Nokia 1616

Nokia 1616

Nokia 1616 with keypad showing Chinese base symbols
Manufacturer	Nokia
Model	1616-2: RH-125 1616-2b: RH-126 1616-2c: RH-129
Compatible networks	GSM 850/1900 EGSM 900/1800
Availability by country	Philippines, India, United States
Predecessor	Nokia 1661 Nokia 1600
Form factor	candybar
Dimensions	107 x 45 x 15 mm
Weight	78.55 g (with battery)
Operating system	Series 30
Battery	Removable, BL-5CB 800mAh 3.7V 3.0Wh • Standby: 22.5 days (540 h) • Talk time: 8.52 hours 2.0mm connector for Nokia AC-3 or compatible charger
Data inputs	keypad
Display	1.8" TFT, 128x160 px, 65K colors
Sound	• Speakerphone; • 3.5mm 4-pin TRRS socket for headset (Nokia WH-102); Supports 3-pin TRS for standard headphones (then audio out only)
Other	FM radio (requires headset) Flashlight
Development status	discontinued

Nokia 1616 is an affordable ultrabasic GSM mobile phone from Nokia announced on 4 November 2009 and released in 2010 for developing countries and budget users for a suggested price of €24 before taxes and excluding subsidies (SIM-free).

The device's main non-phone features are flashlight at the top of the device and an FM radio. The radio requires a headset or headphones in lieu of an antenna to function, and can work in the background, thereby providing access to other phone tasks without having to turn it off.

The device has a color display with scratch-proof display glass, a dust-proof keypad, and comes in Black, Dark Gray, Dark Blue, and Dark Red colors.

In addition to the phone, the battery, and the Nokia AC-3 compact charger, the original packaging also includes a Nokia WH-102 stereo headset.

The Series 30-based handset has support for multiple phonebooks, and its memory can hold up to 500 contacts in addition to the amount offered in a SIM card. Each contact can be assigned three telephone numbers. SMS storage is up to 250 messages.

Other functions include a speaking clock (accessible through the * button with a clock symbol) combined with an alarm clock, calendar, reminder, basic calculator, converter, timer and stopper, and a spreadsheet-like expenses ledger for budgeting.

Models for emerging markets included the SMS-based Nokia Life Tools subscription information service, which utilized services, such as:

Nokia 1616 with Nokia Life Tools was presented on January 8, 2010 by then-CEO of Nokia Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo at his CES 2010 keynote in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Damien McFerran at CNET UK praised the phone for its dustproof keypad, FM radio, and flashlight. Special mention was given to good battery life, a standard 3.5mm headphone jack (earlier Nokia phones used a 2.5mm connector), and inclusion of headphones in the packaging, which McFerran pointed out is something that other manufacturers' budget phones packaging did not include.

In a May, 2010 guest opinion published in the German , Swiss IT author Roman Hanhart weighed the pros and cons of having a smartphone and a basic phone. Hanhart compared the dismal battery life of his SIM-locked 800-franc HTC Dream (on Android 1.5) and the need to be on-demand online — versus the two weeks' battery life using his Nokia 1616 that he ordered for a total of 44 francs from a webshop (delivery price included; approx. retail price 38 SFr.), and his sense of liberty with a basic phone, wherein he could attain the level of reachability he wanted without having to worry about his phone collecting information on him.