Remember the Nokia 3310 from way back in 2000? This super-tough, bombproof handset is now the stuff of legend (well, memes). Drop that handset on the ground, and you worried about the concrete, not your screen.

Along with the durability, I loved the candy bar form factor of that old mobile device. It felt like the right shape for a phone, fitting well into both the hand and pocket. 

And then the iPhone landed, and every phone had to look the same -- and be a fragile slab of glass.

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Well, if you like the shape and the durability of the Nokia 3310, Blackview -- a name synonymous with rugged smartphones -- has a handset you might want to consider.

The moment I set eyes on theN6000 , I was taken back to those heady days at the turn of the millennium. This here is a modern take on a classic style. 

RECOMMENDS

Blackview N6000

A classic design brought up-to-date with an octa-core processor, 16GB of RAM, ruggedized design, and long battery life.

Blackview N6000 tech specs

• CPU: MTK Helio G99, Octa core, featuring 2 x Cortex-A76 @ 2.2GHz and 6 x Cortex-A55 @ 2.0GHz
• GPU: Arm Mali-G57 CM2
• OS: DokeOS based on Android 13
• Screen: 4.3-inch, 540 x 1200, 306 pixels-per-inch, with Corning Gorilla Glass 5
• Storage: 8GB RAM with 256GB of storage
• Cameras: 48MP rear, 16MP front
• Battery: 3380mAh, 18 days standby, charge in 90 minutes
• SIM: Dual SIM
• Navigation support: GPS, Glonass, Beidou, Galileo
• Other features: OTG, FM, NFC, Google Play
• Ratings: MIL-STD 810H, IP68/IP69K
• Size: 133 x 65.25 x 18.4mm
• Weight: 208g

Let's start with the size and shape -- the form factor, if you prefer. The N600 takes on the candy bar shape from days when phones had small screens and keypads. Sure, it's small -- a lot smaller than most modern smartphones -- but the 83% screen-to-body ratio packs a lot of display into a small space. 

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Why is using this smartphone such a joy? Because I can hold it in my hand and reach every part of the screen with my thumb, something that I've not been able to do on a smartphone for years.

The Blackview is dwarfed by other handsets, such as this other Blackview handset, the BV8900.

The handset features all the buttons you'd expect on an Android handset; and again, everything is easily accessible without having to change your grip on the phone or use the other hand. 

All the buttons you'd expect on an Android phone.

Performance-wise, this handset delivers what I expect from these sorts of "not really budget, but also not mid-range" smartphones running a Helio G99 processor with 16GB of RAM. Overall, the N6000 is snappy and responsive; while you might feel the odd stumble under heavy loading, in general, it's a smooth experience.

The same goes for the cameras -- they're adequate for most people's needs, just don't expect the vibrance, detail, and pop that you get from a high-end smartphone. But the output from this handset is more than good enough for all but the most discerning photographer.

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Battery life is also good, with the 3880 mAh solid-state cells -- which are designed to cope with temperature extremes from -40