The Nokia 300 Charge recalls the practical design of classic Nokia phones such as the Nokia 1100, but its main appeal goes beyond nostalgia.
The Nokia 300 Charge puts battery life firstThe 3,700 mAh battery is the largest HMD has used in a Nokia feature phone.
The phone can charge other devicesThe feature that gives the Nokia 300 Charge its name is reverse charging.
The Nokia 300 Charge keeps the feature-phone formulaHMD deliberately limited the Nokia 300 Charge compared with a modern smartphone.
For now, the Nokia 300 Charge is a feature phone built around a large battery and a few practical extras.
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Human Mobile Devices (HMD) is a Finnish company that manufactures cell phones and prioritizes people, offering repairable basic equipment to help users disconnect and take a break from constant screen use. Credit: Public Domain
HMD Global, the company that licenses the Nokia brand for mobile phones, has introduced the Nokia 300 Charge, a basic handset built around a 3,700 mAh battery that can also charge other devices. HMD says the phone can provide up to 40 days of standby time and 37 hours of talk time on a single charge.
The Nokia 300 Charge recalls the practical design of classic Nokia phones such as the Nokia 1100, but its main appeal goes beyond nostalgia. HMD has turned the large battery into a secondary power source, allowing users to charge compatible devices from the phone.
The company has not announced when the Nokia 300 Charge will be available in Colombia. That question could be particularly relevant because the phone uses 2G cellular connectivity, a technology that has been phased out in some markets.
The Nokia 300 Charge puts battery life first
The 3,700 mAh battery is the largest HMD has used in a Nokia feature phone. The company rates it for up to 40 days of standby time and up to 37 hours of talk time.
These figures reflect HMD’s internal test results and do not guarantee real-world battery life for individual users. Network conditions, usage and other factors can affect how long the battery lasts. The battery is removable, another feature that separates the Nokia 300 Charge from most current smartphones.
The phone uses a physical keypad and a 2.4-inch QVGA display rather than a touchscreen. HMD designed it for calls, messages and other basic functions rather than the app-based experience of a smartphone.
The phone can charge other devices
The feature that gives the Nokia 300 Charge its name is reverse charging. HMD includes a 4-in-1 cable that supports Micro USB, USB Type-C, and USB Type-A connections. Users can connect compatible phones, headphones, and other USB devices and draw power from the Nokia’s battery.
Reverse charging reaches up to 10 watts. That makes the Nokia 300 Charge useful as an emergency power source, although it does not replace a dedicated power bank with a larger battery.
The amount of power available to another device also depends on how much charge remains in the Nokia itself.
HMD added a powerful flashlight
The Nokia 300 Charge also includes a high-power LED flashlight. HMD says internal testing shows the new flashlight delivers up to four times the brightness of the 2023 Nokia 105.
The flashlight adds another practical function to a phone built around basic utilities. Users can carry a device that combines communication, lighting and emergency charging without relying on separate equipment.
The phone also includes an FM radio and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. Like the large battery and physical keypad, these features focus on functions that do not depend on a smartphone ecosystem.
The Nokia 300 Charge keeps the feature-phone formula
HMD deliberately limited the Nokia 300 Charge compared with a modern smartphone. It uses a Unisoc SC6531E chipset, 4 MB of RAM and 4 MB of internal storage. Users can expand storage with a microSD card of up to 32 GB.
The phone runs S30+ and includes a rear camera. Its hardware focuses on basic communication and utility rather than processing power or mobile applications.
HMD also limited its cellular connectivity to 2G GSM networks operating at 900 and 1800 MHz.
That specification matters for anyone considering an imported Nokia 300 Charge. Several countries have already shut down or are retiring 2G networks, so buyers cannot assume that a 2G-only phone will work everywhere.
The Nokia 1100 connection is about simplicity
The Nokia 1100 became one of the most widely sold mobile phones in history, with more than 250 million units sold. Its success came from a simple combination of physical controls, long battery life and basic communication functions. The Nokia 300 Charge does not reproduce the Nokia 1100. Instead, it updates the same feature-phone concept with functions that were unavailable on the older handset.
The most significant addition is reverse charging. The phone can communicate with other devices and provide them with emergency power, making its battery useful beyond the handset itself.
That gives the device a different purpose from today’s smartphones. Rather than adding more applications or processing power, HMD has concentrated on battery endurance and a small set of practical functions.
Colombia availability remains unknown
HMD has not confirmed a Colombian launch for the Nokia 300 Charge. Its presence on HMD’s international website does not establish that Colombian retailers or mobile operators will sell the device.
The 2G specification also makes network compatibility an important consideration for Colombian buyers if HMD eventually introduces the phone locally. Users would need to confirm that their operator still supports the required GSM networks before purchasing the handset.
For now, the Nokia 300 Charge is a feature phone built around a large battery and a few practical extras. Whether that combination reaches Colombia will depend on HMD’s plans for the local market and the compatibility of its 2G networks.
