Nokia 130: Why the humble phone still stands out in the smartphone era

Microsoft has just launched the Nokia 130 at Rs 1,649. In an age when we’re engulfed in smartphones, phablets and tablets that generally come in at prices north of Rs 20,000, it’s interesting to note that the humble feature phone is still an important part of phone manufacturers’ strategies.

At a shade under 70 grams and well under palm sized, and with capabilities that allow it to run only a handful of basic tasks, one wonders why these kinds of phones still continue to be launched. The reasoning is actually airtight: these phones embody a long-lost need that seems that have disappeared from the way products are designed these days: the ability to do a spectacular job of running a specific number of tasks, versus the ability to do an average job of running an innumerable variety of tasks. Specialization versus multi-tasking.

The specifications of this phone speak for itself: a built-in flashlight, a microSD card with support up to 32GB (making it one of the most ubiquitous music players out there), FM support, and a rated standby time of upto 864 hours (that’s 36 days). And given that it’s built like a little plastic brick, it would be nothing if not immensely resilient.

So would this be your primary phone? It shouldn’t be. Not if your daily communication and information lifeline involves the likes of Whatsapp, Facebook or a host of other apps. But here’s an ultra-reliable backup phone that’s bound to be around long after your smartphone du jour packs up.

While many would scoff at the thought of buying a phone such as this today, the feature phone is clearly still alive and kicking.

Read More: Microsoft launches Nokia 130 for Rs 1,649 in India