HMD Global looks like it’s about to revive one of Nokia’s beloved old budget series, the Asha line. A new certification listing popped up on HMD’s own website for the “HMD TA-1779 (Type HMD Asha 305)”. The name alone suggests they’re bringing back that classic Asha vibe but updated for today’s world.
The original Nokia Asha 305 launched way back in July 2012. It was a basic touchscreen phone running Nokia’s lightweight S40 operating system (definitely not Android). With its tiny 3-inch 400×240 display, 2MP camera, almost nonexistent 32MB of RAM, and very limited storage, it was never going to blow anyone away on paper. But it was cheap, compact, had a removable battery, microSD support, and a headphone jack, exactly what a lot of people needed at the time.
This new HMD Asha 305 won’t be a straight re-release. The certification already hints at an LTE modem, meaning it’ll have proper 4G connectivity. So it’s shaping up to be a modern successor rather than a pure nostalgia trip.
If you want a good idea of what to expect, just look at the HMD Touch 4G that came out in late 2025. It’s a tiny 3.2-inch QVGA touchscreen phone powered by a Unisoc T127 chipset, with just 64MB RAM and 128MB internal storage (expandable via microSD). It runs a custom lightweight “Touch” operating system, has basic cameras (2MP rear with flash, VGA front), dual SIM, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, and a removable 1,950mAh battery. The whole thing weighs around 100g and feels incredibly pocketable. Battery life is reportedly excellent for light use, and it even has IP52 splash resistance.
The Asha 305 is expected to follow a very similar recipe: a simple, pocketable phone that lets you step away from constant smartphone distractions while still covering the basics like calling, texting, and light media use.
HMD has clearly found a sweet spot in this space lately. They’ve been successfully reviving old Nokia favorites (like the 3210) with 4G upgrades, and there’s real demand for these kinds of devices. Some people want a secondary phone, others are tired of smartphone overload. Certification progress suggests the “HMD Asha 305” shouldn’t be too far off.
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(Source: HMD)
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