Nokia 3310: Complete Guide — History, Specifications, Secret Codes, Snake, Collecting 2026
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The Nokia 3310 is the most iconic phone in history. Not the best-selling phone ever (that honour belongs to the Nokia 1100), not the most technically advanced, not the most beautiful — but the most loved. With 126 million units sold between 2000 and 2005, the 3310 connected an entire generation, invented SMS chat, gave Snake II its most famous home, and survived drops, floods and washing machine cycles that would have destroyed any modern smartphone. This is the most complete guide ever written in English on the Nokia 3310.
1. The History of the Nokia 3310
The launch in Oberhausen, 1 September 2000
The Nokia 3310 was officially unveiled on 1 September 2000 in Oberhausen, Germany, at an event called "Don't be bored. Be totally board." — a wordplay between bored (uninterested) and board (as in skateboard). Nokia invited skateboarders, artists and young people to a lifestyle happening rather than a tech conference. The message was clear: this phone isn't for the businessmen who use the 6310, it's for young people.
The development team was based in Copenhagen, Denmark — an unusual choice for Nokia, which had most of its R&D in Espoo, Finland. This explains some design choices that are slightly different from other Nokia phones of the era.
Why the 3310 won
In 2000 the mobile market was exploding. The predecessor Nokia 3210 had sold 160 million units (more than the 3310!) but weighed 151 grams. The 3310 improved everything:
- Weight: from 151g to 133g — nearly 20 grams lighter
- Interchangeable covers: the Nokia 3210 didn't have them; the 3310 did, with a clip system
- SMS Chat: the major innovation — the world's first phone with SMS-based chat
- Design: more compact, softer curves, better grip
- Snake II: improved version of the game already on the 3210
The numbers
126 million Nokia 3310 units sold between 2000 and 2005 — to compare, the first iPhone sold 70 million in its entire lifetime. The 3310 sold almost double.
The predecessor Nokia 3210 actually sold even more: 160 million units, but it's less remembered. The reason is cultural: the 3310 arrived at exactly the moment SMS was going mass-market, and the Chat function made it the symbol of that transition.
The Chat Function — the forgotten revolution
The most innovative feature of the Nokia 3310 was not Snake or the covers — it was the SMS Chat function. The 3310 was the world's first phone to support chat, allowing text-based conversations similar to Internet chat of the era (ICQ, IRC, MSN which were exploding at the time).
How it worked: open Chat (Menu 3), enter your friend's number, write a message. The phone sends a specially formatted SMS. The other Nokia 3310 receives it and displays the conversation as a chat thread, not as separate SMS messages. This was WhatsApp 15 years early — limited to two people with the same phone and at SMS cost, but revolutionary for 2000.
The decline and revival
Nokia discontinued the 3310 in 2005. In 2017 HMD Global — the Finnish company that acquired the Nokia brand — relaunched it at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona: colour display, updated Snake, 2G. A 3G version came in 2018. In 2024 the Nokia 3210 4G edition took the same concept forward.
2. Complete Technical Specifications — Nokia 3310 Original (2000)
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Announced | 1 September 2000, Oberhausen, Germany |
| Released | Q4 2000 |
| Discontinued | 2005 |
| Units sold | 126 million |
| Developed in | Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Manufactured in | Finland (Espoo), Germany (Bochum), South Korea (Masan), Hungary (Komárom), Brazil (Manaus — local market only) |
| Form factor | Candy bar |
| Dimensions | 113 × 48 × 22 mm |
| Weight | 133 g |
| Processor | Texas Instruments MAD2WD1 (ARM7TDMI architecture) |
| Operating system | Nokia Series 20 (proprietary) |
| RAM | 1.5 KB |
| Display | Monochrome LCD 84×48 pixels (1.5 inches, 64 ppi) — 4,032 pixels total |
| Backlight | Yes |
| Networks | GSM 900/1800 (dual-band) |
| GPRS | No |
| Original battery (NiMH) | BMC-3, 900 mAh nickel-metal hydride |
| Alternative battery (Li-ion) | BLC-2, 1000 mAh lithium-ion |
| Standby | 55-260 hours (depending on battery type and coverage) |
| Talk time | 2h30m — 4h30m |
| Ringtones | Monophonic (single note only) |
| Messages | SMS, message chains, Chat |
| Covers | Interchangeable (clip system) |
| SAR | 0.96 W/kg |
| Connector | Pop-Port (Nokia-specific) |
| Games | Snake II, Space Impact, Bantumi, Pairs II |
| Phonebook | 250 contacts |
| Saved messages | 20 SMS in memory |
| Alarms | 1 |
| Calculator | Yes |
| Reminder | Yes |
| Currency converter | Yes |
Note on the processor: the Texas Instruments MAD2WD1 is based on the 32-bit ARM7TDMI architecture — the same base used by the Nintendo Game Boy Advance (2001). A simple but highly efficient processor for the required functions.
3. Regional Variants of the Nokia 3310
| Model | Market | Main differences |
|---|---|---|
| Nokia 3310 | Europe | Base version, GSM 900/1800 |
| Nokia 3315 | Asia-Pacific | Design like 3410 (no "4" due to tetraphobia) |
| Nokia 3320 | USA | TDMA 850/1900 instead of GSM |
| Nokia 3330 | Europe | Like 3310 + WAP internet browsing |
| Nokia 3350 | USA | TDMA variant of 3330 |
| Nokia 3360 | USA | TDMA |
| Nokia 3390 | USA | GSM 850/1900 for US market |
| Nokia 3395 | USA | GSM variant of 3390 |
Nokia 3330 — the internet version: the 3330 is essentially a 3310 with the WAP protocol added for mobile internet browsing. Same hardware, same display, same Snake II — plus the WAP browser.
Tetraphobia: the Nokia 3315 was created for Asian markets (China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam) where the number 4 is considered unlucky (sounds like "death" in Chinese and Japanese). This is why the model numbered "3310" wasn't sold in Asia — the 3315 with a slightly different design took its place.
4. Nokia 3310 Firmware Versions
The code *#0000# shows the firmware version in this format: V X.XX / DD-MM-YYYY / NSM-X
Authentic Nokia 3310 original (2000-2005) firmware versions: V 3.31, V 4.02, V 5.05, V 6.39, V 7.xx
An authentic 3310 from 2000 always has firmware starting V 3.x through V 7.x. A version V 1.x suggests a very early pre-production unit; V 10.x or higher almost certainly indicates a counterfeit or the 2017 revival.
5. All Nokia 3310 Secret Codes — Complete List
Information codes
| Code | Function | Notes |
|---|---|---|
*#06# |
IMEI — unique phone identifier | Universal |
*#0000# |
Software version — firmware version, build date, variant | Shows V X.XX, date, NSM |
*#92702689# |
Warranty Data menu — serial number, production date, first activation date, talk time hours, repair dates | Richest information code. Exit by switching off and on |
*#3283# |
Production week — format YYWW (YY=year, WW=week) | e.g. 0142 = year 2001, week 42 |
*#7760# |
Production serial number | Only works on 3310 and 3330 |
*#746025625# |
SIM Clock status — checks if SIM supports power saving | "SIM Clock Stop Allowed" = maximum standby |
Audio and network codes
| Code | Function | Notes |
|---|---|---|
*3370# |
Enable Enhanced Full Rate (EFR) — higher audio quality | Increases battery consumption ~5% |
#3370# |
Disable EFR | |
*4720# |
Enable Half Rate — halves audio quality but extends battery life | Useful in poor coverage areas |
#4720# |
Disable Half Rate |
Reset and restore codes
| Code | Function | Notes |
|---|---|---|
*#7780# |
Reset settings — restores settings without deleting contacts/SMS | Requires PIN confirmation |
*#7370# |
Full reset — wipes everything, returns to factory state | Uses security code (default 12345) ⚠️ |
Exclusive Nokia 3310 code: *#67705646#
This is perhaps the most famous and specific Nokia 3310 code (works only on 3310 and 3330):
*#67705646# = *#opr0logo# — Removes the operator logo from the display
In 2000-2002 many mobile operators paid Nokia to insert their logo on the startup screen of the 3310. This code removed it, restoring the standard signal display.
Why does it only work on 3310 and 3330? Because later DCT4 models (3510, 6100 etc.) handled the operator logo differently through operator firmware. The 3310 used the DCT3 platform where the logo was stored in a specific modifiable memory area.
Call forwarding and management
| Code | Function |
|---|---|
##002# |
Cancel all call forwarding |
**21*[number]# |
Activate unconditional forwarding to [number] |
##21# |
Deactivate unconditional forwarding |
*#21# |
Check unconditional forwarding status |
**61*[number]# |
Activate "no answer" forwarding |
**62*[number]# |
Activate "not reachable" forwarding |
**67*[number]# |
Activate "busy" forwarding |
##004# |
Cancel all conditional forwarding |
*43# |
Enable call waiting |
#43# |
Disable call waiting |
#31#[number] |
Hide number for this call |
*31#[number] |
Show number for this call |
PIN and PUK codes
| Code | Function |
|---|---|
**04*[old PIN]*[new PIN]*[new PIN]# |
Change PIN |
**042*[old PIN2]*[new PIN2]*[new PIN2]# |
Change PIN2 |
**05*[PUK]*[new PIN]*[new PIN]# |
Unlock SIM with PUK |
**052*[PUK2]*[new PIN2]*[new PIN2]# |
Unlock PIN2 with PUK2 |
Lock check codes
| Code | Function |
|---|---|
#pw+[code]+1# |
Check Network lock status |
#pw+[code]+2# |
Check Network Subset lock status |
#pw+[code]+3# |
Check Country lock status |
#pw+[code]+4# |
Check SIM lock status |
How to type
#pw+: hold the*key until*appears, hold again until+, hold again forp, hold again forw. It's a sequence of long presses of the same key.
6. The Warranty Data Menu *#92702689# — Complete Guide
Page 1 — Serial Number: the hardware serial number (different from the IMEI).
Page 2 — Made: production date in YYWW format (year + week). "0140" = year 2001, week 40.
Page 3 — Purchasing date: first activation date. "0000" = never activated or data not registered.
Page 4 — Repaired: official Nokia repair dates. "0000" = no registered repairs.
Page 5 — Transfer User Data: total talk time hours since activation. This value cannot be reset even with a master reset. It's the Nokia 3310's "odometer reading".
How to exit the Warranty menu: the
*#92702689#menu has no Exit key — you must switch off and switch on the phone to return to the normal screen.
Collector use: the Warranty Data is the first place to check when buying a used Nokia 3310. Page 5 talk time reveals how much the phone was actually used. Under 10 hours = practically new; 500+ hours = heavily used.
7. Snake II on Nokia 3310 — History, Versions, Tips and Records
The history of Snake
Snake was not born on the 3310 — the first version was included on the Nokia 6110 in 1997, developed by Taneli Armanto, a Nokia engineer. That was Snake I: single-pixel snake, no obstacles, wrapping screen.
The Nokia 3310 brought Snake II — a significantly improved version:
- The snake had a net pattern (diamond pattern) instead of a single pixel
- Introduction of bonus bugs — special insects that give extra points
- Cyclical playing area — crossing a boundary makes the snake appear on the opposite side
- Mazes — fixed obstacles within the screen
Difficulty levels
Snake II on the 3310 had 9 speed levels (1=slowest, 9=fastest) and 4 maze types (None, Walls, Snake, Both). Best combination for high scores: level 9, no walls — maximum speed, no fixed obstacles, only the snake itself to avoid.
Controls
Directional keys: 2=up, 8=down, 4=left, 6=right. * key = pause.
Snake II tips
Pause trick: press * during play to pause. Use the time to plan your next move — essential at advanced levels.
Border trick: using cyclical borders strategically at advanced level allows escaping situations that seem impossible to survive.
Bonus bug: the special bug (insect appearing briefly) is worth far more than normal points. Ignoring it for safety is often the wrong choice.
The world record
The theoretical maximum score in Snake II on Nokia 3310 is 9999 points — the counter resets to 0 after 9999. Expert players would reach this limit and start again, completing the game "on a loop". No online leaderboard existed — records were local, written on paper or shown to classmates.
8. All Games on the Nokia 3310
Space Impact — horizontal shooter. A spaceship (you) faces waves of enemies from the left. Three lives, multiple levels. Considered harder than Snake II by fans.
Bantumi — strategy game based on African Mancala. Two players (or against the phone) move pebbles on a board of 6 holes each. Objective: collect more pebbles than your opponent.
Pairs II — memory game. Find matching card pairs. Three difficulty levels. Great for short bursts of boredom.
9. How to Tell an Original Nokia 3310 from a Fake
Physical checks
Weight: an original Nokia 3310 weighs exactly 133 grams with the BLC-2 Li-ion battery or 130g with the NiMH. Fakes often weigh less (100-115g).
Display: the original has exactly 84×48 pixels — count the dot rows. Fakes often have slightly larger displays or different resolution.
Connector: the Nokia 3310 uses the Pop-Port — a medium-sized rectangular Nokia-specific connector. Fakes often have Micro-USB or generic connectors.
Battery: original Nokia batteries have "NOKIA" embossed and the model code printed (BLC-2 or BMC-3).
Keys: original keys have a precise, uniform mechanical click. Fakes often have uneven clicks or excessively soft keys.
Software checks
The *#0000# code: authentic 3310 original (2000) firmware always starts with V 3.x, V 4.x, V 5.x, V 6.x or V 7.x. A clone often shows anomalous versions or doesn't respond to this code.
The *#92702689# code: an authentic Nokia 3310 always has the Warranty Data menu. Clones often don't respond to this code or show anomalous data.
The *#3283# code: production week must be compatible with years 2000-2005.
The *#7760# code: production serial number only works on original 3310 and 3330 — clones often don't support it.
The 2017 version vs the 2000 original
The version released by HMD in 2017 is legal and clearly marketed as "Nokia 3310 (2017)" — it's not a fake, it's a revival. Recognised immediately by:
- Colour display (the 2000 model is monochrome)
- Different dimensions (thinner and lighter)
- Micro-USB charging
- Firmware shows recent versions
10. Nokia 3310 Collector Value 2026
| Condition | Approximate value 2026 |
|---|---|
| Sealed in original box (never opened, intact box) | €150-300+ |
| Mint condition (like new, with original box and accessories) | €50-120 |
| Excellent condition (working, no visible scratches, with battery) | €20-50 |
| Good condition (working, normal signs of use) | €10-25 |
| Working with cosmetic defects | €5-15 |
| Not working / for parts | €2-8 |
Most sought-after and valuable models:
- Nokia 3310 with original complete box (manual, charger, earphone)
- Nokia 3310 never activated (Warranty Data page 3 = 0000, page 5 timer = 00:00)
- Nokia 3310 with original NiMH battery (first versions — rarer than the later Li-ion)
- Nokia 3310 in rare factory colours
11. Compatible Batteries for Nokia 3310
BLC-2 (Li-ion, 1000 mAh): the most common, easiest to find. Replaced the NiMH in later versions. Slimmer profile.
BMC-3 (NiMH, 900 mAh): the battery of first versions. Thicker, nickel technology. Charges differently from Li-ion.
12. The Nokia 3310 in Popular Culture
The Nokia 3310 became a cultural meme — symbol of technological indestructibility. The "indestructible" meme of the 2010s exaggerated but had a real basis. The "Nokia vs iPhone" comparison (126M vs 70M sold) went viral. The 2017 revival became a worldwide trending topic for 24 hours — no other feature phone ever received this media attention.
13. Original Nokia 3310 at Infosate
At Infosate you'll find a selection of original Nokia 3310 phones (2000) — verified, working, with battery. Every unit is tested with *#0000# and *#92702689# to verify authenticity and actual condition.
👉 View Nokia 3310 available at Infosate
Frequently Asked Questions
How many versions of the Nokia 3310 exist? The original 2000 had several firmware revisions (V 3.31 → V 7.xx) and regional variants (3310, 3315, 3320, 3330, 3350, 3360, 3390, 3395). Then the 2017 revival (HMD, colour display), the 3G version 2018, and the 4G version (Nokia 3210 2024 reviving the same spirit).
Does the Nokia 3310 still work in 2026? Yes, in areas with active GSM 900/1800 coverage. In most European countries the 2G GSM network is still operational, though some operators are planning 2G shutdown in coming years.
Can I charge a Nokia 3310 with a modern charger? The Nokia 3310 uses the Nokia Pop-Port connector — not Micro-USB, not USB-C. You need an original Nokia Pop-Port charger (Nokia AC-3 or AC-1) or an adapter.
How do I unlock a Nokia 3310 from a network? Insert a SIM from a different operator, switch on. A 10-digit NCK code is requested. The code is calculated from the IMEI using the Nokia DCT3 algorithm.
Does the Nokia 3310 support WhatsApp? No — the original 3310 supports only SMS and SMS Chat. No app system, no WiFi, no internet browser (only the Nokia 3330 variant has WAP). WhatsApp requires at least an Android or iOS smartphone.
Can I install extra games on the Nokia 3310? No — the original Nokia 3310 does not support app downloads. The four games (Snake II, Space Impact, Bantumi, Pairs II) are embedded in the firmware. Some enthusiasts have developed firmware modification tools, but these require specific hardware.