Charlotte Foster
Technology

The iconic Nokia 3310 turns 21

It is widely known as the toughest substance on Earth, and became a staple in international households. 

The Nokia 3310 mobile phone was released in September 2000, and is now celebrating its 21st anniversary. 

The device boasted a black and white display, enough memory to save eight numbers in call logs, and zero capabilities that smartphones offer today. 

The phone became an iconic early 2000s reference with many millennials referring to the device as “a brick”, as the body seemed completely unbreakable. 

Some people may even remember the miraculous tale of a Nokia 3310 surviving a fall from the second storey of a building completely unscathed. 

Another classic feature of the device was the simple, but completely addictive game of Snake, that would keep users entertained for hours. 

Nokia 3310 owners could also customise their own ringtones, to play slightly different variations of the same tune when a call was incoming. 

Many phone users today still think of the device’s extraordinary battery life, which could last over two days: completely winning against modern day smartphone batteries that last a mere 12 hours (if you’re lucky).

The phone received so much love and attention over the years that a 4G version of the Nokia 3310 was released a few years ago, but the buzz of the revival version didn’t garner as much attention as the original. 

With modern day smartphones having unlimited capabilities, it is interesting to see why the Nokia 3310 still gets recognised on a  global scale. 

From all its unique quirks and early 2000s charm, it has mostly become a pop culture staple and distinct timestamp of the technology revolution. 

Image credit: Shutterstock

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Technology, nokia 3310, Mobile phone, Anniversary