The New Nokia 3310 Is Super Affordable

The most beloved phone of the early 2000s (and perhaps all time) is back: The new Nokia 3310 is hitting shelves this summer. Those wishing to relive their halcyon days of childhood are probably wondering how much does the new Nokia 3310 cost? The rebooted version of the durable, palm-sized classic handset (with actual buttons you can actually press!) will be happily affordable — with one fairly major catch.

Owner of the Nokia brand HMD Global revealed the revamped version of the “modern classic” at the Mobile World Conference in Barcelona this month. The new version pays homage to the original phone, which defined the emerging mobile market when it premiered 17 years ago, in more than just looks. Its capabilities and connectivity are quite limited compared to the phones of today — but that might be A-OK for those on the lookout for a simplified mobile device at an extremely reasonable price tag.

The new-retro Nokia 3310 will arrive in stores this year sometime between April and June, so prepare to experience some serious ‘00s nostalgia. The phone is expected to retail for 49 Euro when it launches in Europe, which is approximately $52 in the United States. If the thought of buying a new phone for under $100 is freaking you out, I completely understand. We are used to spending that amount on a cool shirt or Friday night drinks without batting an eye — certainly not something that can access a web browser.

The outside of the phone doesn’t veer too far from its cult classic predecessor. It has the same round edges and basic shape of the original, but the new phone is thankfully lighter and thinner. It has a large color screen (perfect for playing the included retro game Snake) and its key pad is slightly altered for improved use. The new Nokia 3310 comes in four colors: Matte blue and grey for the hardcore fans, as well as glossy candy apple red and bright banana yellow for those looking for a more fun and festive mobile device. Oh, and did I mention the highly durable plastic casing and luxurious 22 hours of battery life?

The phone can perform all the basic functions that one might expect, such as sending and receiving texts and calls. Those used to iPhone-level photography will not be impressed by the phone’s 2-megapixel camera, but it will work in a pinch while traveling. The phone is still rather smart, running an Opera Mini web browser for all your Googling needs, though users are unable to download apps (so forget about Twitter!).

There's just one catch: According to some reports, the phone might not run super well in the United States. The Nokia 3310 runs on a 2G connection and supports the original phone's old frequencies 900MHZ and 1800MHz. That means, sadly, the phone will likely have issues connecting anywhere in the United States, Canada, or Australia. It could be an ideal backup phone for those who frequently travel to countries that support old frequencies, though, such as India, Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

But you know what? Who am I kidding. I'd just spend all my time playing Snake and listening to early Britney Spears.