Nokia’s parent company, HMD, has quietly launched four new feature phones, and this time, they come with something Nokia’s basic phones have never had before: an AI assistant.
If you have been holding onto a basic Nokia because you wanted to stay away from smartphones and their endless notifications, this launch is worth understanding properly before you buy one, because the AI feature on these phones does not work quite the way you expect.
The four new Nokia phones
HMD has launched four models under the Nokia brand: the Nokia 200 4G, the Nokia 210 4G, the Nokia 215 4G 2nd Edition, and the Nokia 235 4G 2nd Edition. These are all classic keypad phones, not touchscreen smartphones.
They run on HMD’s lightweight S30+ software, which is built only for calling, texting, and basic apps, not for downloading apps like WhatsApp or Instagram.
Image Courtesy: HMD
All four phones share a similar core design. They come with a 3.5mm headphone jack, a USB-C charging port, Bluetooth 5.0, and a 1,450 mAh battery. Most of them also include an FM radio. Where they differ is mainly in screen size and camera:
- The Nokia 210 4G has a 2.4-inch screen and a basic rear camera, along with a front camera for video calls.
- The Nokia 200 4G also has a 2.4-inch screen and is the first Nokia feature phone to support video calling, though it does not have a rear camera.
- The Nokia 215 4G 2nd Edition and Nokia 235 4G 2nd Edition come with slightly bigger 2.8-inch screens. The 235 4G also adds a 2-megapixel rear camera, a step up from the others.
All four phones support video calling and voice messages through an app called Xpress Chat, which is HMD’s own chat and video-calling service built specifically for feature phones.
What the AI button actually does
Right in the middle of the keypad, where you would usually find the ‘OK’ or navigation button, but these phones have a dedicated AI assistant button. Press it, and it activates a voice assistant called Sikey AI.
According to HMD, Sikey AI can help you do simple, everyday tasks using just your voice, such as:
- Making a phone call to someone in your contacts
- Turning on the torch or flashlight
- Opening the camera
- Setting an alarm or a reminder
- Answering basic questions, like the weather forecast or a simple recipe
But it is important to be clear that this is not a chatbot that you can have a long conversation with, nor is it built to compete with tools like ChatGPT or Google Gemini.
It is closer to a simplified voice command system, meant to help people who may find typing or navigating menus difficult.
What runs out after 180 days
This is the part every buyer should know before purchasing. According to HMD’s product page, the AI assistant is free to use only for the first 180 days after you start using the phone. After that, it needs a paid subscription to keep working.
HMD confirms that a smartphone app is required to purchase this subscription. In other words, if you bought one of these phones specifically to get away from smartphones, you will still need access to a smartphone just to pay for the AI feature once your free trial runs out.
HMD has not yet shared how much the subscription will cost.
Pricing and availability
Global pricing has started rolling out, with the Nokia 200 4G reportedly starting from around $29. Exact pricing for the Nokia 215 4G 2nd Edition and Nokia 235 4G 2nd Edition, along with country-by-country availability, has not been officially confirmed by HMD yet, so it’s worth checking with your local retailer or HMD’s website before you buy..
Should you buy one?
If you are looking for a basic, reliable phone with a long battery life, a torch, an FM radio, and now video calling, these phones still deliver that and this time the AI assistant works as a bonus for the first six months, helping with small hands-free tasks.
Just be very realistic with your expectations that after 180 days, you will either need to pay to keep using Sikey AI, or you will simply lose that voice-assistant feature and use the phone the old-fashioned way.
So, if you are buying it specifically to avoid using a smartphone, be aware that a smartphone may still be needed down the line, just to manage that subscription.
For now, the phones themselves remain solid, affordable feature phones and ones with Nokia’s legacy.
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