Nokia 3210 (2024) Review – Nostalgia Meets Modern Simplicity
The last member of the Nokia Originals that HMD launched is the Nokia 3210. This modern take on a vintage legend was released to celebrate the phone’s 25th anniversary. HMD has given it a modern twist with a new processor (Unisoc T107), Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, a 1450 mAh battery, a 2.4-inch QVGA display, and a camera, while retaining elements of the original design that make this phone look great.
I took it for a spin during my summer vacation, hoping to digitally detox, and managed to survive without a smartphone for two whole days. Those two days of use, plus another 10 days of playing with it at home, revealed all the positives and negatives of this phone.
Here are the specs of the new Nokia 3210:
- Model: TA-1619
- Dimensions: 122 x 52 x 13.14 mm
- Weight: 87.8 g
- Display: 2.4 inch, QVGA
- Memory: 128/64 MB (ROM/RAM), 32 GB microSD
- Processor: Unisoc T107
- Camera: 2MP, LED flash
- Battery: 1450 mAh, removable, 9.8 h talk time
- Connectivity: BT 5.0, 3.5 mm jack, USB Type-C
- OS: S30+ (10.00.17.03)
- Colour: Y2K Gold, Scuba Blue, Grunge Black
Unboxing
The box itself includes only the essentials, but they’re all you need. There’s a 2.75W wall charger with a USB-C connector, a removable 1450 mAh battery, and a quick-start guide. That’s it—no headsets are included, but the FM radio works well without them, and the loudspeaker is quite good. The phone and battery come wrapped in plastic, which I think should be a thing of the past in the 21st century.
The design
The design is definitely a highlight, and the build quality is impressive too. The phone’s design is clean, with lines that are both sharp yet soft to the touch. The only holes on the phone sides are the 3.5 mm headphone jack and the USN-C port. This phone is a true Nokia legacy, even though the front resembles that of the Nokia 3310. However, the Nokia 3210 is larger than the original, but the body is super slim and fits perfectly in the hand. I especially love the Skuba Blue colour of the test sample.
The phone usage
The phone runs on the trusty S30+ platform, which hasn’t changed much over the years. However, it is a bit different this time around. The annoying keypad tones are still there, and to lower their volume, you’ll have to dig into the settings a bit. To adjust the volume of the keypad tones or ringtone, you need to go to Menu > Settings > Profiles > select a profile > click the top left button > Settings > Adjust volume. I remember things being more intuitively placed back in 2002.
Overall, the ringtones are modern versions of the old monophonic ones, but I don’t particularly like them. The message tone sounds similar to the original but isn’t quite the same. Additionally, some tones, like “Nocturnal,” are completely messed up.
It took me a minute to transfer all my contacts from the HMD Skyline via Bluetooth to the Nokia 3210, and I was ready to go. I inserted a 1 GB memory card in case I wanted to take photos, though the camera isn’t great, it can be handy for capturing some basic information. At least the sharing of the photos and other info via BT is super smooth. Here are some shots made with 3210. This is the best you can get.
The display visibility isn’t the best under bright sunlight, but in all other conditions, it’s sufficient for seeing the important stuff. You can increase the backlight brightness, but this will consume more battery.
Call quality is fair, though it could use some tuning—maybe lowering the mid-tones and increasing the high tones. However, the person on the other end said I sounded loud and clear, even with the loudspeaker on. So, you can easily make a “Kardashian call” with the 3210. Signal quality is good, and the phone supports 4G, so browsing for essential info on the preinstalled Opera Mini won’t be a problem.
The battery should last for two to four days with regular use, but if you’re only using it as a secondary phone for playing Snake, it could last up to a week. When used occasionally, the phone could stay charged for months, making it a fine and stylish SOS phone for trips. The LED light also adds a nice touch.
Final thoughts
All in all, the phone functions well and brings back a bit of nostalgia. However, for the price of €79.99, I expected more. Considering you can get the Nokia 235 4G for €10 less, the 3210 should offer better value. That said, with the current discounted price of €69.99, which matches the 235 4G, I would choose the 3210 instead.
