Nokia relaunches iconic 8110 slider phone

Seeking to capitalise on their comeback over the past year, the makers of Nokia phones are expanding to include a premium Android smartphone, their first, and a remake of one of its biggest hits of the 1990s, the 8110 "slider" phone.

"Today another icon is reborn. And based on popular demand, in 4G," said Juho Sarvikas, Chief Product Officer of HMD Global, the licensee of the Nokia brand.

The 1990s throwback model comes in two colour choices, classic black or banana yellow, a play on how its keyboard slid out, inspiring the nickname "banana phone".

HMD Global CEO Florian Seiche and Product Officer Juho Sarvikas present the new Nokia 8110 during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain on Feb 25, 2018. (Photo: Reuters/Yves Herman)

Like the original, the revamped 8110 is curved and comes with a keyboard cover that slides down and is used to unlock the phone or answer calls. It is a feature phone, meaning only a small number of apps such as Google Assistant, Google Maps and Facebook are available – but not WhatsApp, Twitter or Snapchat. 

The 4G-ready phone will be priced at 79 euros (US$97) when released in May, according to HMD Global.

Besides the revamped 8110, the company also announced a series of new handsets, including the entry-level Nokia 1, the mid-range Nokia 7 Plus and a new version of its Nokia 6 model.

The New Nokia 6, Nokia 8 Sirocco, Nokia 8110, Nokia 1 and the Nokia 7 Plus are seen at a pre-launch event in London on Feb 22, 2018. (Photo: Reuters/Peter Nicholls)

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