The revival of “stupid” phones and the great return of the Nokia 3310

17-year-old Robin West is an exception among her peers, as she does not use a smartphone. Instead of watching apps like TikTok and Instagram, she prefers the so-called “dumb phone”.

These are mobile phones with basic functions, which are much more limited than those of an iPhone. With these, you can only make and receive calls and exchange text messages (SMS). In fact, if someone is lucky, their “stupid phone” will allow them to listen to the radio and take simple photos, but they will certainly not be able to connect to the internet or applications.

These devices are similar to some of the cell phones that everyone bought in the late 90’s.

The “stupid phones” are in a phase of revival. Google searches for them increased by 89% between 2018 and 2021, according to a report by software company SEMrush.

Meanwhile, a study from 2021 showed that one in 10 mobile phone users in the UK had “stupid phones”.

“Fashion, nostalgia, and video appearances on TikTok seem to be playing a role in reviving ‘stupid phones,'” said Ernest Doku, a mobile phone expert at Uswitch.com. “For many of us, the ‘stupid phone’ was the first cell phone we used, so it ‘s natural to feel nostalgic for these classic devices.”

Doku emphasizes that the return of the Nokia 3310 to the market in 2017, was something that greatly triggered the wave of revival. “NOKIA has launched the 3310 as an affordable alternative in a world full of high-tech mobile phones.”

He adds that while “stupid phones” can not compete with the latest models of Apple and Samsung in terms of efficiency and functionality, “they can overshadow them in equally important parameters such as lifespan and battery life. “

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