Clicky

HMD Adds an AI Button to Four New Nokia Feature Phones

If you buy something from a link in this article, we may earn a commission. Learn more

Nokia 210 4G

The entire appeal of a dumb phone is that it leaves the noise behind, no apps, no feeds, no assistant nagging for your attention. So it’s a little strange that HMD’s four newest Nokia feature phones ship with a dedicated AI button sitting right in the middle of the keypad.

Price: TBD
Where to Buy: HMD



HMD launched the Nokia 200 4G, Nokia 210 4G, Nokia 215 4G 2nd Edition, and Nokia 235 4G 2nd Edition in early July, and all four share the same headline trick. Press the AI button, speak a command, and the phone handles a basic task or answers a simple question without you touching a single menu. It’s a smartphone idea grafted onto a phone built to be anything but.

Add The Gadgeteer on Google Add The Gadgeteer as a preferred source to see more of our coverage on Google.

ADD US ON GOOGLE

The Four Phones and What They Share

The lineup splits into two pairs. The Nokia 200 4G and 210 4G are the compact keypad models, while the Nokia 215 4G 2nd Edition and 235 4G 2nd Edition step up to bigger screens, with the 235 carrying a 2.8-inch display. HMD calls the 200 4G its first feature phone with a front-facing camera, which is what makes video calling possible on a keypad phone.

NOKIA 200 4G




Under the shells, the four are close cousins that all run HMD’s S30+ software and carry a 1,450mAh battery. Each one also layers in modern conveniences, including USB-C charging, Bluetooth 5.0, and FM radio, plus 4G that powers Xpress chat video calls and HMD’s Cloud Phone Service.

What the AI Button Does

The button sits dead center on the D-pad, and one press wakes a voice assistant. HMD says you can use it to make calls, set alarms and reminders, turn on the torch, or open the camera, all by talking instead of tapping through menus.

Ask it a question and it can also serve up quick answers, simple recipes, and common foreign-language phrases. For the audience HMD is chasing, the pitch makes some sense. Someone whose feature phone is the only connected device at home can use voice shortcuts to cut through menu layers that are slow on a numeric keypad.

Nokia 235 4G (2026)




Where the AI Button Gets Complicated

Here’s the catch that undercuts the whole idea. HMD’s own spec pages confirm the AI assistant runs free for a 180-day trial, then becomes a paid add-on. Worse for the target buyer, you have to set up and pay for that subscription on a separate smartphone.

That’s an odd ask for a device people buy to get away from smartphones, since setting up the subscription requires one anyway. HMD is rolling the wider AI push out from India first, working with local partners, before a phased international release later in the year.

What Else These Phones Offer

Strip away the AI talk and these are HMD’s most capable feature phones yet. Video calling is the standout, handled through the Xpress chat app over 4G, and it even works with contacts using the same app on a smartphone.

The Nokia 200 4G, 215 4G 2nd Edition, and 235 4G 2nd Edition carry front cameras to make those calls happen. HMD is also building a digital wallet into its 2026 feature phone plans, aimed first at India’s remittance market. That feature isn’t the story on these four models, but it signals where the company wants basic phones to go next.




Nokia 215 4G 2nd Edition

Price and Where to Buy

HMD has been quiet on exact pricing for the full lineup, and regional availability is still filling in. These sit in classic budget feature-phone territory, so don’t expect them to cost much, but the ongoing AI subscription is what will decide the real value. Check HMD’s site for the price and on-sale date in your region before you buy.

If a simpler phone is the goal, our best dumb phones guide is a useful starting point.

Price: TBD
Where to Buy: HMD




The Bottom Line

The AI button is a clever headline, but it’s also the most confusing thing about these phones. Once the free window closes, a paid assistant you manage from a smartphone is a strange fit for a Nokia keypad phone. Look past it, though, and the Nokia 200 4G, 210 4G, 215 4G 2nd Edition, and 235 4G 2nd Edition are solid, affordable feature phones with USB-C, video calling, and long battery life, and that’s reason enough to consider one.


Frequently Asked Questions

Which phones are in HMD’s new Nokia lineup?
Four models: the Nokia 200 4G, Nokia 210 4G, Nokia 215 4G 2nd Edition, and Nokia 235 4G 2nd Edition. All four are 4G feature phones with a dedicated AI assistant button.

What can the AI button do?
Press it and speak a command to make a call, set an alarm, turn on the torch, or open the camera. HMD says it can also answer basic questions and help with recipes and simple foreign-language phrases.

Is the AI assistant free?
HMD says it’s free for a 180-day trial, then shifts to a paid subscription you set up from a smartphone. HMD hasn’t laid out full pricing, so confirm the terms in your region.




Do these phones do video calls?
Yes. They support video calling through the Xpress chat app over 4G, and the Nokia 200 4G, 215 4G 2nd Edition, and 235 4G 2nd Edition include front cameras for it.

How much do they cost?
HMD hasn’t announced full pricing, but these fall in budget feature-phone territory. Watch HMD’s site for regional pricing and availability.



Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *