I need a new Nokia phone. With buttons.

[Chief Tiff]

Hi all,

With the 2G network being killed off soon I am now looking for a replacement for my Nokia flip phone. Unfortunately...

I ABSOLUTELY HATE SMARTPHONES. Touchscreens and I don't see eye to eye. I have absolutely no interest in mobile websurfing; I don't Bookface and I certainly don't Chirp or Squawk on that Twit thing. I never, ever want to receive an Email via a phone. Watching funny cats on U-tube passes the time, but that's not reason enough to make me want one.

Basically I only have a mobile so that I can make calls when I want to. I do a fair bit of text messaging but that is all. I use Pay As You Go and some years my annual expenditure is less than one months phone plan for several of my work colleagues. Actually; I have TWO Nokias. One is my personal, the other is used at work. It is very rare for both phones to be in the same room as me, not many people have one of my numbers, less than a dozen have both.

I really just want another Nokia. They're all I've used for the last two decades, I have spare chargers laying around absolutely everywhere I travel to and I know their little idiosyncrasies. I had a Samsung and a Telstra each for a few weeks, hated them with a passion because the CAPS and SYMBOLS buttons were different from the Nokia layout and I just couldn't make the switch. At home I have my daughters old IPhone and Galaxy whenever I need a door wedge, so I have tried...

So, can anybody recommend a model that they liked before they started buying fruit? It must be able to run on the Telstra "blue tick" rural frequencies as I work in the Surat Basin. A dual Sim would be handy but not really important. There are many companies who sell refurbished Nokias; problem is I don't know the models. A 3G/4G Nokia with buttons that works out bush, surely someone has had one?

Thanks in advance

[ian]

Possibly not.

I went though a similar process some years ago, and had great difficulty finding a Nokia with buttons.
I eventually found a discontinued smart phone with a QWERTY keyboard, but after about 2 years the phone speaker died.

I'm now using a Nokia touch screen (with windows software) that as a touch screen is leaps and bounds better than my wife's iPhone 4s and light years better than the iPhone 3.

I see Office Works has very low cost button phones, but you may have to pay $$$ to have one of them unlocked.

Personally, I suggest you try a button-less phone -- cost wise you will get one that works, and no one says you have to use the "smart" features

[Fuzzie]

+1 to the button-less phones. I've got the Nokia Asha 311 (touch screen, feature phone). It's got pretty good battery life as long as you don't have data and/or wifi turned on and (with my sim) covers just about every band 3 1/2G and below. It even works in Japan. They seem to have gone up a lot in price since I bought mine, looking at ebay.

[NathanaelBC]

What you're looking for is called a "feature" phone; they're a dying breed but check out the new Nokia 216

[Big Shed]

Telstra has a couple of Pre-paid button phones, both are Blue Tick.


https://www.telstra.com.au/mobile-phones/prepaid-mobiles/telstra-easycall-4

https://www.telstra.com.au/mobile-phones/prepaid-mobiles/telstra-t20

Now that Microsoft owns Nokia, and has written off about $800million in the process, don't expect new Nokia phones to have the same features that they used to have.

[Lappa]

Just in the news tonight

Nokia. Error Page (http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/technology/smartphones/nokia-is-plotting-another-comeback-and-plans-to-release-five-oldschool-mobile-phones/news-story/abe3f4308c1d5b6c3f54c5d3e9ef0860)

[Ubernoob]

I am going to split the difference and recommend the Nokia e7, it is touch screen but it has the most fantastic flip out keyboard, you said you text a bit and the keyboard is awesome! An update to the latest belle firmware makes them a decent little phone if you don't like apps or the internet. It's a shame all the reviews were done before the last firmware update was released, it was a lot better than the following windows 7 and 8 operating systems.

[KBs PensNmore]

I've the phone similar to the easycall 4. Got it from Telstra for $89 or there abouts. Great phone, the only major problem I have with it, is when it's in my jeans pocket and I bend over it calls 000. There is no lockout for emergency numbers. Very embarrassing. The other thing and it's probably more me than anything else, I have to replace it once a year as I can't hear properly and it's like the speaker fills with metal filings or dust that prevents the speaker from working properly. I could send it out for repair, but I've been quoted about $70 to repair, for extra $19 I get a new one.
Kryn

[dinosour]

Nokia 6120, great for fringe reception and it has buttons and is a good phone not fancy but it works.Not sure if you can get them new any more.
Good hunting

[Chief Tiff]

Thanks to all so far, there's a few to look at. I like the look of the new 150/105/216/130/ & 222, but I'm put off by the micro USB charging system as I would need to buy at least three chargers to cover all my bases. Will keep these in mind though as they are brand new products and charging leads aren't hard to come by. Need to check the compatibility too with the Blue Tick network.

Unfortunately the Asha's and E7 still have touchscreens. Unless there is a way to permanently disable them so they rely on buttons only then I won't go near them, I've had way too many frustrating experiences with them including right now as I try to type this on my Protab; it has a detachable keyboard which is currently broken so I am stuck with the touchscreen. In the last 30 minutes I've come close to folding the device in half and stamping on it at least 5 times; that was the fate of my Kobo a year ago. Seriously, unless you have a thorough understanding of quantum physics you cannot possibly comprehend the magnitude of my dislike for touchscreens. :((

As for other brands; I had a Telstra own brand for work for about 6 months before I couldn't stand it any more and bought an unlocked C2 to rattle around on my desk. Still using it 5 years later!

Again, thanks so far.

[Ubernoob]

Did you need a modernish camera in the phone?

If not I change my recommendation to the Nokia E75, can only see one brand new one on Ebay in Oz.

https://www.cnet.com/au/products/nokia-e75-3g-gsm-smartphone/review/#!

Bit spendy for a 7yo phone- NOKIA E75 BRAND NEW FACTORY SEALED UNLOCKED | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NOKIA-E75-BRAND-NEW-FACTORY-SEALED-UNLOCKED-/152367163143?hash=item2379ca6707:g:6K8AAOSw5cNYEoed)