Nokia and HMD gear up for one last dance before their 2026 breakup

Love them or hate them, "dumb" phones – a.k.a. feature phones – are still a thing in 2025, but come 2026, there might be fewer options to try and escape the smartphone matrix that's keeping us sedated with notifications, locations, cameras and algorithms.

HMD is set to release another round of Nokia feature phones, but a split is coming in 2026 – that's when the licensing deal between the two companies expires.

The reliable @smashx_60 tipster on X sheds some light on the said devices:



"So sad but 2026 Nokia & HMD it's really death", the tipster announces. They say we're about to see five more Nokia branded devices, among which the Nokia 3510 4G, the Nokia 130 Music (2G) and the Nokia 8310 4G.

We, as a society, have moved beyond the Nokia craze decades ago – but I can't deny that it feels a bit odd to write about a world without Nokia phones… regardless of their popularity and sales numbers.

The aforementioned monikers are "a throwback to the early 2000s", Gizmochina notes and comments on the "simple, button-based devices".

The 2025 version of the Nokia 5710XA will probably ditch the Micro USB connector for a USB type C port – and that's a major win, no argue about it. I mean, I do have some Micro USB cables lying in the nearby drawer as of time of writing, but what are the chances of me carrying around such a cable on a, say, weekend trip? Nearly every gadget around me utilizes USB-C and that's that.

The original Nokia 5710XA (that stands for XpressAudio) materialized in 2022 and it was a truly unique feature phone: it included a built-in charging compartment for wireless earbuds, effectively serving as both a media player and a headphone set. I love the idea.

One of its key advantages was the classic long battery life that Nokia feature phones are known for. Since the phone doubles as a charging case, users don't need to worry about their earbuds running out of power due to an uncharged case.

It also entered the market at an appealing price of £74.99 (under $100 when converted directly), offering both a phone and earbuds at a price lower than many standalone earbuds.

HMD has relaunched the Nokia 130 and 150 Music editions in India, now under its own branding. These phones focus on audio features, offering a 2.4-inch QVGA display, a loud 2W speaker, music control buttons, Bluetooth 5.0, and a removable 2,500mAh battery that can last up to 34 days on standby.

The Nokia 130 Music includes dual LED torches and UPI payment support, while the 150 Music adds a rear camera, flashlight, and scan-to-pay functionality. Outside of India, both models are expected to retain the Nokia branding.

Well, I just might get a Nokia next year to see what a few days without a smartphone would be like. And I'll report back to you. So stay tuned for the "final boss" Nokia feature phones previews, as the world many of us grew up in no longer exists.