This legendary Nokia phone is being brought back to life in 2026

Most of us have put our outdated Symbian telephones away and forgotten about them, however a brand new customized firmware venture known as Reborn is bringing these traditional units back to life.

Back in 2010, the Nokia N8 stood out for its {hardware}. It was a “touchscreen monoblock” with a robust 12MP Carl Zeiss digital camera and a Xenon flash that might outperform many trendy digital camera telephones. Nonetheless, it was saddled with Symbian, an OS initially designed for buttons and keyboards, not fingers.

When iPhone and Android began to take over, Nokia responded with Nokia Belle, a more moderen consumer interface. Sadly, by the point it was prepared, the replace servers had been already shutting down. If you happen to choose up an N8 now, you’ll doubtless discover it gradual, outdated, and stuffed with damaged app hyperlinks.

Now, greater than fifteen years later, the developer group has stepped in. The brand new ROM fixes the principle issues of the unique phone. The ROM is based mostly on Nokia Belle, the final main model of Symbian Nokia ever launched.

The builders have additionally added a working, up to date app retailer. This change turns the N8 from a collector’s merchandise right into a phone you might truly use day by day, lastly letting the {hardware} present what it may possibly do.

The video above walks by means of placing collectively a working N8 and putting in the brand new software program. The outcomes are spectacular: the interface runs easily, and the well-known digital camera is prepared to use.

You additionally get up to date HTTPS signing certificates, that are important for shopping in the present day’s net on an outdated gadget. Better of all for tinkerers, the replace removes Symbian’s strict signing guidelines, so you may set up apps with out the standard hassles.

In order for you to do that, make certain to have a backup plan. Latest initiatives by creators like Janus Cycle present that Home windows 10 drivers can conflict with outdated Nokia flashing instruments, generally inflicting a BSOD (Blue Display screen of Demise) and a briefly unusable phone. You’ll want persistence and a few restoration expertise to succeed.

Hold in thoughts that {hardware} longevity is the ultimate hurdle. Many N8s have worn-out cameras or bent SIM pins. Nonetheless, these telephones are powerful, with Torx screws and a battery you may nearly exchange your self. You’ll be able to usually use elements from one other N8 to construct a completely working phone.