Nokia's New Throwback Phone Doubles As A Powerbank, Flashlight And More

If you're old enough to remember cycling through the number pad to send a text message, you're probably wondering one thing: is Nokia still in the phone business? The answer isn't as straightforward as you'd think. Nokia still exists, and if you visit the company's website, it appears that it's still selling cell phones. After a triumphant rise in the early 2000s, however, Nokia stumbled when smartphones swept the market, and the company sold its phone business to Microsoft more than 10 years ago. When you click on that phone link on Nokia's website today, it takes you to a company called HMD Global, which now makes Nokia-branded phones under license.

HMD Global offers more than two dozen Nokia-branded phones on its website, and they bear little resemblance to most modern smartphones. The new Nokia 300 Charge costs only about $40 and is designed with modern simplicity in mind. It's available in only a few colors, including green and sandstone, and you can't Google the closest Mexican restaurant or download apps. What it does offer is incredible battery life, with 40 days in standby mode and up to 37 hours of talk time before it needs to be recharged. It also acts as a power bank for other devices or a flashlight if you suddenly find yourself in the dark. If you're thinking of putting one on your wish list, however, there are a few drawbacks. The biggest? The 300 Charge is not available in the U.S. Here's what else you should know.

The 300 Charge is smaller, lighter, and thicker than a smartphone and has a physical keypad and no touchscreen. Dubbed a "dumb phone" by some, it's an old-school option for people who simply want a phone, not a mini pocket computer. It's not really intended as a replacement for your smartphone, however, at least not for the majority of us. It works more as an inexpensive, durable backup that can also charge your smartphone when you're on the go or without power. It could also be a good option for children, allowing them to call friends and family without any screen time.

To charge other devices, you simply press the "Out" button on the phone and plug your device into the USB-C port with the included cable. If you end up in the dark, you can use the 300 Charge as an LED flashlight and save the battery on your smartphone. It has a small, 2.4-inch display and a rear, low-resolution camera. In addition to the USB-C port, it also has a 3.5 mm headphone jack, allowing you to listen to imported music. It has 4 MB of internal storage and can support up to 32 GB of external storage through a microSD card.

Don't expect to see the Nokia 300 on shelves here in the U.S. It works only with 2G networks, which have been shut down by all major carriers in America. If you're interested in a small, inexpensive "dumb phone," minimalist phones are still available, including flip phones and watered-down smartphones.