Earlier this year, HMD Global resurrected the iconic 2000's Nokia 3310 feature phone with a new 2017 model. It only had support for 2G networks, which has been decommissioned by several telecom operators worldwide. However, a 3G variant was said to be in the works.
And Now HMD has officially announced a 3G version of Nokia 3310 2017. The new Nokia 3310 3G also gets two new colors and few tweaks to keypad design and software.
The Nokia 3310 3G's keypad has more spacing between the button, letting you dial and text more comfortably. It also comes with an improved customizatable retro UI, that lets you change the colors and position of the icon. Otherwise, the 3G version of Nokia 3310 is same the 2G variant.
The Nokia 3310 3G sports a candy bar design and 2.4-inch QVGA polarised curved display, with better sunlight readable capabilities, and comes in both single and dual-SIM variants. It has 64MB internal storage, and support for microSD card.
It gets 2MP rear camera with an LED flash, FM Radio, MP3 player, 3.5mm audio jack, Bluetooth 2.1 and torchlight. It runs on 'Feature OS powered by Java' and comes pre-loaded with Snake game, and popular apps like Facebook and Twitter. A 1200mAh battery runs the show, that's rated to deliver 6.5 hours of talk time, up to 40/35 hours of music/FM radio playback, and up to 27 days of stanby time.
The Nokia 3310 3G has been priced at 69 Euros ($81 | Rs. 5,300), which is very costly, given that, you get a Android powered smartphone with 4G VoLTE support at the same price.
The handset comes in Azure, Yellow, Warm Red and Charcoal colors, all with a matte finish and new silver keypads and will go on sale from mid-October.
Hong Kong based device maker Chilli Mobiles has launched two feature phone in India with interesting unique functions, Chilli F05 and Chilli K188.
Speaking of the Chilli F105, it is said to be the country's first feature phone to be equipped with A-GPS connectivity, a handy tool that will help you easily identify the location of your family members once your have fed it in the handset. The tool offered is mainly focused towards offering safety of kids/ close ones.
It also supports Bluetooth Dialer function and WhatsApp, a must have messaging app for many people, which is missing in Reliance Jio's JioPhone.
The handset comes with 2.4-inch LCD IPS display, 1.3MP rear camera with LED flash, large keypad and dual-SIM slots with dual standby mode. It has a removable metal back panel.
The Chilli K188 on the other hand looks like a fidget spinner, and even works like one to act like a stress buster. The company says, it's the world's first fidget spinner mobile. It can also be used as a Bluetooth headset for your smartphone as well.
The handset features 1-inch TFT display, 32GB RAM & ROM, microSD card slot and 280mAh battery. It comes in six attractive color options such as Gold, Rose Gold, Silver, Black, Blue and Red.
The Chilli F105 has been priced between Rs. 1,500 and Rs. 1,700, whereas the Chilli K188 will be priced between Rs. 1,200 and Rs. 1,300 at retail level. They will be available online on Amazon India, Flipkart, Shopclues, Paytm as well as via offline markets across the country by end of September 2017.
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After Lava and Reliance Jio, domestic handset maker Intex has also launched 4G VoLTE enabled feature phone in India. It's called Turbo+ 4G and, additionally, Intex also launched eight 2G enabled feature phones which are divided as Eco, Turbo, Ultra and Lion series. They will be offered in Black or White hues.
First up the Intex Turbo+ 4G, the handset has 2.4-inch display, dual-core processor, 512MB RAM, 4GB internal storage, and microSD card slot for storage expansion (up to 32GB). It runs KaiOS, and feature 2MP/VGA (back & front camera), 1750mAh battery, Box Speaker, FM radio, Bluetooth and dedicated button for Torch light.
The Eco line consits of Eco 102+, Eco 106+ and Eco Selfie, and comes with 1.8-inch display, phonebook support of up to 1500, up to 1800mAh batteries, multi-language support, rear camera and GPRS. The Eco Selfie gets an additional feature in the form as front camera.
The Turbo line-up includes Turbo Shine and Turbo Selfie 18. They feature 2.4-inch display, multi-language support, rear camera, phonebook support for up to 2,000 contacts and microSD card slot. The Turbo Shine packs 1400mAh battery, while the Turbo Selfie gets a bigger 1800mAh, and a front facing camera.
The Ultra line includes Ultra 2400+ and Ultra Selfie. The Ultra 2400+ has a 2.4-inch display, microSD card slot (up to 64GB), rear camera with flash and 2400mAh battery. The Ultra Selfie boasts 2.8-inch display, 3000mAh battery and front & rear cameras.
Lastly, the Lion line includes only one model dubbed Lions G10. It features 2.4-inch display, a rear camera, phonebook support for up to 2,000 contacts, microSD card slot and 1450mAh battery.
The price of these 2G handsets start at Rs. 700, and goes all the way up to Rs. 1,700, but the exact pricing of each model is not known, while the Turbo+ 4G will set you back by Rs. 1,999. They are expected to go sale by the end of this month.
In the last six months, India has shifted from 3G to 4G devices in a rapid rate, thanks to the entry of Relaince Jio, which contributes significantly to this upgrade. A recent report from Counterpoint suggested that 96 percent of smartphone sold in India in the first quarter of this year were 4G enabled. This is mainly due to the availability of affordable 4G smartphones in the market for as low as Rs. 2,999.
That said, recent reports have suggested that device makers are planning to launch 4G enabled feature phones, at even more affordable price. One such company is chipset maker Spreadtrum.
According to Economic Times, Spreadtrum is working on technologies, which will lower the starting price of 4G feature phones to just Rs. 1,500. The chip maker is already demoing prototypes to its partner.
At present 4G VoLTE enabled feature phones start at around Rs. 3,000. So far, there is only such device in the market from Lava called 4G Connect M1 priced at Rs. 3,333, and Micromax is planning to launch a more affordable 4G feature phone called Bharat 1, which will reportedly cost 1,999. Reliance Jio is also expected to launch similar phone priced below Rs. 1,500.
Meanwhile, a separate report from Financial Express suggests that Reliance Jio is in talks withich China based contract manufacturers like Techchain, FortuneShip and Uniscope to source 4G VoLTE feature phones.
The news comes after, Qualcomm introduced it lightweight 205 Mobile platform to bring affordable 4G and VoLTE enabled feature phone to emerging countries like India, SouthEast Asia and Latin America.
Currently, feature phones have 55 percent of the market share in the country, though none of them have 4G support. According to IDC, the Indian handset market will see a jump in 4G feature phone sales after July this year, with the entry of new affordable 4G devices.
Feature phones based on the new 4G VoLTE enabled chipset are expected to launch in the country in June.
Ziox Mobiles latest feature phone offering come with a beefy 4000mAh battery. Called Thunder Mega, the handset is rated to deliver up to 50 hours (2.5 days) of talk time and up to 1,300 hours (54 days) of standby time. It also doubles as a power bank and lets you charge other devices via OTG cable on the go.
Apart from the beefy battery capacity, the rest of specs are same as what one expects from a feature phone.
The Thunder Mega has a 2.4-inch display and comes with microSD card slot for storage expansion up to 32GB, VGA camera (w/ LED flash), four LED torch, SOS button, wireless FM, Bluetooth and mobile tracker functionality. The feature phone has space to store up to 1,000 contacts and 200 SMSes.
Priced at Rs. 1,803, the Thunder Mega feature phone will be available across channels in the country in the color combination of Black/Red, Black/grey and Black/Orange.
Following the launch of Aqua Lion 4G smartphone, Intex is launching two new feature phones called Turbo Selfie+ and Ultra 4000i. Both devices have multi language support (up to 22 Indian languages) and includes an SOS feature on Key 5.
As the name suggests, the Turbo Selfie+ comes with front and rear camera, both with LED flash. It sports 2.4-inch TFT display bearing a resolution of 240 x 320 and includes wireless FM Radio, storage for up to 2,000 contacts and 200 SMSes, GPRS/WAP, Bluetooth and support for microSD card slot and screen saver. It is fueled by 1450mAh battery, which is rated to deliver talk time of up to 13 hours and standby time of up to 350 hours.
The Ultra 4000i on the other hand packs a beefy 4000mAh battery, and can double as power bank to charge other devices. It features 2.8-inch TFT (240 x 320 pixels) screen, six LED torch lights, FM, GPRS/WAP, microSD card slot for storage expansion and can store up to to 1,000 contacts and 200 SMSes.
Intex Turbo Selfie+ and Ultra 4000i are priced at Rs. 1,490 and Rs. 1,790 respectively and will be available via retail stores across the country on Black hue only.
Lava's latest offering is a "smart" feature phone and it comes with one special feature. Called Lava 4G Connect M1, the feature phone supports 4G and VoLTE (Voice over LTE). This means if you have a Relaince Jio SIM card, you can use it with Lava's 4G Connect M1 to make calls and browse the internet.
The Lava 4G Connect M1 sports 2.4-inch (320 x 240 pixels) display and has a T9 Keypad, D-Pad and dedicated keys to launch camera, browser, FM radio, music player and torch.
Under the hood, there's 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 512MB RAM and 4GB storage, which can be expanded via microSD card. It comes with wireless FM, box speaker with K-class amplifier, VGA camera, LED torch and pre-loaded with Facebook Lite and messaging apps.
Apart from 4G and VoLTE, the feature phone also supports voice calling over 2GB and Edge connectivity. A 1750mAh battery completes the specs sheet.
The Lava 4G Connect M1 is priced at Rs. 3, 333 and will be available via retail stores and multi-brand outlets across the country in the coming weeks. Reliance Jio is also expected to launch a couple of 4G VoLTE enabled feature phones later this month starting at Rs. 1,500.
It's worth mentioning that the market is flooded with Android smartphones under Rs. 3,000, so one would wonder if anyone will consider buying Lava's feature phone. However, according to a recent report feature phones account for 55 percent of total handset shipments in the country, and 85 percent of feature phone users do not switch to smartphones on their next handset purchase. The reason due to the feature phone's simple UI, durability, battery life and easy repair.
Domestic manufacturer DOEL has come out with a new unique looking feature phone called ET 106, which the company touts as 'smartphone mate'. The phone resembles a credit card and weighs just 50g.
Apart from working has a standalone feature phone, it also connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth to work as a secondary device to make and receive calls, read contacts and SMS, and view call history.
It has a SIM card slot, that is compatible with 4G SIM cards, however, there is no support for VoLTE or data services like email, Facebook or WhatsApp, so you'll only be able to make and receive calls only.
Coming to the specs, the DOEL ET 106 features 1.8-inch TFF LCD display, a touch keypad, FM Radio, Bluetooth 3.0, micro-USB port, earphone jack and multi-language support. It packs a 500mAh battery, which is rated to deliver two days of talk time and up to three days of standby time.
The ET 106 is priced at Rs. 3,000, but is available through Amazon India for as low as Rs. 1,999 (Rs. 100 delivery charges). It comes in Black and White color.
Lava has come out with an affordable feature phone called Metal 24. As the name suggests the Lava Metal 24 sports a metal back finish.
The Lava Metal 24 features 2.4-inch QVGA screen, dual-SIM slots (GSM + GSM), 1.3MP rear camera with flash and 1000mAh battery. The phone is powered by MediaTek MT626D1D processor and includes FM Radio with recording function, 3.5mm audio jack, Bluetooth 3.0, 2G EDGE connectivity and a microSD card slot that supports up to 32GB cards.
It also comes with in-built games like Snake and Need for speed. Color options available for Lava Metal 23 are Black and Gun Metal.
The Lava Metal 24 is priced at Rs. 2,000 and will be available across the country in retail stores and multi-brand outlets. It is also backed by 1 year manufacturer warranty and six month warranty for in-box accessories including the battery.
U.S based budget smartphone maker BLU has launched to feature phones in India, Diva II and Tank II (left and right respectively in the image). They come with 2G support, dual-SIM slot, FM Radio and sports 0.3-megapixel VGA rear camera with LED flash.
The BLU Diva II has a 2.4-inch 240 x 320 display, 32MB RAM, 32MB inbuilt expandable storage (upto 32GB), a torch, MP3 & MP4 players and comes with built-in antenna for analogue TV. It packs 1100mAh battery, which offers 18 hours of talk time and 650 hours of standby time. The handst comes in Grey and White colors.
The BLU Tank II features are same as Diva II (excluding built-in antenna), but comes with a 1900mAh battery, which promises 16 hours of talk time and 30 days of standby time, and comes in Black w/ Blue, Black w/ Red, Black w/ Yellow and White w/ Blue colors.
The Blue Diva II and Tank II are priced at Rs. 1,649 and Rs. 1,299 respectively and are exclusively available on Amazon India.
Microsoft introduced a new Nokia feature phone range handset dubbed Nokia 230. It comes in single and dual-SIM editions and sports a polycarbonate frame and sand-blasted aluminium back panel, measuring 10.9mm thick and weighing 91.8 grams.
The main highlight is the 2-megapixel front facing selfie camera which is accompanied by an LED flash. It also has a 2-megapixel rear camera with an LED flash.
The Nokia 230 comes with a 2.8-inch QVGA LCD display bearing a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels. It runs the Series 30+ OS, have 2G connectivity, supports microSD cards up to 32GB, Bluetooth, FM Radio and is fueled by 1200mAh battery that promise up to 21 hours of talk time and 28 days of standby time.
It comes pre-installed with Opera Mini browser, Bing Search and MSN Weather. You also get to download on free Gameloft game every month for a year.
Priced at $55 (Rs. 3,500) (before local tax and subsidies), the Nokia 230 will go on sale in India, Asia and the Middle East starting in December with other markets to follow in 2016. It comes in Black and White colors.
