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In an era of ever-advancing phone technology, can nostalgia give a boost to a not-so-smartphone?


The Nokia 3310 — a beloved phone model that's been out of date for a decade — has been relaunched as a new, colorful, pared-down phone for sale by 

The new phone, which costs just more than $50, debuted at an expo in Barcelona. It's a "feature phone," the industry term for a device that doesn't have the capabilities of a smartphone. But it's definitely been upgraded since the early 2000s; this model has a camera, a color screen and an mp3 player.



Not everyone was impressed. Chris Smith of BGR 

 that the new phone "feels light and cheap" and called the use of the Nokia 3310 name a "marketing trick" to bring attention to HMD Global's new Android smartphones — also under the Nokia brand.
The company purchased the right to make Nokia phones last year. 

 that among the offerings would be a throwback phone, reviving the 3310. As we reported earlier this month, that model was technically "retired" in 2005, with some 126 million units sold, according to Nokia:


Time will tell if the new model has the original phone's legendary durability.


As for battery life, HMD Global boasts that the phone will last for up to a month

on standby. But the company says if you're using it to talk, you'll get about 22 hours — which is hardly unprecedented, 

But there's one trait from the original phone that's definitely still available: Snake.

Science

We reported earlier this month on rumors that the Internet's favorite indestructible brick of a phone would be returning to shelves. Now it's official. The not-so-smartphone will cost about $50.

The early 2000s are calling: New Nokia 3310 phones revealed

Go Deeper.

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