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  BenQ P31 Unreleased Prototype: Nokia 6708’s Hidden Twin

  This unit is an ultra-rare BenQ P31 engineering prototype, representing one of the most historically significant missing links in Symbian UIQ development. Originally conceived around 2003-2004 as BenQ’s entry into the high-end touchscreen smartphone market, the P31 was built on Symbian OS 7 with UIQ 2.1 and designed as a compact, stylus-driven business device. It never reached commercial release, and only a very small number of early engineering samples were ever produced.

  This unit stands out immediately. It carries no BenQ branding, no label, no IMEI sticker, and no certification markings whatsoever, confirming it as a direct engineering lab device belonging to the EVT or very early DVT phase. Even more extraordinary, it boots with Nokia startup logos, revealing its role in one of the most unusual collaborations in Symbian history: the transformation of the BenQ P31 hardware platform into the commercial Nokia 6708.

  During development, Nokia needed a UIQ device for Asian markets but did not want to engineer new UIQ hardware from scratch. Instead, Nokia evaluated the P31 as a potential base. This unit belongs to the narrow transitional window where Nokia UIQ firmware branches were loaded onto BenQ hardware to test compatibility, performance, and UIQ adaptation. Evidence of this includes Nokia boot screens, Nokia font structures, early Nokia overlays for PIM apps, and firmware variant directories corresponding to internal Nokia identifiers such as E582 or UIQ test builds. This type of cross-firmware contamination is almost never seen outside internal Symbian development environments.

  Hardware examination indicates the original P31 layout: touchscreen with stylus input, UIQ key structure, OMAP-based platform, VGA camera module, and early UIQ 2.1 software stack. The matte prototype plastics, generic shielding, unbranded flex cables, and absence of final molding marks clearly separate it from the later Nokia 6708 retail hardware. Meanwhile, the Nokia firmware elements confirm the device was active during the validation period before Nokia redesigned the shell, finalized the PCB revisions, and prepared the 6708 for market release.

  Historically, the BenQ P31 is known from documents, press mentions, and UIQ SDK references but extremely few physical units survive. Most were destroyed when BenQ cancelled its Symbian efforts and shifted to Windows Mobile and Siemens acquisition projects. Estimates based on engineering validation patterns suggest fewer than 40 to 80 EVT devices were made, with only a fraction entering Nokia testing flows. Units that display Nokia boot elements but retain full P31 prototype hardware are believed to number in the low single digits, making this unit one of the rarest Symbian UIQ artifacts in private hands.

  Beyond rarity, this unit captures an entire unspoken chapter of smartphone evolution. It demonstrates how early OEM partnerships shaped device portfolios, how Symbian UIQ was adapted beyond Sony Ericsson hardware, and how Nokia explored touchscreen ecosystems prior to its Series 90 and later platforms. The P31 shows that Nokia was more deeply involved in UIQ experimentation than publicly acknowledged, using BenQ hardware as a bridge to enter UIQ markets quickly. It also highlights the technical flexibility of Symbian OS 7 and UIQ 2.1, which could be made to run on foreign hardware architectures with relatively limited porting.

  For collectors, this unit sits at the highest echelon of prototype rarity. It is a never-released engineering platform, positioned between two manufacturers, with firmware that exposes internal development layers normally hidden inside corporate labs. It is a device that not only predates the Nokia 6708, but directly influenced its existence. As a result, this BenQ P31 prototype is not just a smartphone; it is a critical historical artifact documenting the intersection of BenQ’s abandoned Symbian ambitions and Nokia’s strategic adaptation of UIQ technology.

  This unit, with its untouched prototype housing, label-free chassis, stylus support, UIQ interface, and Nokia boot sequences, stands as one of the finest surviving examples of transitional Symbian engineering hardware. It is a cornerstone piece for any top-tier collection focused on prototypes, UIQ development, or cross-manufacturer Symbian evolution.

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  Ericsson Futaba | Unreleased Prototype

  Ericsson A2618 offers WAP and SMS technology, it becomes the fourth Ericsson mobile phone with WAP function (the other belongs to MC218, R320 and R380).

  Based on a new platform ‘Michelle’, it features a sensuous “S-curve” design and contains the latest developments in software and functionality.

  The address book could store up to 100 telephone numbers and associated names in the phone’s memory with voice activated dialling and short cut keypad dialling for the first 9 entries. The call lists recorded the last 20 dialled, answered or missed calls.

  The A2618s included time and date functions, an alarm clock, a stop watch, call timers and basic function calculator. It could also send and receive SMS text messages and allowed levels of personalisation by selecting from a range of pre-loaded ring tone melodies, by composing your own ring tone and by changing the external covers.

  Three games were also provided on the phone, Tetris, Erix and E-Maze. Finally, limited Internet access was provided to mobile services using the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) over an SMS bearer.

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  Ericsson Futaba | Unreleased Prototype

  An extremely rare, never-released Ericsson prototype: a 2.5 GHz engineering unit labelled “Not Type approved”, made in Sweden (label: KRH 901 80 EP2, 06W38).

  Fully functional. Tested in a live call on the Orange network, and to my surprise both the earpiece and the microphone work perfectly. Both screens still carry their protective films.

  The original battery is swollen, so the phone was powered with another battery from the collection. Good to know: it takes the same battery as the Ericsson T66.

  Overall condition: good.

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  Motorola E18 Ivory Unreleased Prototype: The Lost Luxury

  The Motorola E18 Ivory is one of the rarest and most intriguing unreleased devices ever created by Motorola. Designed as a luxury slider phone with high-end materials and a unique dual-stop sliding mechanism, the E18 represented a bold and experimental direction that Motorola never brought to market. This prototype was intended to compete in the ultra-premium segment, with the stainless steel production version carrying a projected retail price of around 2000 eur;, placing it far above standard Motorola models of the era.

  This unit is an Ivory prototype in mint, as new, fully working condition, making it an exceptionally rare survivor. Very few E18 units were ever completed, and prototypes were typically scrapped, destroyed, or left non-functional. Having a working device in such preserved condition is considered unicorn-level rarity among Motorola collectors.

  The defining feature of the E18 is its dual-stop slider mechanism. The first sliding step reveals a set of function keys, while the second sliding step exposes the complete T9 keypad. This layered mechanical design is unlike any mass-produced Motorola phone and reflects a level of engineering experimentation seen only in internal development devices. The combination of compact size, premium detailing, and complex mechanical motion makes the E18 one of the most innovative unreleased designs Motorola ever attempted.

  Equipped with a 3 MP camera, premium external materials, and a sleek luxury aesthetic, the E18 Ivory was planned as a flagship device aimed at high-end buyers. Its design blends minimalist clean lines, luxury cues, and an advanced sliding system that offers a distinct tactile experience. The overall look and feel suggest that Motorola intended the E18 to stand alongside boutique luxury brands rather than mainstream consumer models.

  Because the E18 project was cancelled before launch, surviving prototypes are extremely scarce. Most did not reach a stable operational state or were never finished to production quality. A mint, fully operational Ivory prototype is almost impossible to find, and it represents one of the most important pre-production artifacts in Motorola’s history. This device stands as a rare window into a luxury direction the company never pursued, making it a true collector trophy and a highlight in any high-end mobile phone collection.

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  Nokia 5710 Unreleased Prototype B3.0: RM-187

  The Nokia 5710 (RM-187) prototype represents one of the rarest and most technically fascinating chapters in Nokia’s experimental design era. Built in Finland as a late-stage engineering sample, this unreleased device was intended to become the successor to the Nokia 5700 XpressMusic – and the final evolution of Nokia’s iconic twist-mechanism platform.

  Carrying the markings “Prototype ? Property of Nokia ? Not for Sale”, this RM-187 unit showcases hardware that never reached production: a redesigned rotating lower module, a reinforced hinge, and an upgraded rotary connector meant to eliminate the flex-cable failures seen on earlier twist models. Every piece of internal labeling, from its pre-production QR matrix to the B-series hardware stamps, confirms its status as an authentic high-level engineering device.

  Unlike the retail 5700, the 5710 was slimmer, structurally stronger, and technically more advanced – an ambitious internal attempt to create the third-generation twist phone, following the 3250 and 5700. Development was ultimately halted, making RM-187 the final Nokia twist platform ever constructed.

  The result is a prototype that combines unfinished industrial design, experimental hardware, and a form factor that was already disappearing from Nokia’s roadmap. With no retail release and only a handful of RM-187 boards ever confirmed, this piece stands as a true collector’s artifact – a preserved snapshot of a daring design direction that Nokia never shipped.

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  Nokia 7700 Prototype F5.0 Black | Unreleased

  A true piece of Nokia history – the Nokia 7700 F5.0 Prototype, Type RAL-2, made in Finland and never released commercially. This is one of the most ambitious devices Nokia ever built: a full-touch “media communicator” years before the 7710 and long before modern smartphones adopted the concept.

  This listing includes two fully working prototypes, one in black and one in white, both belonging to the late engineering stage (F5.0) and carrying the internal Model: M designation. These units were intended for final validation and software testing, featuring the hardware configuration closest to what a retail 7700 would have been – had it reached the market.

  The 7700 became legendary precisely because it never launched, making functional prototypes extremely rare. To find two, in different colours, in working condition, is virtually unheard of and places this set among the top-tier collector items of early smartphone history.

  Whether displayed as design icons or preserved as engineering artifacts, these devices stand as one of Nokia’s boldest steps toward the touchscreen era.

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  Nokia 7700 Prototype F5.0 White | Unreleased

  The Nokia 7700 (Model – M Type RAL-2) is a smartphone produced by Nokia, announced in October 2003 but never released. It was produced as a prototype unit between 2003-2004 It was expected to be the first smartphone running the Series 90 GUI on Symbian OS and Nokia’s first pen-based device, intending to compete against handsets like Sony Ericsson P800. At announcement Nokia dubbed it a “media device.” Compatible with GSM/HSCSD/GPRS/EDGE 900/1800/1900 MHz networks, the 7700 featured a wide, 3.5-inch touch-screen colour LCD with a resolution of 640 x 320 pixels which is the first smartphone with 2:1 aspect ratio and supporting 65,000 colours. It had 64 MB of internal memory and a MultiMedia Card (MMC) slot. It also included an integrated VGA camera with a maximum resolution of 640 x 480 pixels, an integrated FM radio, Bluetooth, USB and Nokia’s proprietary Pop-Port interface for connectivity purposes.

  The 7700 was to include a comprehensive application suite (such as a complete PIM suite, ‘full’ web browser, email client and an office suite comprising Word Processor, Spread-Sheet and a PowerPoint viewer) and supported Java MIDP 2.0 applications. It was also to be the first phone to support Visual Radio, and the first Nokia phone to support DVB-H mobile television with the addition of the Nokia Streamer SU-6 accessory. The Nokia 7700 was cancelled in mid-2004. Several theories for the cancellation were put forward at the time: Nokia was refocusing on ‘normal’ phones due to decreasing market share; the phone would be too late to market; and the phone was unattractive and bulky. It also featured ‘sidetalking’ like the N-Gage, a feature that had attracted a great deal of negative publicity. The Nokia 7710 followed shortly later with increased memory, a different design, no ‘sidetalking’ and other improvements. However, the 7700 was nevertheless used for further trials of DVB-H. As stated above, the Nokia 7700 was never released to the public. It was only released to Nokia’s R&D (Research and Development) groups. A few models, estimated 20, were distributed prior to Nokia’s decision to discontinue the model before full-on production. However as they were preparing to make the move into stores, the final product prototypes were available in every Nokia Dealer store for display and show-off, so an estimate on how many pieces there actually were is impossible to make, or how many remained in factories and services that were testing them. Pricing is thus very difficult to assess due to lack of official sales. Nevertheless, a few models were sold on eBay since Nokia’s announcement of discontinuation. The lack of independent data to verify the sale records on eBay has caused some to overestimate the actual cost of the model. The phone is nevertheless considered by a number of Nokia collectors to be a rare piece.

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  Nokia C5-02 Prototype | China Telecom CDMA Engineering Unit

  A never-released Nokia C5-02 engineering prototype, built for China Telecom’s CDMA network. Under the battery, the label still reads “Property of Nokia, Not for sale” (Type RM-686, HWID 2000, made in China).

  A slider that mixes a touchscreen and stylus with a full numeric keypad, Chinese input keys and the China Telecom eSurfing swirl on the navigation key, plus a 5-megapixel camera. CDMA prototypes from Nokia’s China programme rarely surface outside China.

  The phone is functional. The only weak point is the screen, which is not in its best shape: the display looks faded. It comes with its stylus and a Nokia BL-5F battery.

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  Nokia Unknown Model Prototype DV1: RM-374 Model XXX | Unreleased

  Nokia RM-374 (TD-SCDMA Prototype) Unreleased Nokia engineering prototype developed for China Mobile’s TD-SCDMA 3G network around 2008. This unit is a PROTO DV1.0 device, marked “Property of Nokia – Not for sale,” with placeholder model designation “XXXX” and full TD-SCDMA radio support. Built for early network and RF testing during Nokia’s China-exclusive 3G development program, it never reached public release. Extremely rare, as few TD-SCDMA prototypes escaped internal use and most were destroyed.

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  Nokia Unknown Model Prototype: CodeName Kabaka | Unreleased

  Nokia NPM-3NA “Caballa” – Unreleased 3G Prototype (2001)

  The Nokia NPM-3NA is an extremely rare, unreleased prototype developed around 2001 during Nokia’s early work on Japan’s first 3G network, NTT DoCoMo’s FOMA. Built in very small internal batches, this device was used for radio testing, firmware evaluation and UI experiments, and was never certified or intended for public sale.

  Running prototype firmware V55.40 (31-10-01) with the internal ? NMP signature and showing an unassigned IMEI (??????????????), the phone carries all hallmarks of an engineering sample. The internal hardware label NE8_06 / HW0250 suggests a development board related to NEC, a major DoCoMo technology partner in the early W-CDMA era. Its long extendable antenna and unique keypad design match the style of early FOMA trial devices, such as NEC’s X2001V.

  With no public documentation, no final RM code, and no retail equivalent, the NPM-3NA stands as a rare glimpse into Nokia’s abandoned Japanese-market 3G program. A genuine collector-grade prototype, extremely uncommon and historically significant for anyone interested in unreleased Nokia hardware or the origins of modern 3G technology.

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