Nokia 8 Official Price is €599 Euros or $700 USD : Continuing The Great Nokia Cameraphone Legacy

Tech enthusiasts who are familiar with Nokia's long history as a handset maker would know that the Finnish Giant was particularly popular and respected for doing two things:

1. Crafting very durable phones
2. Making the best cameraphones

The old Nokia 3310 is a testament to the first phrase while smartphones like the Nokia N8, Nokia 808 PureView, and Nokia Lumia 1020 - to this day - speak about the company's capabilities when it comes to creating mobile devices that can work as an alternative to your traditional digital camera.

Although the all-new Nokia 8 Android smartphone by HMD Global merely bears the name of the Finnish Giant and is not really crafted by "the Nokia of old", I'm still hoping that it can somehow be a decent follow-up to those models. I mean, it's been so long since a good cameraphone with the name Nokia printed on it was released in the market. It would be a shame if it won't be as good as advertised. Heck, I want this model to be commercially successful.

Anyway, what's great is that Nokia 8 has several things going for it.

For one, 8 - historically - is a magic number for Nokia. During its heydays, Nokia would always affix the number 8 to it handset models sporting the best imaging features. So I'm sure fans of the brand would immediately associate "great camera" with this release without HMD Global having to explain too much.

Second and more importantly, Nokia 8 is the first handset by HMD Global to have Carl Zeiss optics. You see, what made all those Nokia cameraphones that I mentioned above the absolute best during their time was in large part because of the Finnish company's partnership with German optics maker, Carl Zeiss. For those who are not familiar with it, Carl Zeiss is one of the oldest and most respected optics manufacturers in the world.

And finally, of course, compared to its predecessors, the Nokia 8 already incorporates today's leading innovations in terms of internal hardware, display quality, audio technology, and even design and build -- all to better deliver a vastly enhanced mobile imaging experience.

I've just seen several videos on Youtube about the Nokia 8 and off hand, here are eight features highlighted in the clips that got me really excited to see this cameraphone in the flesh and to play it:

1. Dual Camera Module incorporating a 13 MegaPixel RGB camera with Carl Zeiss lens plus another 13 MegaPixel monochrome shooter - This set-up is largely the same as that of Huawei P9, P9 Plus, P10, and P10 Plus and should result in shots with better contrast and clarity in various lighting conditions.

2. Nokia OZO Audio with spatial 3D recording, which even better than stereo and should deliver a more immersive and enjoyable AV experience.

3. Full-length graphite-shielded copper cooling pipe for the 10nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor ensures better heat management and lag-free performance when you're playing the most specs-intensive games that you can download from Google Play Store.

The powerful and energy efficient processor is complemented by two sets of internal hardware that consumers can choose from: 4GB RAM / 64GB ROM combo for the Tempered Blue, Steel, and Polished Copper variants and 6GB RAM / 128GB ROM combo for the Polished Blue version

4. 13 MegaPixel front-facing selfie camera with 4K 30fps video recording capability, which is great for those who want to start recording and uploading vlogs on Youtube and Facebook.

5. 'Bothie' shooting mode where you do split screen video recording using both the front and rear cameras simultaneously and go live on Facebook or Youtube!

6. IP54 splash-proof build and availability in four elegant colors, namely, Polished Copper, Steel, Tempered Blue, and Polished Blue. Nokia 8 can be a great companion be it outdoors while you're on adventure or when you're inside the boardroom for your corporate role.

7. Nokia 8 is the first Nokia-branded smartphone to have a pixel-dense Quad HD display! This model has a 5.3-inch 1440 x 2560 pixels IPS display that guarantees an enjoyable experience whether you're browsing photos or watching videos.

8. Not only is the non-removable 3,090 mAh Li-Ion battery rather big given Nokia 8's display size but it also supports Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 that greatly shortens the time it takes to fully charge the pack.

That's a lot to look forward to, right? Again, I can't wait to take Nokia 8 for a spin -- just to see for myself if it's a worthy addition to the long line of great Nokia cameraphones.

The official suggested retail price of Nokia 8 with Dual Carl Zeiss Optics is 599 Euros or Php 36,200 with current conversion. On the other hand, its release date in several key markets around the world will be on September 23, 2017.

TechPinas Smartphone Technical Specs Table (TSTST)Name : Nokia 8
Type : Slate Form Factor (Full Touchscreen)
Price Category : High-End (Flagship Level)
Dimensions : 151.5 x 73.7 x 7.9 mm
Weight : 160 grams
Available Colors : Tempered Blue, Polished Blue, Steel, Polished Copper
Operating System : Android 7.1.1 Nougat
Display : 5.3 inches (~69.4% screen-to-body ratio), 1440 x 2560 pixels (~554 ppi pixel density), IPS LCD, capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors, 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Processor : 10nm 64-Bit Octa-core (4 x 2.45 GHz Kryo) + (4 x 1.9 GHz Kryo), Adreno 540 GPU, Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835 chipset
RAM / Internal Storage Options: 4GB RAM / 64GB ROM - Tempered Blue, Steel, Polished Copper
6GB RAM / 128GB ROM - Polished Blue
MicroSD Card Slot : Yes, via Hybrid Secondary NanoSIM Slot, not Dedicated
Camera : Back: Dual 13 MegaPixel, Carl Zeiss Optics, f/2.0 aperture, Laser and Phase Detection AutoFocus (PDAF), Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), Dual Tone LED Flash
Front: 13 MegaPixels
Video Capture : Front and Back: 4K 2160p 30 frames per second, Full HD 1080p 30 frames per second
Audio and Video Playback : MP3, WAV, eAAC+, FLAC, MP4, H.264
Ports : USB Type-C 1.0, 3.5 mm audio jack
Connectivity : Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, LE, EDR, 3G HSPA+; 4G LTE-A
GPS : A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS
FM Radio : Yes
Sensors : Accelerometer, Digital Compass, Proximity, Gyroscope, Fingerprint Scanner, Heart Rate
Network : 2G bands GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 and SIM 2,
3G HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G LTE band 1(2100), 2(1900), 3(1800), 4(1700/2100), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 20(800), 28(700), 38(2600), 39(1900), 40(2300), 41(2500)
SIM Card Type : Dual nanoSIM
Battery : Non-removable 3,090 mAh Li-Ion battery with Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 (18W, 5V/2.5A, 9V/2A, 12V/1.5A)
Uptime : TBD
Value-Added Features : Dual Camera Module (RGB and Monochrome), Nokia OZO Audio, Bothie Mode, IP54 Splashproof Build, Aluminum Shell, High-Gloss Finish for some variants, Copper Cooling Pipe, Quad HD Display, 4K Front Video Recorder
Announcement : Global - August 17, 2017
Availability : Global - September 2017
Price : Official SRP - 599 Euros

Nokia 105 2017 Philippines Price is Php 850 : Basic Phone with Flashlight, Out Now in the Philippines

HMD Global has just released another feature-phone that could be a great choice for those who are looking for a very affordable yet durable secondary handset or consumers who want to undergo digital detox by getting a basic mobile device to be their daily driver.

Even more affordable than the re-imagined version of the Nokia 3310, the third generation Nokia 105 sells for only Php 850 here in the Philippines -- but for that small amount, you already get a reliable phone for sending text messages or making calls.

I would like to give credit to Mr. Ramesh Bakotra of India for all photos in this blog post.

In terms of design and build, the 2017 Nokia 105 looks largely identical to Nokia 101 from 2011 -- if you still remember that best-seller.

This new model flaunts a completely plastic shell with slightly rounded corners and sides; No metallic accents whatsoever. The familiar alpha-numeric keyboard, on the other hand, has large keys and one big navigation button in the middle made of rubber.

As earlier explained by the company, HMD Global - the new home of Nokia phones - ensures that their handsets' durability or toughness approximate that of legendary Nokia phones of old.

Nokia 105 may be a basic phone but it has a number of cool and useful selling points.

First, it has a removable 800 mAh battery pack that delivers up to a month of standby time and 15.7 hours of talk time. Like the new Nokia 3310, a fully charged Nokia 105 2017 is also great for keeping in an emergency kit.

Second, it has an LED torch light on the top panel that can activated with a couple of clicks on the keypad. This feature comes in handy when looking for something inside your bag also when you're walking to your car that's parked away from a street light.

And finally, the phone's internal storage supports up to 2,000 contacts even without microSD card memory expansion -- so you can save all the numbers of your loved ones and other emergency contacts with peace of mind.

Unlike Nokia 3310, Nokia 105 has no camera at the back and has a smaller display.

Other notable features of Nokia 105 2017 include its 1.8-inch colored display, Snake Xenzia Game, microUSB port for charging and data sync, 3.5mm combo jack, and FM Radio via the included headset.

Nokia 105 is now available in the market. It's out in three colors, Black, Light Blue, and White.

Nokia 8 Philippines Price and Release Guesstimate, Specs, Press Photos : Has Dual Camera with Carl Zeiss Optics

Taking another step forward to completing Nokia-Brand's 2017 comeback run, HMD Global is expected to soon launch its 2017 high-end Android cameraphone model, the powerhouse Nokia 8.

Set to compete with other flagship-level handsets come Q4 2017 - including the Apple iPhone 8 and Samsung Galaxy Note8, Nokia 8 is the first smartphone from HMD Global to feature a Dual Camera Module with Carl Zeiss optics.

Hardcore Nokia fans would remember Nokia's legendary partnership with German imaging company Carl Zeiss, which produced some of the best cameraphones in mobile tech history, including the Nokia 808 PureView and the Nokia Lumia 1020 -- both of which were capable of shooting 41 MegaPixel photos and had sensors that were unusually large for a smartphone during their time.

It remains to be seen, however, if new Carl-Zeiss-powered Nokia-branded smartphones made by HMD Global will have imaging prowess that can surpass Nokia cameraphones of old. As an owner of both Nokia 808 PureView and Nokia Lumia 1020, I personally choose to be optimistic about it.

Apart from the phone's imaging capabilities, Nokia 8 is expected to also have high-end technical specifications that should delight power users, including heavy mobile gamers.

On the outside, the handset is said to have a 5.3-inch Quad HD 1440 x 2560 pixels IPS display that's protected by 2.5 Curved Gorilla Glass 5 touchscreen and a 12 MegaPixel front-facing selfie-camera that should benefit from the brand's own Beautification software.

Under the hood, Nokia 8 is rumored to run its Android 7.1 Nougat operating system with a 64-Bit Octa Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor with the beastly Adreno 540 GPU that's complemented by either 4GB or 6GB of RAM and 64GB or 128GB of expandable storage; A set of innards that should put this metal-clad device well within the flagship category.

As yet, we still don't know what Nokia 8's Dual 13 MegaPixel Carl Zeiss optics can do. Will this set-up give this cameraphone Optical Zoom capability? Is it for better depth perception that can be used for creating digital Bokeh effect? We can only speculate for now but I certainly hope that it covers those two features.

Update as of August 4, 2017: I've just read reports that the rear camera set-up of Nokia 8 will feature one lens that captures images in RGB or color and another that shoots in monochrome or Black and White. This is rather similar to Huawei's rendition of the Dual Camera module on the P9 and P10. Another alleged built-in feature of Nokia 8 is the ability to use both the front camera at the rear camera at one to take collage shots.

Nokia 8 is expected to be officially announced by HMD Global on August 16, 2017. According to reliable sources, the base model of this cameraphone should fetch for around 590 Euros or roughly Php 35,520 with current conversion. This Dual-SIM, 4G-LTE-A-enabled phone's unibody aluminum body should be out in a number of elegant colors, including Dark Blue, Gray, and Copper Gold.

HMG Global's headquarters in the Philippines - which has just made the Nokia 6, 5, and 3 available in our market - has yet to give word on the official release date or pricing details of the upcoming Nokia 8. Though, based on the rather late launch of the above-mentioned Nokia phones in the Philippines, I expect this new cameraphone to formally reach our shores either late Q3 or early Q4 2017 -- just in time for our holiday gadget shopping. As for our Nokia 8 price guesstimate in the Philippines, we're putting it at around Php 36,000 to Php 38,000.

Update as of August 17, 2017 (LATEST): HMD Global has just officially announced the Nokia 8 Android smartphone and thankfully, many of the things that we posted above turned out accurate.

Some of the official Nokia 8 features that we failed to predict or mention earlier include the following:

1. IP54 splash-proof build and availability in four colors, namely, Polished Copper, Polished Blue, Tempered Blue, and Steel
2. Full-length graphite-shielded copper cooling pipe for the 10nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor
3. 4GB RAM / 64GB ROM combo for the Tempered Blue, Steel, and Polished Copper variants and 6GB RAM / 128GB ROM combo for the Polished Blue version.
4. 'Bothie' shooting mode where you do a split screen recording using both the front and rear cameras simultaneously
5. Youtube and Facebook Live support within the camera app
6. Nokia OZO Audio with spatial 3D recording, which even better than stereo
7. Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 support for the non-removable 3,090 mAh Li-Ion battery pack
8. 13 MegaPixel front-facing selfie camera with 4K 30fps video recording capability

The official suggested retail price of Nokia 8 with Dual Carl Zeiss Optics is 599 Euros (our guesstimate was just off by 9 Euros) or Php 36,200 with current conversion. On the other hand, its release date in several key markets around the world - hopefully, including the Philippines - will be on September 23, 2017.

TechPinas Smartphone Technical Specs Table (TSTST)Name : Nokia 8 (Confirmed, Official Specs)
Type : Slate Form Factor (Full Touchscreen)
Price Category : High-End (Flagship Level)
Dimensions : 151.5 x 73.7 x 7.9 mm
Weight : 160 grams
Available Colors : Tempered Blue, Polished Blue, Steel, Polished Copper
Operating System : Android 7.1.1 Nougat
Display : 5.3 inches (~69.4% screen-to-body ratio), 1440 x 2560 pixels (~554 ppi pixel density), IPS LCD, capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors, 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Processor : 10nm 64-Bit Octa-core (4 x 2.45 GHz Kryo) + (4 x 1.9 GHz Kryo), Adreno 540 GPU, Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835 chipset
RAM / Internal Storage Options: 4GB RAM / 64GB ROM - Tempered Blue, Steel, Polished Copper
6GB RAM / 128GB ROM - Polished Blue
MicroSD Card Slot : Yes, via Hybrid Secondary NanoSIM Slot, not Dedicated
Camera : Back: Dual 13 MegaPixel, Carl Zeiss Optics, f/2.0 aperture, Laser and Phase Detection AutoFocus (PDAF), Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), Dual Tone LED Flash
Front: 13 MegaPixels
Video Capture : Front and Back: 4K 2160p 30 frames per second, Full HD 1080p 30 frames per second
Audio and Video Playback : MP3, WAV, eAAC+, FLAC, MP4, H.264
Ports : USB Type-C 1.0, 3.5 mm audio jack
Connectivity : Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, LE, EDR, 3G HSPA+; 4G LTE-A
GPS : A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS
FM Radio : Yes
Sensors : Accelerometer, Digital Compass, Proximity, Gyroscope, Fingerprint Scanner, Heart Rate
Network : 2G bands GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 and SIM 2,
3G HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G LTE band 1(2100), 2(1900), 3(1800), 4(1700/2100), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 20(800), 28(700), 38(2600), 39(1900), 40(2300), 41(2500)
SIM Card Type : Dual nanoSIM
Battery : Non-removable 3,090 mAh Li-Ion battery with Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 (18W, 5V/2.5A, 9V/2A, 12V/1.5A)
Uptime : TBD
Value-Added Features : Dual Camera Module (RGB and Monochrome), Nokia OZO Audio, Bothie Mode, IP54 Splashproof Build, Aluminum Shell, High-Gloss Finish for some variants, Copper Cooling Pipe, Quad HD Display, 4K Front Video Recorder
Announcement : Official Global Announcement - August 17, 2017
Availability : Official Global Release Date - September 23, 2017
Price : Official SRP - 599 Euros
Price Guesstimate for the Philippines: Php 37,000 to Php 39,000

Original Nokia 3310 2017 Price in the Philippines is Php 2,490, Out Now!

The 2017 re-imagined version of Nokia 3310, which rides upon the nostalgia than people feel when remembering their similarly named basic phone of old, is now officially available in the Philippines!

For those who are interested, you can get the handset for Php 2,490. It's out in four colors, namely, Yellow, Warm Red, Dark Blue, and Grey.

We're currently waiting for the official list of authorized retail outlets where consumers can purchase the handset here in the Philippines.

For now, allow me to share these actual unit photos of the Original 2017 Nokia 3310 for the benefit of those who want to avoid getting fake ones.

To make sure you're getting the genuine article, here are some things you should keep in mind.

1. The New Nokia 3310 is only available in four colors, which I mentioned above.
2. Only the Yellow and Warm Red versions have glossy finish.
3. The Grey and Dark Blue versions have matte finish.

4. The ports have to be in the right location. On top, you will find the microUSB port for charging the device while the 3.5mm combo jack is found at the bottom.
5. The handset's 2 MegaPixel rear camera has an LED flash beside it. And above this module, you'll find the phone's loud speaker.

6. The 2017 Nokia 3310's operating system is Series 30+, which has a fixed theme with white icons in grid view. The background can be changed and the pre-installed mobile browser is the ultra-lite version of Opera Mobile.
7. The new Snake game is likewise pre-installed on the phone. It has multiple game plays, where you can choose the movement that the snake will make based on the keys that you will press.

8. The New Nokia 3310's colored screen has a diagonal measurement of 2.4 inches and its resolution is 240 x 320 pixels.
9. The reimagined Nokia 3310 is not much wider or taller than the old one but it is definitely thinner. The 2017 model has dimensions of 115.6 x 51 x 12.8 mm while 2000 release measures 113 x 48 x 22 mm.

More: New vs Old Nokia 3310

10. The New Nokia 3310's back cover is removable albeit the front is not, which means that you can't swap cases. When you remove the back plate, you will be greeted by the 1,200 mAh battery pack which bears the Nokia logo as shown in the picture. Above the battery and framing the camera module at the two SIM card slots as well as the microSD card slot. In fake versions, the SIM card slots are found underneath the battery.

So there you have it! I hope you found this TechPinas post useful and valuable. If you did, kindly share it with your friends on social media.

More: Nokia 3310 In All Colors

Nokia 3 Philippines Price is Php 6,990, Specs, Initial Review, Silver White and Matte Black Unit Photos

Nokia 3 is the most affordable of the three midrange Android smartphones that HMD Global officially announced in the Philippines last June 8, 2017.

Arriving in our country just in time for back-to-school gadget shopping, Nokia 3 is a great choice for students and even for budget-conscious young professionals as a daily handset for staying connected anytime, anywhere.

Though priced at only Php 6,990, this fairly affordable release already comes with a number of compelling features and good selling points.

The Nokia Brand is known for churning out durable devices with stellar build and finish -- and this model stays true to that despite not being crafted by Nokia itself.

Nokia's 3's midframe is made of real metal while the back plate features polycarbonate with matte finish. The entire build is largely reminiscent of Nokia Lumia 925 of old, which says a lot about how well-made this fresh release is.

The face flaunts a 2.5D Curved Scratch-Resistant Gorilla Glass touchscreen that protects the 5-inch HD IPS display panel and meets the shell seamlessly to give an air of durability and reassuring heft.

As for imaging capabilities, Nokia 3 features an 8 MegaPixel autofocus camera with f/2.0 aperture and LED flash that I found to be quite reliable in well-lit conditions when I tried it out. Expect sample photos when I get to review the device more thoroughly.

The smartphone likewise has an 8 MegaPixel f/2.0 camera in front for snapping self-portraits that can also work with Selfie applications that you can download from the Google Play Store.

Under the hood, Nokia 3 runs Android 7.1.1 Nougat operating system with a 64-Bit Octa Core 1.4 GHz ARM Cortex-A53 and Mali-T720MP1 GPU based Mediatek MT6737 chipset that's complemented by 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage that can be augmented using the secondary hybrid nanoSIM slot that also supports microSD cards memory expansion.

Other key features of this model include Dual SIM Dual Standby capability via two nanoSIM slots, 4G LTE mobile connectivity support, and a non-removable 2,630 mAh Li-Ion battery pack that should be able to deliver a whole day of uptime with regular use.

Nokia 3 is available in a number of classy colors, including Tempered Blue, Copper White, Silver White, and Matte Black.

It should be available at all HMD Global partner dealers and retailers across the Philippines by the end of June 2017.

You've seen actual unit photos of the Silver White version, here's how Nokia 3 Matte Black variant looks in the flesh:

Notice the chrome-plated classic Nokia logo right smack in the middle of the back panel.

The Nokia atop the screen is more obvious or prominent in the Black version.

Again, the mid-frame is crafted from anodized aluminum.

I bet you'll like this phone's balanced design. It's light-weight too.

Nokia 3's microUSB 2.0 port is found at the rear along with the microphone and loudspeaker.

The 3.5mm combo jack is located on top, framed by two rather inconspicuous antenna lines, which you'll also find at the bottom.

TechPinas Smartphone Technical Specs Table (TSTST)Name : Nokia 3
Type : Slate Form Factor (Full Touchscreen)
Price Category : Midrange
Dimensions : 143.4 x 71.4 x 8.5 mm
Weight : TBD
Available Colors : Tempered Blue, Copper White, Silver White, Matte Black
Operating System : Android 7.1.1 Nougat
Display : 5.0 inches (~67.3% screen-to-body ratio), 720 x 1280 pixels (~294 ppi pixel density), IPS LCD, capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors, 2.D Curved Gorilla Glass
Processor : 64-Bit Octa Core 1.4 GHz ARM Cortex-A53, Mali-T720MP1 GPU, Mediatek MT6737 chipset
RAM : 2GB RAM
Internal Storage : 16GB ROM, expandable via hybrid secondary nanoSIM slot that also works as a microSD card slot supporting up to 256GB
Camera : Back: 8 MegaPixels, f/2.0 aperture, phase detection autofocus, Dual Tone LED flash, 1.12 µm pixel size
Front: 8 MegaPixels, f/2.0 aperture, 1.12 µm pixel size,
Video Capture : Full HD 1080p 30 frames per second
Audio and Video Playback : MP3, WAV, eAAC+, FLAC, MP4, H.264
Ports : microUSB 2.0, 3.5 mm audio jack
Connectivity : Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth 4.0, EDR, 3G HSPA+; 4G LTE Cat4
GPS : A-GPS, GLONASS
FM Radio : Yes
Sensors : Accelerometer, Digital Compass, Proximity, Gyroscope
Network : 2G bands GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 and SIM 2,
3G HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G LTE Band 1(2100), 3(1800), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 20(800), 28(700), 38(2600), 40(2300)
SIM Card Type : Dual nanoSIM
Battery : Non-removable 2,630 mAh Li-Ion battery
Uptime : TBD
Value-Added Features : Good Build and Design, Near Vanilla Android Experience, Decent Imaging Capabilities
Announcement : Philippines - June 8, 2017
Availability : Philippines - End of June 2017
Price : Official SRP in the Philippines - Php 6,990

Old Nokia 3310 Phone vs New 2017 Nokia 3310 Design and Features Comparison, In Photos

For my ABS-CBN News Channel Future Perfect guesting the other week, our friends from HMD Global Philippines and my good friend Mr. Karel Holub of argomall lent me units of the re-imagined 2017 version of the Nokia 3310 as well as one old Nokia 3310 from 2000. (Really, what would I be without my helpful and supportive friends?)

I took the liberty of snapping these side-by-side comparison photos of the phones as reference for those who are wondering how the new Nokia 3310 fares against the old version in terms of design and dimensions.

2017 Nokia 3310 vs 2000 Nokia 3310, respectively.

The new model has dimensions of 115.6 x 51 x 12.8 mm while the old one measures 113 x 48 x 22 mm. The 2017 release is taller and wider than the 2000 model by around 2 millimeters but it is far slimmer or thinner, making it easier to hold and keep in the pocket.

The re-imagined Nokia 3310 is also far lighter, weighing only around 80 grams while its near-ancient predecessor weighs in at 133 grams.

Apart from its obvious heft, the old Nokia 3310 thicker plastic exterior and interior parts made it heavier. Though, these are also the elements that made this model a legend when it comes to sheer durability.

In a future TechPinas post, I will talk about some features of the 2017 Nokia 3310 that make it a good purchase at Php 2,490 here the Philippines.

For now, let me share the features that make it far better than its predecessor, which sold for around Php 8,000 brand new, 17 years ago.

Of course, the screen is now bigger at 2.4 inches and is even colored! You can even change the background photo and the interface is likewise more intuitive and easier to navigate.

Another notable new feature is the 2 MegaPixel fixed focus rear camera with LED flash that delivers less than impressive shots but is good enough for taking photos of cellphone numbers, shopping lists, among other things that one needs to take note of.

For those who love listening to music tracks on the go, you'll be glad that the new Nokia 3310 has a microSD card slot and a 3.5mm audio jack so you can enjoy your favorite songs anywhere you are with this phone. And yes, it also supports FM Radio.

But perhaps the one feature that makes Nokia 3310 far superior to the old one and to most other smartphones that are out in the market is its incredible battery life! This release's removable 1,200 mAh Li-Ion battery pack is capable of delivering up a whole month of Standby Time and almost 24 hours of Talk Time! This is a handset that you'd want to put in your emergency kit or bag at home or in the office.

If there's one thing about the old Nokia 3310 apart from the build quality that makes it superior to the new version, it would have to be the keyboard, which I find easier to thumb-type on. Perhaps, in HMD Global's effort to make the 2017 model look and feel more sleek, the resulting keyboard - especially the main navigation button - became less protruding or more depressed. Personally, I prefer the old keyboard better. But hey, that's just me.

Feel free to try out the New Nokia 3310 when it hits store shelves across the Philippines by the end of June 2017. Again, its official price is Php 2,490 and it will be out in four colors, namely, Grey, Yellow, Warm Red, and Dark Blue.