In the Matrix, Keanu Reeves rocked a long leather coat, dark glasses and a seriously bad-ass phone which you snapped open and shut to answer – and which went on sale when the film launched.

Now the Nokia 8110 is coming back, in a new 4G version and a frankly alarming shade of yellow. As Keanu might put it, ‘… Woah’ Honestly, in 1996, the Nokia 8110 was like the Ferrari of phones. The phone, which is curved to follow the shape of the face, also comes with a slider that reveals the keypad as well as answers calls. The new version is due to come out in May.

The unveilings were among several made ahead of the opening of the annua MWCl tech show in Barcelona on Monday, which attracts more than 100,000 visitors and is the setting for hundreds of phone launches. Nokia, whose phones are now licensed by Finnish firm HMD Global, released an updated version of its classic 3310 at MWC last year, and the company’s return to nostalgia again was praised by experts.

Analyst Ben Wood from CCS Insight said: ‘In a sea of smartphone sameness it is little surprise that consumers get excited by a little bit of nostalgia. ‘It’s a smart move by HMD Global to add to its retro line with the addition of the new 8110. The 3110 was a huge success last year and helped return the Nokia brand to consumers’ consciousness in a spectacular manner.

‘Given the 8110 is another phone that is fondly remembered, particularly because of its appearance in The Matrix films, HMD Global will be hoping it will have a similarly positive effect on the awareness of Nokia branded phones.’