Nokia’s new dumb phones have a whopping great AI button in the middle, completely defeating the purpose
Nokia's new dumb phones come with a pretty startling contradiction. They're not smart, but they are artificially intelligent.
HMD Global has launched a series of new Nokia feature phones (aka dumb phones), which would be ideal for those who’d like to spend some time away from the perils of constant smartphone use – except for the dedicated AI button slap bang in the middle of the handset. You had one job, Nokia!
The Nokia 210 4G, the Nokia 235 4G 2nd Edition, the Nokia 215 4G 2nd Edition, and the Nokia 200 4G arrive on the scene with their own AI assistant, called Sikey AI, which can simplify things like setting reminders, alarms or turning on the flashlight. You’ll have to pay extra for the privilege of using it after the initial six-month trial.
Some of this stuff sounds useful in a pinch, but isn’t it somewhat against the spirit of having a feature phone in the first place? People are deliberately buying a “dumb phone” they are not seeking artificial intelligence for the device they take on the camping trip for the weekend while they leave their iPhone at home.
Nokia explains: “With an assistant built in, using your phone has never been easier. Press the dedicated AI assistant button and let it know what it can help you with. Turn on the torch, open the rear camera, set reminders and alarm clocks, or call someone in your contacts, just by the power of your voice. Have a question on your mind? It can help with that, too.”
Cool, thanks. Not needed, but thanks.
The handsets, which feature the classic Nokia candy bar design with the T9 numerical keyboard, run on the S30+ operating system and rock tiny 1,450 batteries designed to sustain smaller screens and lighter workloads. Bluetooth 5.0 is on board with USB-C charging. There’s a mere 64MB of RAM (no RAMageddon issues here) and the battery (13 days of standby time) is removable.
The Nokia 210 4G and 200 4G have 2.4-inch displays, while the Nokia 215 4G 2nd edition and the 235 4G 2nd edition have 2.8-inch panels. All four have a 3.5mm headphone jack and a front facing camera. The 215/235 phones also have basic rear cameras. The series does unlock video calling on Nokia’s feature phones for the first time, at least, but you’ll need to do it through the Xpress Chat app that’s available on Nokia phones or via the Play Store or App Store.
Nokia is yet to reveal the pricing and availability for these phones.
Chris Smith
