Nokia 105 4G (2024) UK Guide: 4G Calling, Networks and Price

The Nokia 105 4G (2024) is the basic Nokia most UK buyers should choose in 2026. It runs on 4G as well as 2G, so it can carry on working after the UK's 2G networks start closing in 2029, and it is the only Nokia we sell that can be used on Three. It costs from £39.99 (checked 5 October 2026), with a 2.4-inch screen, USB-C charging, Bluetooth and HMD's rating of up to 15 days on standby.

The biggest limitation is 4G Calling (VoLTE). Once 2G has gone, and on Three today, a phone can only make calls if 4G Calling works for it on your network. HMD advertises HD calling over 4G, but that isn't confirmed for our international units on any UK network, so ask the team and check with your network before ordering. And it is still a keypad phone: no WhatsApp, no apps.

Nokia 105 4G (2024): quick decision

• Best for: anyone who wants a simple 4G basic phone for calls and texts that isn't tied to 2G, including Three customers (once 4G Calling is confirmed), older relatives and people who'd rather buy once than replace a 2G phone in 2029.
• Choose something else when: you need WhatsApp, maps, banking apps or a camera. A budget smartphone fits better. If you only need a phone for the next couple of years on EE, O2 or Vodafone, the cheaper 2G Nokia 105 or 106 will do.
• Check before buying: that 4G Calling works for this phone on your network (a must on Three, SMARTY and iD Mobile), whether you need two SIM slots, and that your SIM is nano-size.

Nokia 105 4G (2024) specs and buying facts

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

This is what The Tech Gadgets lists for the phone.

Why does 4G matter on a basic phone now?

Because 3G has gone and 2G is next. Ofcom confirms all UK 3G networks are now switched off. EE begins closing 2G from May 2029, O2 from summer 2029 and Vodafone in spring 2030, and Three has never had 2G. After that, calls need a 4G or 5G phone with 4G Calling, so a 4G feature phone is the one with a future.

For years, a cheap Nokia was a cheap Nokia: any of them would make calls on any network. That changed when 3G closed, and it changes again as 2G closes. Ofcom's advice is plain: all 2G-only devices will need to be upgraded to at least 4G. The full timetable and the providers affected are on Ofcom's 2G and 3G switch-off guide.

The Government's 2G switch-off charter, published in March 2026, also lets networks trial closures in some areas earlier, with at least three months' notice. A 2G-only phone bought today therefore has a working life measured in a few years. The Nokia 105 4G (2024) isn't tied to those dates, which is why we recommend it for anyone who will depend on the phone, once 4G Calling is confirmed on their network.

What is 4G Calling (VoLTE), and does the Nokia 105 4G support it?

4G Calling, also called VoLTE, carries voice calls over the 4G network rather than 2G. HMD markets the Nokia 105 4G (2024) with HD calling over 4G, but it publishes no list of UK networks, and no EE, O2, Vodafone or Three device list we checked names this phone. For our international units, treat 4G Calling as unconfirmed.

The phone has the 4G hardware for it. Whether calls actually travel over 4G depends on the network switching the feature on for that handset and on the phone's software. Ofcom has warned that phones bought outside a network, especially less common models, can have trouble with 4G Calling because the handset and network implement the standard slightly differently. That is the real risk with an international-stock feature phone, and it is why we'd rather you check than assume.

In practice, 4G Calling matters in two situations. On Three and providers using Three's network, such as SMARTY and iD Mobile, it matters from day one, because there is no 2G or 3G to fall back on. On EE, O2 and Vodafone, it matters once 2G closes in your area. Until then, calls on those networks can use 2G.

Will the Nokia 105 4G work on EE, O2, Vodafone and Three?

On EE, O2 and Vodafone it will make calls today, using 2G for calls if 4G Calling isn't active, until those networks close 2G from 2029–30. On Three, SMARTY and iD Mobile it can only make calls if 4G Calling works, because Three has never had a 2G network. Check with your network before relying on it.

EE's own 2G and 3G switch-off page spells out the stakes: when 2G goes, a 4G phone that doesn't support 4G Calling loses mobile service completely. EE also says it can't guarantee that phones bought from third parties will support the feature. Providers that use EE, O2 or Vodafone, such as BT Mobile, giffgaff, Tesco Mobile, Lebara and VOXI, follow their host network's 2G timing.

How to check 4G Calling before you rely on it

Ask our team before ordering, then check with your network using its own tool: text HANDSET to 150 on EE, use Vodafone's IMEI checker, confirm you have an R15 SIM on O2, and ask Three, SMARTY or iD Mobile about device support. When the phone arrives, make a test call and watch that the 4G icon stays on.

1. Before ordering: tell us your network and how you'll use the phone. If you'll depend on 4G Calling, for example on Three, we'd rather answer that first.
2. On arrival: put your SIM in, check the phone shows 4G, and make a call. On EE, O2 or Vodafone, see whether the 4G icon stays on during the call or the phone drops to 2G. On Three-based networks, check the call connects at all.
3. If calls don't work as you need: contact us within 30 days. Your change-of-mind and Consumer Rights Act options are set out below.

The phone is unlocked, so it isn't tied to one network. Our explainer on buying an unlocked, SIM-free phone covers how that works with your existing SIM.

Nokia 105 4G (2024) specs reviewed: what they mean day to day

We haven't tested the phone hands-on, so this section explains what HMD's published specifications mean in use rather than offering a review.

Screen and keypad

The 2.4-inch QVGA screen is the largest of the three basic Nokias we sell, and its higher resolution makes text and contact names clearer than the 2G models' smaller QQVGA displays. HMD's user guide also includes an option to make the text bigger, which helps older users. The keypad is physical, with the classic Nokia layout.

Battery and charging

HMD quotes up to 15 days on standby from the 1,450mAh removable battery. That is shorter than the 2G Nokia 105 (2024) at 18 days and the Nokia 106 (2023) at 22 days, despite the bigger battery. A weak signal shortens any figure. The removable battery means a worn one can be swapped, and USB-C means the same cable as most current smartphones.

Bluetooth, radio and extras

Bluetooth 5.0 lets you pair a wireless headset or car kit, which the 2G models don't list. The FM radio works with or without a headset plugged in. There's a dual torch, Snake, an MP3 player and voice recorder (both need a microSD card) and room for 2,000 contacts. HMD also lists a Cloud Apps service for news, weather and video, but UK availability isn't confirmed and it would use mobile data.

Durability

HMD rates the European, Australian and New Zealand versions at IP54 and other markets at IP52. Ours is international stock, so assume IP52 or IP54 depending on market. Either way it resists dust and light splashes when new; it isn't waterproof, and liquid damage isn't covered by the warranty.

Is the Nokia 105 4G a smartphone? Can it run WhatsApp?

No. The Nokia 105 4G (2024) is a 4G feature phone, sometimes called a 4G dumb phone. It runs HMD's own simple software, not Android, so it can't install WhatsApp, Facebook, maps, banking apps or anything from an app store. It handles normal calls and SMS texts, plus the radio, music and Snake.

4G here is about keeping calls and texts working, not about the internet. If WhatsApp is the reason you're hesitating, a budget smartphone is the honest answer, and our best Samsung Galaxy phones under £150 guide is the place to start. If you're deliberately moving away from apps, our dumb phone guide explains how people handle WhatsApp groups and bank codes without a smartphone.

Nokia 105 4G vs Nokia 105 and 106: is it worth the extra?

For anyone who will rely on the phone beyond 2029, yes. The Nokia 105 4G (2024) costs £10.00 more than the Nokia 105 (2024) (£39.99 − £29.99) and £8.00 more than the Nokia 106 (2023) (£39.99 − £31.99), prices checked 5 October 2026. That buys 4G, a larger screen, USB-C and Bluetooth.

The 2G models still make sense for a defined, shorter job on EE, O2 or Vodafone: a festival phone, a work-site handset or a spare for the car. Our Nokia 105 (2024) buying guide covers that case, and the Nokia 105 vs 106 vs 105 4G comparison puts every spec side by side. HMD makes other Nokia 4G phones too, such as the Nokia 225 4G and the Nokia 2660 Flip 4G, but we don't sell them.

Choose the Nokia 105 4G when you're on Three, the phone is for someone who will depend on it into the 2030s, or you want USB-C and Bluetooth. Choose the Nokia 105 (2024) or Nokia 106 (2023) instead when you're on EE, O2 or Vodafone, need it for two years or less, and want to save £8 to £10.

Who should not buy the Nokia 105 4G?

Skip it if you need WhatsApp, video calls, maps, banking apps or a camera, because it can't run them. Don't buy it for Three, SMARTY or iD Mobile without first confirming 4G Calling works. It also isn't a specialist senior phone: HMD lists no SOS button and makes no hearing-aid compatibility claim.

It is also more than you need if the phone has a short, defined job on EE, O2 or Vodafone and will be retired before 2029; the 2G Nokia 105 (2024) at £29.99 does that for less.

Condition, stock origin and checks on arrival

Our Nokia 105 4G (2024) is Brand New, sealed, unlocked, international stock. Box printing and contents follow the market the phone was made for. HMD's box lists differ by market: the international list includes a charger, headset and USB-C cable, while its UK list for the HMD-branded version has neither charger nor headset. So contents vary, and the charger plug may not be a UK type. A standard UK USB adapter does the job. Our guide to what brand-new international stock means explains more.

For a phone where 4G Calling matters, international stock is the main thing to understand: network support for VoLTE can depend on the phone's software as well as its hardware. If you rely on 4G Calling on a particular network, ask the team before ordering.

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. 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. Read the refund and warranty policy for details.

Orders placed by 3pm Monday to Friday are dispatched the same day from Manchester. Standard delivery (1–3 working days) is free on orders of £50 or more, otherwise £4.99, so one phone costs £39.99 + £4.99 = £44.98 delivered; two phones (£39.99 × 2 = £79.98) ship free. Special Delivery (next working day) is £9.99. Cut-off details are in the shipping policy.

What to check when it arrives

• The box is sealed and the colour matches your order.
• The screen is the 2.4-inch size listed. A different phone, the Nokia 105 4G 2nd Edition, has a 1.8-inch screen and is sometimes sold under a similar name.
• Your nano-SIM is detected, the phone shows 4G, and a test call and text work. Note whether the 4G icon stays on during the call.
• The phone charges over USB-C, and the keypad, speaker, torch and radio work.

Nokia 105 4G (2024): buyer questions

Is the Nokia 105 4G sold SIM-free and unlocked?

Yes. We sell the Nokia 105 4G (2024) SIM-free and unlocked from £39.99 (checked 5 October 2026), with no contract or monthly plan. You add your own nano-SIM from any UK network. Being unlocked means it isn't tied to a network; it doesn't guarantee 4G Calling on every network, so check that separately if you're on Three or a Three-based provider.

Is the Nokia 105 4G dual SIM?

Possibly. HMD's user guide describes a second SIM slot, but its spec sheet and our listing state only that the phone takes a nano-SIM, and dual-SIM support can vary by market version. If you need two numbers on one phone, ask the team which version is in stock before you order.

Will the Nokia 105 4G work on giffgaff or Tesco Mobile?

Both use O2's network, according to Ofcom, so the phone will make calls on them today, using 2G for calls if needed. O2's 2G network starts closing in summer 2029. After that, calls need 4G Calling, and O2 says that requires an R15 SIM and a compatible device. Check with giffgaff or Tesco Mobile which SIM you have and whether this phone is supported.

Will the Nokia 105 4G receive Emergency Alerts?

We can't confirm it. Gov.uk says phones that don't run iOS or Android may receive Emergency Alerts, but there's no official confirmation for this model. Gov.uk is clear that phones connected to a 2G or 3G network won't receive them, which is another reason a 4G connection matters. Don't rely on any basic phone as your only source of emergency warnings.

Is the Nokia 105 4G waterproof?

No. HMD rates it IP54 in Europe, Australia and New Zealand and IP52 in other markets, both when new. Those ratings cover dust and light splashes or drips, not rain-soaking, a puddle or a dunk in water. Our stock is international, so assume IP52 or IP54 depending on market. Liquid damage isn't covered by the warranty.

Does the Nokia 105 4G have a camera?

No camera appears on HMD's spec sheet or in its user guide for the Nokia 105 4G (2024), so plan on it having none. One HMD overview page mentions a camera, but it also lists the wrong screen size and colours, so it looks like a copying error. If you need photos or QR codes, you'll need a smartphone.

Verdict: should you buy the Nokia 105 4G (2024)?

Yes, if you want a simple keypad phone for calls and texts that isn't tied to the 2G switch-off, and especially if it's for someone who will depend on it into the 2030s. At £39.99 it is the most future-proof basic Nokia we sell, with the biggest screen, USB-C and Bluetooth. Check 4G Calling with the team and your network first, and on Three don't skip that check.

Buy something else if you need WhatsApp or apps, where a budget smartphone is the right choice, or if the phone only needs to last a year or two on EE, O2 or Vodafone, where the 2G models save £8 to £10. You can compare everything in our range of mobile phones in stock.