The iconic Nokia N8, once one of the most desired phones of its era, is finding new life more than a decade after its release. First launched in October 2010, the handset was widely seen as a dream device for many young users, much like today’s flagship smartphones.
At the time, the Nokia N8 carried a hefty price tag of around Rs52,000 in Pakistan, placing it among the premium phones of its generation.
Now, the classic Symbian device is being revived through a custom software called ‘Reborn’.
The project, led by an active developer community, aims to restore the old Symbian phone and make it usable once again. For many who had long forgotten their early touchscreen devices, the move brings back memories of a phone that once stood at the centre of the smartphone race.
A phone ahead of its time
The Nokia N8 made headlines in 2010 for its strong hardware. It featured a sleek touchscreen monoblock design and a powerful 12-megapixel Carl Zeiss camera with Xenon flash, a setup that rivalled many modern smartphones of that period. The device was praised for its build quality and camera performance, setting a high standard in mobile photography at the time.
However, the phone’s downfall came with its operating system. Symbian, originally built for keypad phones, struggled to adapt to the touchscreen era. As Apple and Android devices quickly gained ground, Nokia attempted to respond with Nokia Belle, an improved interface. But by the time it arrived, support servers had begun shutting down, leaving many devices slow, outdated and filled with broken app links.
More than 15 years later, developers have stepped in with a new ROM based on Nokia Belle, the final Symbian version released by Nokia. The updated firmware fixes many of the original issues and introduces a working modernised app store, turning what had become a collector’s item into a usable device once again.
A recent video circulating online shows a rebuilt Nokia N8 running the new software smoothly, with its camera fully operational. The footage has drawn strong interest from technology enthusiasts and nostalgic fans alike.
Still, those attempting the revival are advised to proceed carefully. Some reports suggest that older Nokia flashing tools may conflict with Windows 10 drivers, potentially causing system crashes. In addition, ageing hardware could be a challenge, although the phone’s design allows parts to be swapped to create a fully working unit.
