Nokia 5000 Series: Complete Guide — 5110, 5210, 5510, 5300, 5800 XpressMusic and All Models 1998-2009
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The Nokia 5000 Series is the series that democratised mobile phone personalisation — the Nokia 5110 of 1998 introduced interchangeable Xpress-on covers, transforming the phone from a tool into a fashion item. Ten years later, the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic of 2008 was the first mass-market Nokia with a touchscreen — the bridge to the modern smartphone era. Between these two milestones: rugged waterproof phones, Nokia's first MP3 player, and the entire music-focused XpressMusic line. This is the most complete guide ever written in English on the entire Nokia 5000 Series.
1. History of the Nokia 5000 Series
From "tool phone" to "fashion phone"
Before 1998, mobile phones were functional objects — grey, black, all the same. The Nokia 5110 changed this perception forever.
Phases of the 5000 Series
| Phase | Period | Key models | Theme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fashion/Xpress-on | 1998 | 5110 | Interchangeable covers |
| Rugged/Sport | 2000-2003 | 5210, 5100, 5500 Sport | Water/dust/shock resistance |
| Music pre-XpressMusic | 2001 | 5510 | First Nokia MP3 player |
| XpressMusic | 2006-2009 | 5300, 5310, 5610, 5700, 5800, 5530 | Music-focused line |
| Touchscreen | 2008 | 5800 XpressMusic | First mass-market Nokia touch |
2. Nokia 5110 — The Origin of Xpress-on Covers (1998)
Announced: CeBIT Hannover, 1998 | Series: 5100 | Innovation: interchangeable Xpress-on covers
The Nokia 5110 is one of the most influential phones in mobile industrial design history — not for its technical specs, but for introducing a concept that changed the industry forever: interchangeable Xpress-on covers.
The Story Behind Xpress-on Covers
With the 5100 series, Nokia recognised the mobile phone was becoming a fashion item. Nokia's marketing stated users could now "match their Nokia to almost any outfit, style and occasion".
The technical problem: making a cover user-replaceable without compromising the phone's integrity had never been solved before. Lead mechanical engineer Jussi Hakunti was responsible for the mechanism allowing the front cover ("cover A") to be user-replaceable — the solution required introducing a second cover to keep all components in place when the first was removed.
The hidden smiley face: a little-known detail — when designing the acoustic openings for the internal speaker, Jussi Hakunti added a small smiley face to the speaker hole design. The detail was so well liked internally that smiley faces in internal Nokia components became a recurring feature for years — including the Nokia 7650 years later.
Open source for design: to support the interchangeable cover strategy, Nokia deliberately made the 3D design files of the covers open source — allowing third-party manufacturers to create their own variants, hugely expanding the customisation ecosystem.
Covers Available at Launch
At launch, in addition to black, seven different colours of Xpress-on covers were available. On 23 September 1998 Nokia announced the first limited edition covers for the winter holiday season: Silver Bells Xpress-On and Snowflake Covers — likely the first example of "seasonal merchandising" in mobile phone history.
Why the 5110 matters to collectors: it's not the most technically advanced phone of its era, but it's the documented origin of an industry — personalisable covers and accessories — worth billions of dollars globally today.
👉 View Nokia 5110 available at Infosate
3. Nokia 5210 — The First Truly Waterproof Nokia (2001-2002)
Announced: 19 November 2001 | Available: early 2002 | Predecessor: Nokia 6250
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Networks | GSM 900/1800 |
| OS | Series 20 |
| Display | 5 lines, monochrome |
| Backlight | Orange — the ONLY Nokia with orange backlight |
| Durability | Dust, shock and water resistant |
| Cover | Rubber Xpress-on |
| Thermometer | Built-in — measures battery internal temperature |
| Colours | Blue/Silver/Black, Orange/Silver/Black |
The Orange Backlight
The Nokia 5210 is the only Nokia phone with an orange display backlight — all other monochrome Nokia models of the era used green or blue.
The Hidden Thermometer
A little-known feature: a built-in thermometer measuring the battery's internal temperature — the same function present on other Nokia phones with netmonitor enabled.
Shared many components with the Nokia 3330/3350 (2001).
👉 View Nokia 5210 available at Infosate
4. Nokia 5100 — The Rugged Evolution (2003)
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Networks | EGSM 900 + GSM 1800/1900 (tri-band) |
| Weight | 104 g |
| Battery | BL-4C, 720 mAh |
5. Nokia 5510 — The First Nokia with Music Player (2001)
Announced: 11 October 2001 | Available: December 2001 | Predecessor: Nokia 3210
One of the most unusual and historically important models in the 5000 Series — a hybrid between phone and digital music player, with a full QWERTY keyboard mounted "upside down" relative to the display.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Keyboard | Full QWERTY |
| Display | 84×48 px monochrome |
| Memory | 64 MB for audio files |
| Weight | 155 g |
| Audio | MP3, WAV, FM radio |
| Connectivity | Mini USB, Audio Line-in ADE-2, DKE-2 |
| Games | Snake II, Space Impact, Bumper, Bantumi, Pairs II (same as Nokia 3330) |
The "Upside Down" Design
The QWERTY keyboard occupied the upper part of the phone while the small 84×48 display and traditional numeric keypad sat in the lower part — when used as a music player, the device was held "flipped" relative to a normal phone.
Shared Components with the Nokia 3310
The 5510 shared many hardware components with the Nokia 3310 — including built-in calculator, stopwatch and reminder function. The five pre-installed games were the same as on the Nokia 3330 (the WAP version of the 3310).
Nokryptia — Nokia's Music DRM
To transfer MP3 files to the 5510, Nokia required the included software to convert files to LSE format via a system called "Nokryptia" — working by prefixing the MP3 file with a special header, one of the earliest forms of digital rights management (DRM) on a mobile phone.
The 5510 for collectors: the "missing link" between traditional Nokia feature phones and the entire XpressMusic line that arrived five years later. Often underrated piece of history.
👉 View Nokia 5510 available at Infosate
6. Nokia 5300 XpressMusic — The Start of the Music Line (2006)
Announced: 26 September 2006 | Predecessor: Nokia 3220
First model to officially carry the "XpressMusic" branding — the line Nokia would use for years for music-oriented phones.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Form factor | Slide-up |
| CPU | ARM9 Vertex |
| Storage | microSD up to 2 GB |
| Display | QVGA 240×320 px, 2", 262,144 colours |
| Camera | 1.3 MP, 8x digital zoom |
| Bluetooth | A2DP — wireless audio |
Dedicated music keys on both sides of the phone.
7. Nokia 5310 XpressMusic — The "Musical 6300" (2007)
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Thickness | 9.9 mm |
| Music battery life | Up to 18 hours |
| Audio jack | 3.5mm |
| Camera | 2 MP |
Described by Nokia as "fun and funky" at launch.
8. Nokia 5700 XpressMusic — Transition to Symbian (2007)
Available: April 2007 | Predecessor: Nokia 3250
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| OS | Symbian OS 9.2, S60 3rd Edition FP1 |
| CPU | ARM11 @ 369 MHz |
| Storage | microSD up to 32 GB |
| Display | 240×320 px, 2.2", TFT 16M colours |
9. Nokia 5800 XpressMusic — First Mass-Market Touchscreen Nokia (2008)
Announced: 2 October 2008, London | Available: November 2008 | Discontinued: 2010
The most historically significant model in the 5000 Series — the first Nokia on S60 platform to support touchscreen, presented just months after the iPhone 3G.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| OS | Symbian OS 9.4, S60 5th Edition — first touch-enabled S60 edition |
| Initial firmware | V60.0.003 |
| CPU | ARM11 @ 434 MHz (after firmware V20) |
| RAM | 128 MB SDRAM |
| User storage | 81 MB |
| Expandable storage | microSDHC up to 16 GB (32 GB unofficial), 8 GB card included |
| Display | nHD 640×360 px, 3.2", 16:9, 16.7M colours |
| Camera | 3.2 MP Carl Zeiss with autofocus and dual LED flash |
| Networks | GSM, EGPRS, WCDMA, HSDPA, A-GPS |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 2.0 EDR/A2DP, WLAN 802.11b/g, USB Micro-B 2.0 |
| Sensors | Touchscreen with Nokia Dynamic Intelligent Layouts, proximity sensor, accelerometer |
| Battery | BL-5J, 1320 mAh |
| Stylus | Integrated into the phone body |
"Touch It" — The Launch Campaign
Nokia's launch campaign for the 5800 was literally called "Touch It" — an explicit invitation to try the touchscreen with your own hands. It was "technically not the first time" Nokia did touch (the 7710 of 2004 already had it, but it was a niche model) — but the 5800 was the first truly mass-market one.
Nokia Dynamic Intelligent Layouts
The 5800's input system was called "Nokia Dynamic Intelligent Layouts" — the touchscreen interface adapted dynamically to context (virtual keyboard, numeric keypad, photo gallery gestures).
The Integrated Stylus
Unlike many touch smartphones of the period, the 5800 included a stylus built into the phone body — extendable for more precise control, particularly useful for handwriting and selecting small interface elements on the S60 5th Edition, not yet optimised for finger touch.
Syncing with Nokia OVI Suite
The 5800 synced with PC via Nokia OVI Suite — the software that would accompany Nokia's final Symbian years before the transition to Windows Phone.
👉 View Nokia 5800 XpressMusic available at Infosate
10. Nokia 5530 XpressMusic — The Third Touch Nokia (2009)
Announced: 15 June 2009 | Available: August 2009 | Predecessor: Nokia 5220 | Third touch Nokia after 5800 and N97
Positioned between the Nokia 5230 (entry) and 5800 (top) — more compact and slimmer than both, with dual stereo speakers, but without 3G or GPS to keep costs down.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| OS | Symbian OS 9.4, S60 5th Edition, firmware 40.0.003 |
| CPU | ARM11 @ 434 MHz |
| Storage | 70 MB internal + microSDHC up to 16 GB (32 GB unofficial), 4 GB card included |
| Display | nHD 640×360 px, 2.9", 16:9, 16.7M colours |
| Camera | 3.2 MP autofocus, monoflash LED |
| 3G/GPS | No — omitted to reduce cost |
| Touchscreen | Resistive with Dynamic Intelligent Layouts |
| Dimensions | 104×49×13 mm |
| Battery | BL-4U, 1000 mAh |
11. Nokia 5000 Series Secret Codes — Complete List
Series 20/40 Models (5110, 5210, 5100, 5510, 5300, 5310, 5530)
| Code | Function |
|---|---|
*#06# |
IMEI |
*#0000# |
Firmware version |
*#92702689# |
Warranty Data — serial, production date, call hours |
*#7780# |
Reset settings |
*#7370# |
Full reset ⚠️ |
*#67705646# |
Remove operator logo |
*3370# / #3370# |
EFR on/off |
Symbian S60 Models (5700, 5800, 5530)
| Code | Function |
|---|---|
*#06# |
IMEI |
*#0000# |
Software version |
*#7780# |
Reset to factory settings |
*#67705646# |
Clears LCD display (operator logo) |
*#2820# |
Bluetooth device address |
*#746025625# |
SIM clock allowed status |
*#62209526# |
WLAN MAC address — WiFi devices only (5800, 5530) |
#pw+1234567890+1# |
Shows SIM restrictions |
*#92702689# |
Secret menu — serial number and other info |
Physical key format (5700, 5800, 5530 — S60): power off → hold green + * + 3 → power on while holding → release at Nokia logo → enter security code (default 12345)
12. Complete 5000 Series Comparison
| Model | Year | OS | Display | Camera | Audio | Touch | Innovation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5110 | 1998 | Series 20 | Mono | No | No | No | Xpress-on covers |
| 5210 | 2001 | Series 20 | Mono, orange backlight | No | No | No | First waterproof |
| 5100 | 2002 | Series 20 | 128×128, 4096 col | No | No | No | Rubber casing |
| 5510 | 2001 | Proprietary | 84×48 mono | No | MP3/WAV/FM | No | First Nokia MP3 |
| 5300 XM | 2006 | Series 40 3rd FP2 | QVGA 262K col | 1.3 MP | MP3, A2DP | No | XpressMusic line begins |
| 5310 XM | 2007 | Series 40 | — | 2 MP | 18h music | No | 9.9mm, "musical 6300" |
| 5700 XM | 2007 | S60 3rd FP1 | QVGA TFT 16M | 2 MP | A2DP | No | Move to Symbian |
| 5800 XM | 2008 | S60 5th | nHD 640×360, 3.2" | 3.2 MP Zeiss AF | A2DP | Yes — first S60 touch | 3G+GPS+WiFi+touch |
| 5530 XM | 2009 | S60 5th | nHD 640×360, 2.9" | 3.2 MP AF | A2DP | Yes (resistive) | 3rd touch, compact |
13. Nokia 5000 Series Collector Value 2026
| Model | Good condition | Mint with box |
|---|---|---|
| Nokia 5110 | €20-40 | €50-100 |
| Nokia 5110 + Silver Bells/Snowflake 1998 covers | €60-130 | €150-300 |
| Nokia 5210 | €25-50 | €60-120 |
| Nokia 5100 | €15-30 | €40-70 |
| Nokia 5510 | €40-90 | €100-200 |
| Nokia 5300 XpressMusic | €15-30 | €40-70 |
| Nokia 5310 XpressMusic | €15-30 | €40-70 |
| Nokia 5700 XpressMusic | €20-40 | €50-90 |
| Nokia 5800 XpressMusic | €30-65 | €80-150 |
| Nokia 5530 XpressMusic | €20-40 | €50-90 |
Most valuable models:
- Nokia 5110 with 1998 limited edition covers (Silver Bells, Snowflake) — design history pieces, very rare with original packaging
- Nokia 5510 — the "missing link" between feature phone and XpressMusic, underrated by collectors
- Nokia 5210 — the only Nokia with orange backlight, distinctive rugged design
- Nokia 5800 XpressMusic — first mass-market touch Nokia, growing historical importance
14. How to Check a Used Nokia 5000 Series Phone
Series 20/40 models (5110, 5210, 5100, 5510, 5300, 5310):
*#06#+*#0000#— IMEI and firmware*#92702689#— life timer and serial- 5210/5100: check rubber casing integrity — cracks indicate material aging
- 5510: test full QWERTY keyboard + verify music player and FM radio
- 5110: check Xpress-on cover mechanism — should click precisely into place
Symbian S60 models (5700, 5800, 5530):
*#06#+*#0000#*#92702689#— life timer- 5800/5530: touchscreen test — tap all corners of screen for uniform response
- 5800/5530:
*#62209526#for WiFi MAC - 5800: verify integrated stylus is present and extends/retracts correctly
- 5800: test GPS with Nokia Maps outdoors (5800 only — 5530 has no GPS)
Original Nokia 5000 Series at Infosate
At Infosate you'll find a selection of original Nokia 5000 Series phones — 5110, 5210, 5510, 5300, 5310, 5700, 5800 XpressMusic and other models from the range, all verified before shipping.