Nokia’s New Banana Phone Is a Rabbit Hole Into a Parallel Universe

The 8810 is back to prove the '90s never left

February 26, 2018 9:00 am

Napster lawsuit. Y2K. Yahoo buys GeoCities. Man, 1999 feels like a long time ago in the tech world (though Jeff Bezos was named Time’s Person of the Year).

But we’re in the midst of some real technology nostalgia. To wit: HMD Global — a Finnish company made up of former Nokia execs that had success last year bringing back the classic Nokia 3310 — is about to drop an updated take on their 8110 caller.

Colloquially known as “the banana phone,” the 8110 (originally released in 1996) featured a slider that covered the keypad and extended/curved down when talking. It was popularized by its use in The Matrix.

The update is actually designed to give you a break from your current smartphone’s need for attention. The 4G device runs on a Linux-based Kai OS, so you’re not gonna get a huge landscape of apps beyond a few popular social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) and useful options like Google Maps and Google Assistant.

Available in black or (natch) yellow, the new 8110 features a tactile numeric keypad, 2-megapixel camera, 25 days of standby power and a new take on the classic “Snake” game. In one modern touch, the phone can be used as a WiFi hotspot.

You can pick the 8110 up starting May for just under $100.

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