Nokia 105 (2024) UK Buying Guide: Is It Still Worth Buying?

The Nokia 105 (2024) is still worth buying in 2026 if you want a cheap, tough phone for calls and texts and your SIM is on EE, O2 or Vodafone, or a provider that uses one of them. It costs from £29.99 (checked 5 October 2026), runs for up to 18 days on standby by HMD's figures, and has the physical keypad, torch, FM radio and Snake that people buy a Nokia 105 for.

The biggest limitation is the network. This Nokia 105 feature phone is 2G only, so it can't make normal calls or send texts on Three, and the UK's 2G networks begin closing from 2029. It suits a back-up phone, a festival or work-site handset, a digital detox or an older relative who only calls. If you need WhatsApp, use Three, or want a phone for many years, look at the 4G version instead.

Nokia 105 (2024) at a glance: should you buy one?

• Best for: EE, O2 and Vodafone customers (including giffgaff, Tesco Mobile, Sky Mobile, BT Mobile, Lebara and VOXI) who want a calls-and-texts phone for roughly the next two to three years, at the lowest price in our Nokia range.
• Choose something else when: your SIM is from Three, you need WhatsApp or banking apps, or you want the phone to keep working after 2G closes. The Nokia 105 4G (2024) at £39.99 covers the last two of those and is the only one of our Nokias that can work on Three.
• Check before buying: which network your provider uses, whether you need two SIM slots (the listing says single or dual SIM depending on the unit supplied), and whether your current SIM is still the larger mini-SIM size or can be swapped for one.

Nokia 105 (2024) specs and buying facts

The first table lists HMD's published specifications for the 2024 model; the second shows what our listing confirms about the phone you receive.

Here is what The Tech Gadgets lists for this phone.

What does the Nokia 105 (2024) do, and what can't it do?

The Nokia 105 (2024) makes calls, sends and receives texts, plays the FM radio, lights a torch and runs Snake. It stores up to 2,000 contacts and, with a microSD card, plays MP3s and records voice memos. It doesn't run WhatsApp, Facebook, maps, banking apps or any app store, and it has no camera listed.

That short list is the point. The phone runs HMD's own simple operating system rather than Android, so there is nothing to update, no notifications pulling you back in and very little to go wrong. The keypad is physical, and HMD describes the 2.0-inch screen as a step up from the 1.77-inch display on earlier Nokia 105 versions, which helps when reading texts or scrolling through contacts.

The trade-off is equally plain: no camera, no video calling and texting on the number keys. If you're replacing a smartphone, expect to keep it at home for anything that needs an app, such as WhatsApp groups or banking.

Will the Nokia 105 work on my network?

Yes on EE, O2 and Vodafone, and on providers that use their networks, because all three still run 2G. No on Three: Three has never had a 2G network, so the Nokia 105 (2024) can't make normal calls or send texts on Three, SMARTY or iD Mobile SIMs. Only 999 calls can roam onto other networks. Check which network your provider uses before ordering.

Ofcom's consumer guidance (last updated 10 August 2026) names which smaller providers use which network. Use this table to match your SIM to the right answer.

If you're not sure which network sits behind your SIM, ask your provider; smaller providers follow their host network's switch-off timing. The phone is unlocked, so any EE, O2 or Vodafone-based SIM will do; our explainer on what unlocked and SIM-free mean covers the detail. Two other 2G limits apply: no mobile data, and, according to gov.uk, no government Emergency Alerts.

How long will a 2G Nokia 105 keep working in the UK?

On current announcements, a Nokia 105 (2024) should keep working on EE and O2 until their 2G switch-offs begin in 2029, and on Vodafone until its phased switch-off in spring 2030. Every UK operator has confirmed 2G will close by 2033 at the latest, and individual networks can go earlier. Plan on roughly two and a half years on EE and O2, and a little longer on Vodafone.

From 5 October 2026, EE's start date of May 2029 is about two years and seven months away, with O2 a few months later. The Government's voluntary 2G switch-off charter, published in March 2026, commits networks to announcing dates at least three years ahead and to giving at least three months' notice of any earlier area trials. Ofcom's advice is direct: 2G-only devices will need replacing with at least a 4G device. See Ofcom's 2G and 3G switch-off page for the latest position.

None of this makes the 105 (2024) a bad buy. At £29.99, two and a half years of use works out at about £12 a year (£29.99 ÷ 2.5), but it isn't a phone to keep in a drawer for emergencies into the 2030s.

How long does the Nokia 105 battery last, and how does it charge?

HMD rates the Nokia 105 (2024) at up to 18 days on standby and up to 10 hours of talk time from its 1,000mAh removable battery, both measured in laboratory conditions. Real use with calls, texts, the radio and the torch will be shorter. It charges through a micro USB port.

HMD's spec sheet lists a micro USB charger in the box, though its user guide carries European wording saying no charger is included, so contents can vary by market. Read standby figures as a comparison, not a promise. A phone hunting for a weak signal in a basement or at a remote festival site drains faster than one near a mast.

The removable battery is a real practical advantage. HMD notes that every battery loses capacity over time, and here you can swap the battery rather than the phone. Micro USB is older than the USB-C port on most new phones, so keep a micro USB cable with the phone.

Is the Nokia 105 dual SIM?

It depends on the unit. HMD's specification lists a mini-SIM slot, and our listing says the Nokia 105 (2024) is supplied as single or dual SIM depending on the unit. If you need two SIM slots, for example a work number and a personal number, ask the team which version is in stock before you order.

The SIM size matters too. The Nokia 105 (2024) takes a mini-SIM, the larger standard size. If your current SIM has been snapped down to nano size for a smartphone, ask your provider for a replacement in the larger size or a multi-size card.

Who is the Nokia 105 (2024) for?

It suits anyone who needs reliable calls and texts on EE, O2 or Vodafone and values battery life, toughness and a low price over apps. Typical buyers want a back-up phone, a festival or camping phone, a work-site handset, a break from smartphone notifications, or a simple phone for an older relative who only makes calls.

• A back-up phone: long standby and a low price make it easy to keep in a car or bag for the day your smartphone breaks.
• Festivals and camping: a cheap phone you won't mourn if it's lost, with a torch for the walk back to the tent.
• Work sites and warehouses: physical keys and an IP52 rating when new, which covers dust and light dripping water, not rain-soaking or a puddle.
• A digital detox: calls, texts and the radio, with nothing to scroll.
• An older relative who only calls: physical keys and, per HMD's user guide, an option to make the text bigger, though for anyone you want to stay connected beyond 2029 our guide to simple phones for older people recommends the 4G model.

Who should not buy the Nokia 105 (2024)?

Skip it if you're on Three or a provider using Three's network, if you need WhatsApp or any app, or if you want the phone to work beyond the 2G switch-offs in 2029 and 2030. It also isn't a specialist senior phone: there's no SOS button listed and HMD doesn't list hearing-aid compatibility.

If you still want a simple keypad phone, the Nokia 105 4G (2024) runs on 4G, so it can keep working as 2G closes, provided 4G Calling works on your network. If WhatsApp, video calls or banking apps are the sticking point, a budget smartphone is the honest answer, and our round-up of Samsung Galaxy phones under £150 is the place to start.

Nokia 105 price: is the 105 4G worth £10 more?

For most buyers, yes. The Nokia 105 4G (2024) costs £39.99 against £29.99 for the Nokia 105 (2024), so the step-up is £39.99 − £29.99 = £10.00 (prices checked 5 October 2026). That £10 buys 4G, so the phone is built to keep working after 2G closes and is the only one of our Nokias that can be used on Three, plus USB-C, Bluetooth and a larger 2.4-inch screen.

Here is how the three basic Nokias we sell line up on price.

The Nokia 106 (2023) is a sideways move: also 2G only, with a smaller 1.8-inch screen, but a longer 22-day standby figure from HMD and a radio that works without a headset. Our side-by-side comparison of the 105, 106 and 105 4G sets every spec next to each other.

Choose the Nokia 105 (2024) when you're on EE, O2 or Vodafone, the phone is for a defined job over the next couple of years, and the lowest price matters most. Choose the Nokia 105 4G instead when you're on Three or the phone is for someone who will depend on it into the 2030s. Our full Nokia 105 4G (2024) guide explains 4G Calling (VoLTE), which calls need once 2G has gone and which Three needs today. It isn't confirmed for our international units on any UK network, so ask the team and check with your network before ordering.

Buying a sealed Nokia 105 from The Tech Gadgets

Our Nokia 105 (2024) is Brand New, sealed, unlocked, international stock. That means the box printing and contents follow the market the phone was made for, so the charger plug may not be a UK type. If it isn't, a standard UK USB mains adapter and a micro USB cable do the job. Nokia phones are made by HMD Global under licence from Nokia, and HMD's UK website doesn't list this model. Our guide to brand-new international stock explains the difference from refurbished phones.

The product page and returns policy list a 12-month warranty from The Tech Gadgets, starting on delivery, covering faults that develop in normal use (not accidental or liquid damage). The warranty policy lists battery defects and reduced capacity as exclusions, but the Consumer Rights Act 30-day right to reject still applies, so a faulty battery in the first 30 days is covered by that right. You also get change-of-mind returns within 30 days if unused and complete (you pay return postage), plus your 14-day right to cancel. The full terms are in our refund and warranty policy.

Orders placed by 3pm Monday to Friday are dispatched the same day from Manchester. Standard delivery takes 1–3 working days and is free on orders of £50 or more, otherwise £4.99. A single Nokia 105 at £29.99 is under that threshold, so it costs £29.99 + £4.99 = £34.98 delivered, while two phones (£29.99 × 2 = £59.98) qualify for free delivery. Special Delivery (next working day) is £9.99. The delivery and dispatch policy has the cut-off details.

What to check when your Nokia 105 arrives

• The box is sealed and the colour matches your order.
• The battery is in the box and the phone charges through its micro USB port.
• Your SIM is detected and you can make a test call and send a text. On a Three SIM it won't connect.
• The keypad, speaker, microphone, torch and radio all work. The radio may need headphones plugged in to act as an aerial; HMD doesn't state that this model's radio works without them.

If anything isn't right, contact us within 30 days so your right to reject applies.

Nokia 105 (2024) questions UK buyers ask

Where can I buy a Nokia 105 in the UK?

Many UK high-street and online retailers sell the Nokia 105, and The Tech Gadgets sells the 2024 model brand new, sealed and SIM-free from £29.99 (checked 5 October 2026). Wherever you buy, check the listing for three things: the 2024 model with the 2.0-inch screen, 2G only, and who provides the warranty. Ofcom advises checking which networks a phone supports before buying, especially from marketplaces or supermarkets.

How do I know it's the 2024 Nokia 105 and not an older one?

Look at the screen size and colours. HMD lists the 2024 model with a 2.0-inch display, which it describes as larger than the 1.77-inch screen on previous Nokia 105 versions, and in Blue, Purple and Black. Our listing is the Nokia 105 (2024) in those three colours. Older versions may still be on sale elsewhere at similar prices, and the name alone won't tell you which one you're getting.

Does the Nokia 105 work with WhatsApp?

No. The Nokia 105 (2024) is a feature phone that runs HMD's own simple software, not Android, so it can't install WhatsApp or any other app. It handles normal calls and SMS texts only. If you need WhatsApp for family groups, the realistic options are a budget smartphone, or keeping a smartphone at home on Wi-Fi for WhatsApp while the Nokia goes out with you for calls and texts.

Is the Nokia 105 blue the same phone as the black and purple?

Yes. The Blue, Purple and Black versions of the Nokia 105 (2024) share the same specifications and the same £29.99 price (checked 5 October 2026). You choose the colour on the product page. If you're buying two phones, for example for a couple, different colours stop them getting mixed up.

Can I use the Nokia 105 abroad?

Possibly, but don't rely on it. The phone uses the GSM 900 and 1800MHz bands used by many countries, yet Ofcom notes that 2G and 3G networks are being switched off around the world on different timetables, and a 2G-only phone can't connect where 2G has already closed. Check with your provider before travelling, and confirm that your plan includes roaming and what it costs.

Does the Nokia 105 (2024) have a camera?

No camera is listed in HMD's specifications for the Nokia 105 (2024), so plan on it having none. That can be a plus for workplaces with no-camera rules and for anyone on a digital detox. If you want to take the odd photo or scan a QR code, you'll need a smartphone, because none of our basic Nokias are built for that.

What happens to my Nokia 105 when 2G switches off?

Once your network's 2G service closes in your area, the Nokia 105 (2024) can no longer make calls or send texts on it, because it has no 4G. On current announcements that starts from May 2029 on EE, summer 2029 on O2 and spring 2030 on Vodafone, with 2033 the latest date for every network. Your provider will contact you before it affects you.

Verdict: buy the Nokia 105 (2024), or spend £10 more?

Buy the Nokia 105 (2024) if you're on EE, O2 or Vodafone and want the cheapest dependable calls-and-texts phone for a back-up, festivals, a work site or a break from your smartphone over the next couple of years. At £29.99 it does those jobs well, with long standby, physical keys and a removable battery.

Buy something else if you're on Three, need WhatsApp, or are choosing a phone for someone who will depend on it beyond 2029. For those buyers the Nokia 105 4G (2024) is the safer call at £10.00 more, and a budget smartphone is the right call if apps matter. You can compare every option in our mobile phones in stock.