.
Snake: the classic Snake game came back on the 2017 release, more like a nod to the earlier model. It got refreshed visuals, but kept the same essential gameplay that everybody remembers.
FM Radio: an FM radio app was there too, so you could tune into stations without relying on internet data.
Camera: even if it was basic , the camera app still handled photos and video recording.
Taken together, these little additions brought a bit of modern vibe, but the whole idea stayed the same, simple use and solid reliability.
Connectivity
Original Nokia 3310 (2000)
The original Nokia 3310 had honestly pretty limited connectivity options compared to what people expect today. It mostly stayed aimed at voice calls and messages , and well that was kind of it. the available connectivity was
GSM Network : The phone worked on GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) networks which were the default mobile setup back then.
SMS/MMS : it supported Short Message Service , for texting and Multimedia Messaging Service for sending multimedia content.
Nokia 3310 (2017)
The 2017 Nokia 3310 brought some refreshed connectivity, but it still was a feature phone not something that really competes with smartphones.
2G Network : the 2017 model kept GSM network support, yet it did not add 3G or 4G capability. this matched its basic communication focus, pretty closely.
Bluetooth 3.0 : the phone came with Bluetooth 3.0 for wireless linking to other gadgets. users could shuffle files around, pair with headsets, and even use other Bluetooth accessories.
MicroUSB Port : the device had a MicroUSB port for charging and data movement , which felt normal for that era.
3.5mm Headphone Jack : the 2017 version kept the 3.5mm jack too, so people could play music and place calls using wired headphones.
User Experience
Original Nokia 3310 (2000)
The user experience of the original Nokia 3310 felt kind of plain but in a good way, it was mostly about being dependable and not overdoing things. It was built like a no frills device , aimed at the essential functions, nothing extra, at least not on purpose.
Ease of Use
With the physical keypad and a menu system that was pretty intuitive, most people could figure it out fast. Calling and texting were reachable quickly, without having to wander through complicated paths or settings. Also the rugged build helped a lot, because it seemed able to take rough handling, and that kind of certainty matters.
Battery Life
A major highlight was the battery endurance. People liked having long stretches between charges, so the phone didn’t demand constant recharging, you know, that peace of mind kind of feeling. Less plug in time, more use time, pretty much.
Nokia 3310 (2017)
The user experience of the 2017 Nokia 3310 felt like that mix of nostalgia ,and a bit of modern usefulness. It kept the familiar vibe , but also brought in refreshed design accents plus newer features that actually work. Not a huge shift more like a small adjustment ,yet enough to make it feel different ,in a good way.
Ease of Use
The updated interface, along with the same style of physical keypad, still kept things simple. Bigger buttons plus smoother navigation made it easier to operate, and the color screen made the whole interaction more pleasant to look at.
Modern Features
Adding stuff like a color display, a newer camera , and apps already in the box made the whole experience feel smoother. Even though it was still built around basic use cases, the 2017 version offered a few extra conveniences that helped it feel more flexible, in day to day life.
Battery Life
The battery performance on the 2017 model kept the vibe and legacy of the first Nokia 3310. People could count on several days of work from one charge , so it stayed a sensible pick for anyone wanting a dependable phone with long-lasting results.
Legacy and Impact
Original Nokia 3310 (2000)
The original Nokia 3310 left a mark on both the mobile phone world and pop culture. Its toughness, long battery endurance , and instantly recognizable design made it a device that really stood out.
Popularity
The Nokia 3310 sold extremely well and reached a huge audience because it was reliable and not too expensive. It turned into a cultural symbol too , and lots of users still recall it with warmth, either as their first mobile phone, or as the kind of handset you could trust.
Influence
The success of the Nokia 3310 shaped how later mobile phones were designed and developed. By putting durability first , alongside long battery life and simple controls, it basically set a benchmark for feature phones and pushed other brands to put those traits front and center.
Nokia 3310 (2017)
The 2017 Nokia 3310 tried to grab that same vibe as the first one, but then it still wanted to feel right for modern users. In the end, it sort of blended the old memories with newer tools which made it a pretty usual pick among folks who like that classic appearance.
Nostalgia
This later model really hit home with users who still remember the original Nokia 3310. It gave that warm nostalgic pull while still bringing updated capabilities that fit todays routines and needs.
Market Reception
The 2017 Nokia 3310 got mostly good reactions, mainly because it kept the classic appearance, but added modern functionality. Reviewers often mentioned how sturdy it feels, the long battery endurance, and the improved features, so it became popular for anyone wanting a feature phone with that nostalgic twist, you know.
Conclude
Carrying over the name and the design part of the legendary “trio” , the Nokia 3310 can still stand up against a lot of current popular phones thanks to pure nostalgia. The long lasting battery and the snake game are basically the legacy it inherited from the older generation, and it was then refined a bit.
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Tech Reviewer & Product Analyst
Định Bia has spent over 10 years testing consumer electronics with a focus on smart technology. He work as a product advisor at Biareview where he helped customers find the right devices for their needs. He personally tests every product featured on this site using a consistent evaluation framework covering quality, durability, and value. All reviews are based on experience, not influenced by the manufacturer.