Nokia 8110 4G
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Nokia 8110 4G

I know, it’s outrageous! A banana costing a much as some smartphones? Well, if that price is where you are stuck at, then you are not the target market of HMD’s latest phone to hot the Kenyan market. Back at Mobile World Congress, HMD announced that their throwback device for the year 2018 would be the return of the movie-star Nokia 8110 banana phone. The twist this time around? 4G internet connectivity would come onboard.

The Nokia 8110 4G still features a banana-like design, especially in its bright yellow colour. The device has a slider that hides away the T-9 keyboard and the slider can be used to answer and end calls. Bonus? It can spin on its axis, helicopter style.

Other features of this “hey, look I got a fancy banana phone” include:

  • Dual SIM capability
  • VoLTE support
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 205
  • KaiOS
  • 512MB RAM
  • 4GB internal storage
  • 2.4-inch QVGA display
  • 2-megapixel camera

Nokia-8110-4G

The most interesting bit is that the new Nokia 8110 4G comes with access to an app store that has a variety of apps including Facebook, Google Search, Google Assistant, Google Maps and Twitter – yes, I tweeted from a banana and you can do emails as well. All these thanks to KaiOS that is a mobile operating system that aims to bring smartphone features to feature phones.

“The Nokia 8110 4G… is perfect for anyone who wants an iconic 4G feature phone or a companion phone, with access to an app store,” said Gopher Ogembo, HMD Global, Business Manager, East Africa. Something that we agree with. The Nokia 8110 4G is not a feature phone you buy because you really need a phone, it’s one you get to make a statement and look cool while at it – forking out Kes.8,000 for a feature phone is not for everyone so before you go complaining, stick to your lanes.

8 COMMENTS

  1. I read somewhere that it can sync your contacts via Gmail or Outlook. That got my attention.
    Is there a feature phone out there, apart from this, that supports contact synchronisation via any of the cloud services like Google or otherwise? That would make me ditch my smartphone.

        • I highly doubt there is. The moment a phone introduces syncing contacts, especially Google, it crosses the chasm that separates feature phones and smartphones.

          KaiOS is a trimmed down smart OS – it doesn’t support multi tasking, but it does have background processes that support other apps (such as email and contact syncing). It does have its roots in Firefox OS, a really lightweight smart OS that relied on Web apps

  2. Its a pretty feature phone on steroids. If i had supplied air to NYS, i would get myself three of them.

  3. Just got one yesterday. The thing is big and heavy, compared to the Nokia 3310 2017, but oh so much better! Got it at (of all places) the deadest store in Nairobi – the Fone Xpress shop next to the former Nakumatt Lifestyle. At 7,599/-, and they even threw in a free green Nokia Coloud Bang speaker whose value (according to Amazon) is $29.99 – roughly 3k. So technically, I forked out 4,600 bob for an advertised 8k device? Maybe not, but it is better than getting it and only it at 8k, that’s for sure.

    The device does capture the attention of those around it, though I believe the yellow one would have been a much louder screamer. And with Wifi hot spot, plus iPod Touch 5th gen, I’m done with the transition from smartphones and social media (the reason for the pod is Uber/Taxify, and music – though the 8110 4G sings gloriously through a pair of Bose SoundTrue earbuds, and the loud speaker is no slouch either ).

    About the appstore, I don’t see how the current sum total of 8 apps (seriously, there are 7 games under the game tab, and a weather app under the utilities section) qualifies as an appstore. I was looking for a file manager to help sort my music collection, since the phone doesn’t have a native file manager, and the phone’s music app is too basic (no saving playlists). I wouldn’t mind a file manager and/or a music app with a bit more functionality. And a ride-hailing app. The phone already has great GPS, Google Maps and Assistant and 4G.

    On the other hand, perhaps it’s perfect as it is. More apps and higher expectations may hurt my experience with a phone that is not supposed to offer too many smarts, and it works well with my iPod that has enough smarts and an immensely greater array of apps should it matter.

    Now, how to deal with my serious case of buyer’s remorse on the Nokia 3310 2017 that I bought just a little over a month ago…

  4. Just got one yesterday. The thing is big and heavy, compared to the Nokia 3310 2017, but oh so much better! Got it at (of all places) the deadest store in Nairobi – the Fone Xpress shop next to the former Nakumatt Lifestyle. At 7,599/-, and they even threw in a free green Nokia Coloud Bang speaker whose value (according to Amazon) is $29.99 – roughly 3k. So technically, I doled out 4,600 bob for an advertised 8k device? Maybe not, but it is better than getting it and only it at 8k, that’s for sure.

    The device does capture the attention of those around it, though I believe the yellow one would have been a much louder screamer. And with Wifi hot spot, plus iPod Touch 5th gen, I’m done with the transition from smartphones and social media (the reason for the pod is Uber/Taxify, and music – though the 8110 4G sings gloriously through a pair of Bose SoundTrue earbuds, and the loud speaker is no slouch either ).

    About the appstore, I don’t see how the current sum total of 8 apps (seriously, there are 7 games under the game tab, and a weather app under the utilities section) qualifies as an appstore. I was looking for a file manager to help sort my music collection, since the phone doesn’t have a native file manager, and the phone’s music app is too basic (no saving playlists). I wouldn’t mind a file manager and/or a music app with a bit more functionality. And a ride-hailing app. The phone already has great GPS, Google Maps and Assistant and 4G.

    On the other hand, perhaps it’s perfect as it is. More apps and higher expectations may hurt my experience with a phone that is not supposed to offer too many smarts, and it works well with my iPod that has enough smarts and an immensely greater array of apps should it matter.

    Now, how to deal with my serious case of buyer’s remorse on the Nokia 3310 2017 that I bought just a little over a month ago…

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