Nokia NM156: NTT DoCoMo Japan Exclusive (1998, Pearl Olive)
Type: NSY-3LX
💎 Rarity Index: A (Rare)
👁 Evaluation in my collection: Good – 8.5/10
⏱ Life timer: N/A | 📦 Boxed: NO
📅 Release Year: 1998 | 💰 Release Price: N/A
📊 Units Sold: ~60k
📰 Why this phone matters: The Nokia NM156 is one of the rarest Japan-exclusive Nokia models ever created. Designed for NTT DoCoMo’s PDC digital network in 1998 and manufactured in Finland, this model represents a very unusual chapter in Nokia’s history, when the company produced hardware specifically for Japan and not for the global GSM market.
Beyond its Pearl Olive finish and Japanese kana keypad, what makes this phone truly special is its documented production history. The internal Nokia type code NSY-3LX confirms the exact hardware platform used only for the NM15x PDC family, while the factory codes place this device in batch 048 of 1998, assembled in the Salo plant in Finland. With only 94 units assembled before this one in that batch, surviving examples like this are exceptionally difficult to find outside Japan.
Even more impressive, this particular unit still powers on correctly and allows you to navigate through the original menu despite the fact that PDC networks have long been discontinued. Functioning NM156 units are very scarce and highly sought after.
📝 Reviews when released: N/A 💔