The relentless rise of the smartphone alternative continues as HMD – steward of Finland’s famed Nokia brand since 2016 – brings out three ultra-compact 4G phones for those who are sick of swiping and constant alerts. The new Nokia 215, 225 and 235 each has a colour LCD display and 4G, offering basic functionality designed for digital detoxes and the times when a £1k pocket computing device feels like overkill.
The Nokia 215, 225 and 235 from HMD
HMD (Human Mobile Devices) still makes relatively rudimentary smartphones, but it’s these pocketable models that are proving a success, each priced at less than what many people pay on a monthly contract. The company is also behind the recent headline-grabbing ‘Boring Phone’, a collaboration with concept store Bodega and Dutch brewer Heineken.
New Nokia candybar phones from HMD
Nokia 225 4G in pink from HMD
The most basic model in this new batch is the 215, which comes in Peach, Black and Dark Blue. This device is simplicity itself – the design eschews even the camera. Next up is the 225, which shares the 215’s 2.4-inch screen and adds a 0.3 MP camera – for low-res photography without recourse to filters. It’s available in Pink and Dark Blue, while the ‘flagship’ 235 ups the screen dimensions to a whopping 2.8 inches and has a 2 MP camera. It comes in Blue, Black and Purple.
Nokia 215 from HMD
In addition to the three new phones, HMD’s stable is filled with Nokia classics, like the 8210 4G, the 6310 and the 2720 Flip. These names might not mean much to a generation weaned on yearly iPhone drops, AI-powered photography and relentless barrages of social media, but time was when a phone’s battery could last for weeks, not days (or even hours). The 6310 even includes an FM radio. For those not ready to completely forego the tech advances of the 2020s, the 8210 4G crams WhatsApp, Facebook and YouTube connectivity into a candybar format and can even use Google Maps.
The new range of Nokia candybar phones from HMD
Nokia 215 4G, £54.99 / Nokia 225 4G, £59.99 / Nokia 235 4G, £64.99, from HMD.com
-
Aries gives Baracuta’s classic Harrington jacket a 1990s makeoverFollowing in the footsteps of Junya Watanabe and Our Legacy, British streetwear brand Aries is the latest to reimagine Baracuta’s G9 Harrington jacket in its own distinct style
-
Three Belmond destinations celebrated in pictures at Photo London 2024At Photo London 2024, Belmond presents new ‘As Seen By’ books, as photographers Coco Capitán, Letizia Le Flur and Rosie Marks capture unique images of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, and hotels in Amalfi and Cape Town
-
Explore this California guesthouse of stripped-back essentials and elevated comfortCrest ADU is a minimalist California guesthouse by Mork-Ulnes Architects, slotting into Marin County’s leafy hills with pared-down charm
-
Honor Magic6 RSR is a bold new entrant into the premium smartphone marketAfter a couple of weeks with the Porsche Design Honor Magic6 RSR in hand, we report back on the ins and outs of this new high-end device
-
These 8 high-end mini PCs pack their computing power into a tiny footprintSpeed, space efficiency and style come together in new-generation mini PCs, an excellent way to keep your tech out of sight and out of mind
-
Five compact DAB radios that combine broadcast content with visual brioThe latest DAB radios – countertop and bedside broadcast companions – for those who like their devices to be standalone and visually simple
-
New Nothing Ear and Ear (a) earbuds: audio innovation with a retro nodNothing’s new Ear and Ear (a) earbuds, drawing inspiration from vintage portable hi-fi and packed with updates, help the company maintain its status as an audio innovator
-
Dial into the Boring Phone and more smartphone alternativesFrom the deliberately dull new Boring Phone to Honor’s latest hook-up with Porsche, a host of new devices that do the phone thing slightly differently
-
Cutting-edge sound machines celebrate the independent spiritSynths, effects, and even toys – these sound machines offer up new adventures in music creation, and showcase the idiosyncratic world of low-volume tech production
-
Wearable tech that’ll help you hack, track and snack your way to successThe latest in discreet wearable tech, from biowearables to smart glasses, is designed to help you be your best self
-
Remote working wonders: what every home office needsRemote working calls for clever and efficient kit that won't impinge on domestic bliss at day’s end – from a desk that stows your monitor out of sight to a discreet cloud alternative
