Notebookcheck Logo

Nokia 3210 review – The classic phone from the early 00s is back

Digital detox deluxe.

HMD has brought back the Nokia 3210, a classic feature phone that caused a major craze at the turn of the millennium. The original's 25th anniversary is being celebrated by the addition of countless updates including a color display, camera and internet capabilities. But is the phone still as cool an accessory as back in the day?
Nokia 3210
Processor
UNISOC T107 1 x 1 GHz, TGNSJ-T107
Memory
64 MB 
Display
2.40 inch 4:3, 320 x 240 pixel 167 PPI, TFT, glossy: yes
Storage
128 MB Flash, 0.128 GB 
Connections
1 USB 2.0, Audio Connections: 3.5mm audio jack, Card Reader: microSD up to 32 GB
Networking
Bluetooth 5.0, 2G (3,5,8), 3G (1,5,8), 4G (B1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41), LTE Cat 1, Dual SIM, LTE
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 13.1 x 122 x 52 ( = 0.52 x 4.8 x 2.05 in)
Battery
1450 mAh Lithium-Ion, 2.75-watt charging
Operating System
Nokia S30+
Camera
Primary Camera: 2 MPix LED flash
Additional features
Speakers: mono speaker, Keyboard: number keys with T9, charger, 24 Months Warranty, FM radio, MP3 player, fanless
Weight
89 g ( = 3.14 oz / 0.2 pounds) ( = 0 oz / 0 pounds)
Price
80 Euro
Amazon
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case and connectivity – Little resemblance to the original

The new Nokia 3210 doesn't really bear much resemblance to the original, as you can see in the photo below: Its screen is much larger, the earpiece much smaller and the arrangement of its buttons is also completely new.

In turn, the new Nokia 3210 has lost a lot of weight: While the original (first presented in 1999) weighed 151 grams, the new 3210 is a lot lighter, now weighing in at only 89 grams. In total, their measurements are indeed pretty similar. 

You can get the new Nokia 3210 in three colors: Y2K Gold, Scuba Blue and Grunge Black. The former color is named after the turn of the millennium, which is roughly when the first Nokia 3210 was sold and Grunge Black is reminiscent of the original gray case in which the phone was first delivered. At the time, Nokia made heaps of extra cash by selling its XPress-On covers, as customers could swap out the front and back case parts of the Nokia 3210.

The front can no longer be swapped out as easily on the new model. You could at least swap out the back cover of the new 3210 since it can be removed quite easily—situated beneath this is the exchangeable battery, two SIM card slots and a dedicated microSD card slot.

The latter unfortunately doesn't transfer data terribly fast, but it can be used to expand the phone's storage by up to 32 GB. This will be necessary if you are looking to transfer a large collection of music onto the device: 128 MB of internal flash storage is sure to be used up in no time.  

The new version of the Nokia 3210 supports Bluetooth, so you can now connect wireless headphones. It also has a USB-C port which enables the phone to be charged easily, and you can use it to easily transfer files to and from the device when connected to a PC.

Size comparison

168.3 mm / 6.63 in 76.3 mm / 3 in 8.3 mm / 0.3268 in 193 g0.4255 lbs122 mm / 4.8 in 52 mm / 2.05 in 13.1 mm / 0.516 in 89 g0.1962 lbs148 mm / 5.83 in 105 mm / 4.13 in 1 mm / 0.03937 in 1.5 g0.00331 lbs
SD Card Reader - average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Average of class Smartphone
  (7.7 - 77, n=78, last 2 years)
29.3 MB/s +70%
Xiaomi Redmi A3
  (Angelbird V60)
25.6 MB/s +49%
Nokia 3210
  (Angelbird V60)
17.2 MB/s

Communication, software and operation – Including LTE and Bluetooth

The Nokia 3210 is marketed explicitly as a "digital detox" device, which encourages users to go without digital media and, more importantly, the internet. The phone offers no option to connect to WLAN—instead, you can only connect to the web via a SIM card and cellular data. In this case, the smartphone at least uses the LTE Cat.1 standard, meaning it can connect to 4G networks. Its possible transfer rates are rather low at up to 10 Mbit/s (download) and 5 Mbit/s (upload).

All the most important frequencies are available for 4G use within Central Europe, where this test was carried out. If you just want to make calls, then you will likely be able to do so in most countries in the world but when it comes to its mobile internet capabilities, the phone's small number of selected frequencies may limit your use depending on the country.

During our test within a larger city, our test device had a good connection at all times.

Nokia uses its own operating system called Nokia S30+. It is based on Unisoc's Mocor OS that comes with the feature phone's SoC. Although Mocor was initially a split-off from Android 4, no apps can currently be installed on the system and the look and feel of it are not reminiscent of Android designed for touchscreens, but rather of old operating systems known from classic feature phones.

Users have the option to tune into FM radio stations as long as you use wired headphones as an antenna. As for other apps, Facebook comes pre-installed, although this is only a link to the browser Facebook page. Speaking of browsers: The phone uses Opera Mini. It's quite tedious to navigate the web due to the device's small buttons and its lack of a touchscreen or a mouse. However, the Nokia 3210 can certainly be used for reading up on the odd topic.

You can play videos and music on the phone, and it even comes with several games preinstalled: This, of course, includes the classic game Snake, which has now been optimized for color screens. There us also a racing game, a card game and a number of other games but unfortunately, you can only try out the demo versions and you'll have to purchase the full versions if you wish to play them in their entirety. 

The phone also features functions such as a calculator, a world clock and a flashlight.

Of course, the Nokia phone isn't nearly as comfortable to use as a device with a touchscreen. You can navigate through the menus using a 4-way directional pad in the middle and trigger additional functions with two buttons on the right and left. The "end call" button closes the current app and returns to the home screen.

When making calls, numbers are entered via the number keys and you can also type letters when writing messages or typing something into the browser. If desired, you can also use T9 word recognition, which was one of the most important new features in the original Nokia 3210. You only have to press the number key once for the correct letter and the system then automatically suggests suitable words.

Cameras – Record video at 12 frames per second

Theoretically, you would have been able to photograph the big fireworks celebrating the turn of the millennium on the original Nokia 3210—if it had had a camera. Of course, this is one area in which HMD has improved on the predecessor model, as the new version has been kitted out with a 2-megapixel sensor on the back. This should be enough for documenting situations, taking photos of documents or simple snapshots.

The display as a viewfinder offers a sufficiently fast frame rate. However, when moving quickly, you can see that it doesn't quite show the situation in real-time. The camera also only shows a rather narrow field of view and produces images that are very grainy, quite dark and not very dynamic.

In addition, you can record videos, but they are saved in a very low resolution of 320 x 240 pixels and—at 12 frames per second—have more of a slide-show charm to them.

Image Comparison

Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.

Main camera plantMain camera surroundingsMain camera low light
orginal image
click to load images
ColorChecker
4.5 ∆E
9.9 ∆E
8.7 ∆E
4.2 ∆E
7.1 ∆E
6.8 ∆E
12.4 ∆E
6.2 ∆E
12.3 ∆E
3.7 ∆E
8 ∆E
9.6 ∆E
2.3 ∆E
9 ∆E
13.2 ∆E
10.8 ∆E
10.4 ∆E
5.8 ∆E
1.1 ∆E
6 ∆E
9.2 ∆E
4.5 ∆E
4.2 ∆E
8.6 ∆E
ColorChecker Nokia 3210: 7.43 ∆E min: 1.14 - max: 13.2 ∆E
ColorChecker
0 ∆E
0 ∆E
0 ∆E
0 ∆E
0 ∆E
0 ∆E
0 ∆E
0 ∆E
0 ∆E
0 ∆E
0 ∆E
0 ∆E
0 ∆E
0 ∆E
0 ∆E
0 ∆E
0 ∆E
0 ∆E
0 ∆E
0 ∆E
0 ∆E
0 ∆E
0 ∆E
0 ∆E
ColorChecker Nokia 3210: 0 ∆E min: - max:  ∆E

Display – In color, but strongly reflective

In the year 2000, could only dream of having a phone with a color display. But now, the 2.4-inch TFT screen on the Nokia 3210 (2024) boasts good color depiction. Although its resolution of 320 x 240 pixels is low, this is enough for a screen of this small size. 

In terms of brightness, we measured a maximum of 164 cd/m², which isn't exactly bright. Moreover, the display glass is very reflective, so you will be blinded in direct sunlight and won't be able to see anything on the screen. Its viewing angles from the side aren't exactly the best, either.

We additionally measured whether the display uses PWM flickering at low brightness levels but thankfully, we can give you the all-clear.

164
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 164 cd/m² (Nits)
Contrast: 112:1 (Black: 1.46 cd/m²)
Nokia 3210
TFT, 320x240, 2.4"
Response Times
PWM Frequency
Screen
Brightness middle
164
Black Level *
1.46
Contrast
112
Total Average (Program / Settings)

* ... smaller is better

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM not detected

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8705 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured.

Performance, emissions and battery life – Fast enough for its intended purpose

The Unisoc T107 is a very slow SoC only intended for feature phones, i.e. classic cell phones such as the Nokia 3210. We couldn't install any benchmark apps on the Nokia phone's system and browser benchmarks could also not be completed in Opera Mini.

In general, the phone reacts quite quickly to inputs. There are no delays, for example when entering letters when writing a text message. You can also navigate through the menu without delay and the pre-installed games load immediately. As a result, the phone offers sufficient performance for its intended use.

We didn't note any noticeable warming even after prolonged gaming; the phone remained cool throughout.

The earpiece is also used as a speaker and it actually doesn't sound too bad for such a small phone. The trebles are not overemphasized and the sound itself is fine. Our measurement chart also shows that the Nokia 3210 has significantly better low-mid values compared to cheaper smartphones. This may be due to the fact that the Nokia 3210's case is a little thicker than that of most smartphones, thus giving it a little more resonance space.

However, most headphones or speakers that can be connected via the 3.5 mm jack or Bluetooth still sound better. Both work smoothly and without interference.

The battery with the type designation BA-L4M has a capacity of 1,450 mAh (5.51 watt-hours). It can be easily removed from the device and replaced, so you can double its battery life with the use of a second battery. However, you currently can't purchase a second battery directly from HMD and we also found it difficult to find any online.

Even so, one battery usually lasts for a very long time: In idle mode, we achieved a runtime of just under 10 days. What really drains the battery, however, are calls via the LTE network or gaming: In both cases, we only measured a runtime of around 4 hours.

Temperature

Max. Load
 24.2 °C
76 F
24.3 °C
76 F
24.6 °C
76 F
 
 24.6 °C
76 F
24.5 °C
76 F
24.7 °C
76 F
 
 24.8 °C
77 F
24.6 °C
76 F
24.5 °C
76 F
 
Maximum: 24.8 °C = 77 F
Average: 24.5 °C = 76 F
24.7 °C
76 F
24.8 °C
77 F
24.6 °C
76 F
24.3 °C
76 F
24.5 °C
76 F
25 °C
77 F
24.9 °C
77 F
24.8 °C
77 F
24.6 °C
76 F
Maximum: 25 °C = 77 F
Average: 24.7 °C = 76 F
Power Supply (max.)  40.3 °C = 105 F | Room Temperature 19 °C = 66 F | Fluke t3000FC (calibrated), Voltcraft IR-260
(+) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 24.5 °C / 76 F, compared to the average of 32.8 °C / 91 F for the devices in the class Smartphone.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 24.8 °C / 77 F, compared to the average of 35.1 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 63.7 °C for the class Smartphone.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 25 °C / 77 F, compared to the average of 33.9 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 23.2 °C / 74 F, compared to the device average of 32.8 °C / 91 F.


Heat map front
Heat map front
Heat map back
Heat map back

Speaker

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2038.1312528.727.33123.127.44026.526.55037.636.16319.620.98016.720.410024.223.612520.426.116020.531.720011.636.725010.741.631510.345.74007.847.85008.152.16309.2618009.565.310009.66512508.16416009.361.720009.761.8250010.262315010.962.7400011.463.1500012.372.8630012.875.9800013.969.81000014.662.31250015.460.81600016.255.2SPL23.680N0.542median 10.9median 61.7Delta2.6943.744.533.23429.328.332.331.540.736.732.632.819.717.416.915.915.515.213.319.99.625.611.834.29.241.28.749.31156.613.26013.762.414.868.413.768.310.669.310.967.712.365.513.761.613.66013.96614.470.215.670.215.962.91669.716.761.425.878.80.740.9median 13.7median 61.62.113.7hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseNokia 3210Xiaomi Redmi A3
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Nokia 3210 audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (80 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 27.5% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (8.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.2% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5.3% higher than median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (7.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (22.1% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 42% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 51% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 37%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 60% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 33% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Xiaomi Redmi A3 audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (78.8 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 36.2% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (9.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.9% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (7.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 4.1% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (7.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (28.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 71% of all tested devices in this class were better, 5% similar, 24% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 37%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 84% of all tested devices were better, 3% similar, 13% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Runtimes

Battery Runtime
Reader / Idle
Nokia 3210
1450 mAh
14042 min
Average of class Smartphone
  (1160 - 14042, n=113, last 2 years)
2258 min -84%
Load
Average of class Smartphone
  (73 - 427, n=112, last 2 years)
289 min +15%
Nokia 3210
1450 mAh
251 min
Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
234h 02min
Load (maximum brightness)
4h 11min

Pros

+ good connectivity ...
+ ... with LTE and Bluetooth
+ attractive case
+ low weight
+ exchangeable battery
+ no PWM on the screen
+ good battery life

Cons

- replacement batteries currently hard to find
- high battery consumption when using VoLTE
- preinstalled games have to be purchased

Verdict – A stylish feature phone with LTE and Bluetooth

Nokia 3210 review. Test device provided by HMD Germany.
Nokia 3210 review. Test device provided by HMD Germany.

The Nokia 3210 was revolutionary around the turn of the millennium and HMD has used this famous name to market a new feature phone with a good variety of features. In terms of its design, however, there isn't much resemblance to the original phone and its operating concept is different nowadays, too.

Of course, it's also good that the Finns haven't let nostalgia get the better of them: the new edition has a much larger color screen, a four-way control pad and Bluetooth, so that you can connect wireless headphones without any problems.

The Nokia 3210 (2024) even connects to the LTE network and can also be used to access the web if required. However, the manufacturer explicitly recommends using the phone for a "digital detox" and surfing on the small display with its limited operation and slow browser is hardly any fun anyway.

Of course, its battery can still be swapped out. In turn, it would've been handy if the manufacturer HMD also had an option for customers to purchase corresponding replacement batteries. Even so, one singular battery still ensures long runtimes—as long as you don't play Snake or make lots of calls via LTE.

HMD has provided an environmental profile for its feature phone, but it unfortunately hasn't stated the CO2 equivalents generated during production and use. Instead, there is information that states the packaging consists of 67.1% recycled materials, although a plastic film is still used.

The Nokia 3210 (2024) doesn't have much in common with the original. Even so, it is an attractive feature phone that can be used smoothly by everyone who would like to spend a little time away from the internet. 

Apart from Nokia, there are currently hardly any manufacturers that produce attractive feature phones. Competitors such as Bea-fon or Dora tend to focus on an older target group—the phones have quite large buttons and more of a functional design.

Price and availability

You can purchase the new Nokia 3210 directly from the manufacturer for around US$85.

Please note: We have recently updated our rating system and the results of version 8 are not comparable with the results of version 7. More information is available here.

Nokia 3210 - 06/26/2024 v8
Florian Schmitt

Chassis
65%
Keyboard
73 / 75 → 97%
Connectivity
19 / 69 → 27%
Weight
100%
Battery
95%
Display
41%
Games Performance
5 / 55 → 9%
Application Performance
5 / 85 → 6%
Temperature
97%
Noise
100%
Audio
69 / 90 → 76%
Camera
19%
Average
40%
53%
Smartphone - Weighted Average
CO2 Emissions
No Data
Materials
10%
Packaging
25%
Power Use
10%
Repairability
42%
Software Updates
0%
Recycle Logo Total Sustainability Score: 14.5%

Transparency

The selection of devices to be reviewed is made by our editorial team. The test sample was provided to the author as a loan by the manufacturer or retailer for the purpose of this review. The lender had no influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review. We never accept compensation or payment in return for our reviews. As an independent media company, Notebookcheck is not subjected to the authority of manufacturers, retailers or publishers.

This is how Notebookcheck is testing

Every year, Notebookcheck independently reviews hundreds of laptops and smartphones using standardized procedures to ensure that all results are comparable. We have continuously developed our test methods for around 20 years and set industry standards in the process. In our test labs, high-quality measuring equipment is utilized by experienced technicians and editors. These tests involve a multi-stage validation process. Our complex rating system is based on hundreds of well-founded measurements and benchmarks, which maintains objectivity. Further information on our test methods can be found here.

Price comparison

static version load dynamic
Loading Comments
Comment on this article
Please share our article, every link counts!
Mail Logo
> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Nokia 3210 review – The classic phone from the early 00s is back
Florian Schmitt, 2024-06-27 (Update: 2024-07- 2)