HMD Global has already made quite an impact in bringing the Nokia brand back to smartphones, with the launch of the Nokia 3, 5 and 6. Its efforts were boosted by its nostalgia-fuelled release of the new Nokia 3310 feature phone, but the company is also continuing to churn out more affordable devices for buyers with the most modest budgets, especially those in emerging markets.
Today, HMD announced two new feature phones, the first of which is the "all-new Nokia 105". Microsoft previously launched a device with the same name just over two years ago, and the new model builds on the considerable success of that device with some welcome improvements.
HMD said that over 200 million Nokia 105s have been sold so far, since the original version of the device was introduced in 2013. The latest model "features an all new sculpted ergonomic design, outstanding battery life, and improved usability, with a larger screen size and new tactile island keymat," the company said today.
As with the last-gen handset, the new Nokia 105 promises exceptional battery life, with up to 15 hours of talk time, and a month of standby. In addition to its 1.8-inch QVGA display, it includes a built-in FM radio, storage for up to 500 text messages and 2,000 contacts, a microUSB 2.0 cable, and single- or dual-SIM support. The 105 also comes with Snake Xenzia pre-loaded, along with two try-and-buy games: Doodle Jump and Crossy Road.
Like the 105, the new Nokia 130 replaces an earlier handset with the same name, which was released by Microsoft in August 2014.
The 130 also has a 1.8-inch display, but is better equipped than the new 105. It includes a rear camera, but while the onboard 8MB (yes, megabytes) of storage will quickly fill up, the integrated microSD card slot will allow owners to affordably expand their storage by up to 32GB.
Owners can also store music on a microSD card and listen to it on the device, either through headphones or via a wireless speaker, thanks to the handset"s Bluetooth support. Bluetooth can also be used to share videos and contacts from the 130 with other devices. HMD says that the new 130 offers up to 44 hours of FM radio playback time, or 11.5 hours of video playback.
Both the new Nokia 105 and 130 run on Nokia"s Series 30+ platform, and both also feature an integrated LED torchlight - an extremely handy feature for those who live in parts of the world where electricity supplies can be unreliable.
The Nokia 105 is priced around $14.50 USD for the single-SIM model, and $15 for the dual-SIM version, excluding taxes and subsidies. It will be available in three colors: black, blue, and white.
The Nokia 130 will be offered in black, red, and grey, priced around $21.50.