Is the Nokia 1100 Coming Back? HMD Develops a Basic Phone Inspired by the Best-Selling Classic

The Nokia 1100 is not returning, but its basic-phone formula lives on in HMD’s new Nokia 300 Charge.

The Nokia 1100 holds the Guinness World Records title for the best-selling mobile phone in history, with more than 250 million units sold. Launched in 2003, it arrived when mobile phones offered far fewer functions than they do today. Its low price, physical keyboard, monochrome screen, long battery life and durable design helped it reach buyers in markets where those features mattered.

The phone supported calls and text messages and included a built-in flashlight. HMD’s Nokia 300 Charge keeps the physical keyboard and removable battery, but it is a new device rather than a relaunch of the old model.

Its removable battery has a 3,700 mAh capacity. HMD says the phone can remain on standby for up to 40 days and handle up to 37.9 hours of calls, although those figures come from testing conditions set by the company. The device also supports 10-watt reverse charging, allowing users to supply power to other compatible devices with the appropriate cable.

The newer model adds features that the 2003 phone did not have, including USB-C, a camera and microSD storage. HMD also highlights an LED flashlight that it says can produce up to four times the illumination of the 2023 Nokia 105.

The Nokia 300 Charge uses 2G networks according to HMD’s official specifications. Its design therefore combines a familiar, stripped-back phone format with newer hardware, while retaining the focus on battery capacity and simple everyday use that defined the Nokia 1100.