Hey folks! I'm looking to create a custom dumb phone that can make calls and send texts. My plan is to build a new circuit board that fits inside the shell of a Nokia 3310 so I can use it daily. I'm mainly good with software, so I could really use some help with the hardware side of things. I want to reuse the original screen, microphone, and speaker from the 3310, and most importantly, I aim to make this phone capable of 4G or even 5G. Any advice?
4 Answers
Honestly, have you ever opened up a cell phone? It's far from a hobbyist level project. Making a cell phone usually requires a team of engineers with electrical degrees. Just a heads-up!
Have you thought about re-shelling a modern 4G Nokia 3310 or an 8210 into the old 3310 case? It might save you some serious headaches while still giving you that classic look.
Designing a new cellphone main board is quite challenging, maybe a 4.8 out of 5 on the difficulty scale, especially if you primarily work in software. These boards usually require a team of experts who have access to detailed chip data. One option could be finding an existing 4G module and adapting it to your replica of the 3310 board along with a suitable CPU.
LOL, good luck with that! Most chip manufacturers won't even talk to you unless you're a recognized business needing bulk purchases.