Eight cool retro phones and smartphones you can still buy

From time to time, I get attacks of nostalgia, and I wander around AliExpress in search of curious smartphones from the distant past. However, it never comes to a purchase, because the prices for these models in excellent condition quickly sober up.

But I still decided to share with you the most interesting, from my point of view, devices. In case you, for some reason, need a second device for receiving calls, and instead of the usual and relatively inexpensive new device, you prefer something legendary from the past. They still know how to make calls, because the 2G networks in our country have not yet been turned off and seem to be not going to be in the near future.

The only caveat: all these devices are restored, and it is far from the fact that they are from the original components. Therefore, if you are thinking of buying something, then be sure to study the reviews under this product.

Nokia 8910 is the first mainstream titanium phone

The Nokia 8910 is a phone that did not have any crazy functionality even when it was launched in 2002, but became the first mass device with a titanium casing.

Its second feature is an unusual slider mechanism, in which the cover falls down and exposes the phone's numeric keypad. And the Nokia 8890 also has Bluetooth for connecting a headset or car hands-free system, but it only works with original Nokia accessories of those times, so there is little sense from it.

In 2002, the Nokia 8890 was priced at about $ 700. You can buy one on AliExpress today for about 9-10 thousand rubles. Not cheap, of course, and I have some doubts that the case of the restored device will be titanium.

• Nokia 8910 review

Nokia 7710 – the first and only one of its kind

The Nokia 7710 is Nokia's first touchscreen smartphone and the only Series 90 platform designed for smartphones and compact tablets. 3 years before the appearance of the first iPhone and 6 years before the appearance of the first iPad such a Nokia was perceived as futuristic as possible. And if the previous hero of this material was a welcome device among wealthy, but ignorant of technology users, then this one was a geek's dream.

True, this smartphone did not gain much popularity, since it was expensive, and there were many questions about usability. And Nokia quickly curtailed the Series 90 platform, promising to add touch capabilities to Series 60 devices.

In 2004, Nokia 7710 cost more than $ 500, and today it is available on AliExpress for 5-6 thousand rubles. Of course, it did not become more convenient over the years, but it will still be possible to surprise others with such a device.

• Review Nokia 7710

Motorola RAZR V3 – a legend, just a legend

This year Motorola, which has been part of Lenovo for several years, has given birth to a new RAZR with a flexible display, which will go on sale in the coming months. And in anticipation of a novelty worth $ 1500, you can please yourself with the 2004 version, which today can be bought in China for only 3-4 thousand rubles.

But the case of the restored models is plastic, not metal, like the original.

• Review Motorola RAZR V3
• RAZR from Motorola – an unexpected success story
• RAZR from Motorola is an unexpected success story. Part 2
• The RAZR story from Motorola is an unexpected success story. Part 3

Motorola ROKR E1 – the first phone from Apple (almost)

I think that few people remember the first serial phone, in the development of which the company participated to one degree or another Apple. 2 years before the first iPhone appeared on sale Motorola ROKR E1 – a special version of the cult at that time E398 phone with a built-in iPod music player and a separate button to start it.

At one time Apple chose Moto E398 for collaboration not by chance. After all, it was not only the most musical phone of its time, but it also had a unique multimedia speaker, consisting of special induction plates. This is a real micro-subwoofer, which allowed Motorola to abandon the vibration motor – it 'hollows' in such a way that it is impossible not to feel it in your pocket.

However, further cooperation Apple and Motorola did not work out, and I cannot say with absolute certainty that ROKR E1 will be able to sync with desktop iTunes today. But if you really buy the E398, then only in this version, because it is not only the legendary Motorola, but also iPhone of the 0th generation. It costs about 3 thousand rubles.

• Phone history from Apple – from sketches of the 80s to iPhone. Part 2 (about ROKR E1)

Sony Ericsson W950 – a musical Walkman without a camera

To be honest, I wanted to find in the bowels of AliExpress the Sony Ericsson P800 – the first touchscreen Sonerik based on Symbian UIQ with a folding keyboard. If you remember, SE had a whole line of such devices, and the P800 was its ancestor. But from what is now being sold there based on UIQ, the most interesting for me personally was the musical model W950.

Stylish matte purple-orange body, legendary JogDial ring and … lack of a camera, which even for 2006 was somewhat strange. You can find one today for 5-6 thousand rubles. Do you remember how many songs can fit on a 4GB drive?

• Sony Ericsson W950i review

Nokia 7610 – beautiful and iconic for a penny

The Nokia 7610 has a cool design, but a wildly awkward keyboard. However, the exterior was so cool that it overshadowed all the discomfort from the layout of the keys.

This model has been on sale for almost three years and has become one of the most popular 'Nokia' models in the history of the Finnish company. The Russian version of Wikipedia says that the Finns even had to resume production of this model at some point.

By the way, this is one of the most inexpensive retro smartphones that you can buy on AliExpress. For the restored device they ask only about 2 thousand rubles.

• Nokia 7610 review

Nokia N-Gage QD – Smartphone Gamepad

I could not find the original Nokia N-Gage, but its sequel with the QD prefix is ​​still on sale. By the way, Nokia N-Gage and N-Gage QD went on sale earlier than PSP and Nintendo DS.

And if you already have a Playstation Classic and NES Classic Mini in your collection, then they simply have to keep a smartphone controller from Nokia. In addition, downloading and uploading games to it even now will not be difficult.

Tomb Raider, Call of Duty, FIFA, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, Sonic and even Civilization (about 60 titles in total) – all of this is for N-Gage. And the device itself on AliExpress will cost about the same as the classic versions of Playstation and Nintendo cost in retail – about 4 thousand rubles.

• Review of Nokia N-Gage QD. Part one
• Review of Nokia N-Gage QD. Part two

Bonus: H-mobile KR999 – retro in a new way

I found out about the existence of this pipe right at the time of writing this material, but just look at what a miracle of Chinese engineering it is.

A huge device in the style of the first mobile phones with a 2.2-inch color display, a powerful flashlight, FM radio without headphones (from a huge removable antenna), two SIM-cards, a 4500 mAh battery and the ability to use the phone as a portable one (however, not quite portable) battery. Love at first sight is not otherwise. And all this for 2.5 thousand rubles.

Share in the comments what models you wanted to order, or maybe even ordered. And supplement the list with your finds, since I probably missed a lot of interesting things.