Nokia nostalgia: Retro Nokia 3310 and new smartphones arrive in Ireland

26 Jul 2017

The new Nokia 3310 at Mobile World Congress earlier this year. Image: John Kennedy

Nokia is back baby, in a blend of old and new devices.

Nokia’s return to Ireland will be a blaze of nostalgia, armed with the familiar-looking Nokia 3310 as well as a range of new Android devices manufactured on contract by HMD Global.

The redux of the Nokia 3310 – replete with much-loved features such as Snake – caused quite a stir at Mobile World Congress earlier this year, returning to the world 17 years after its first release.

Nokia nostalgia: Retro 3310 and new smartphones arrive in Ireland

The Nokia 3310 at Mobile World Congress earlier this year. Image: John Kennedy

The 3310 was accompanied by new Android devices such as the Nokia 3, the Nokia 5 and the Nokia 6, offering a tempting glimpse of what life might have been like if Nokia had adopted Android rather than succumbed to a doomed, if stealthy, takeover by Microsoft.

The revamped 3310 comes with a 2.4in screen, costs only €59 and has a 22-hour talk time, as well as a battery life of theoretically a month – a performance unheard of these days as most batteries on well-used smartphones would last a day, maybe two at a stretch.

New Nokia smartphones

Nokia nostalgia: Retro 3310 and new smartphones arrive in Ireland

The Nokia 3310 caused quite a stir at Mobile World Congress 2017. Image: John Kennedy

Also debuting in Ireland is the €249 Nokia 6, a 5.5in Android device with a HD screen and an aluminium unibody. Its standout features include a smart audio amplifier, dual speakers powered by Dolby and a Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset.

The €209 Nokia 5 is a 5.2in device also powered by Snapdragon, with an 8MP wide-angle, front-facing camera, ideal for the selfie generation.

Nokia nostalgia: Retro 3310 and new smartphones arrive in Ireland

The Nokia 3, which debuted at Mobile World Congress 2017. Image: John Kennedy

The compact €149 5in Nokia 3 comes with an integrated 8MP wide-aperture lens front and back, and a polarised screen, making it ideal for bright light conditions.

The Nokia 6 and Nokia 5 will be available exclusively in Ireland from Three while the Nokia 3 will be stocked by Three, Vodafone, Eir and Carphone Warehouse.

Nokia nostalgia: Retro 3310 and new smartphones arrive in Ireland

Look familiar? After 17 years since it first launched the Nokia 3310 has returned with a few extra bells and whistles. Image: John Kennedy

The retro Nokia 3310 will be available from Vodafone, Eir and Carphone Warehouse.

All of the devices will hit the Irish market on 2 August.

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com