If, like us, you can't rock the Kenough of Greta Gerwig box office Barbie movie, phone maker Nokia Human Mobile Devices (HMD) has a new product to add to its wish list.
The Barbie Flip Phone, which HMD announced in partnership with American toy giant Mattel at MWC 2024, aims to “flip the script on smartphone culture” by offering a simple mobile experience in a retro (and appropriately pink).
The Barbie Flip Phone, arriving in July this year, represents HMD's response to a growing trend in which Generation Z and millennials deliberately limit their screen time. The hashtag #bringbackflipphones, for example, has so far garnered 60 million views on TikTok, and HMD claims that in the past 12 months alone, its own European sales of foldable phones have more than doubled.
Image 1 of 2
So what is the Barbie Flip Phone really like? Well, we don't know yet; So far, HMD has only shared a blurry image (below) and a series of promotional images based on toys (above). However, the tiny pink toy phone visible in the latter does give us a good idea of what to expect in July.
Also at MWC 2024, HMD announced plans to bring several more HMD-branded devices to market in the coming months, although, again, the brand has yet to share specific details. We know that HMD plans to “bring back an iconic phone this summer,” which will presumably be similar to existing revivals of the brand's devices like the Nokia 3310 and Nokia 8110.
HMD is also improving its repair capabilities. Having announced the repairability-focused Nokia G22 phone last year, the company has unveiled a new Rasberry Pi-style developer toolkit, HMD Fusion, containing design files and information on software integration.
The intention with HMD Fusion is to “make sure people and businesses can expand their phone to meet their needs,” HMD says. “We want to defend the creativity of many people, which goes far beyond what we can achieve alone. The potential is infinite. These could be as simple as a fashion set, an extended battery set, a payment terminal, barcode readers or even portable connected medical equipment; “It really is a blank canvas for creativity.”
So, it's clear that HMD has big plans for 2024 and beyond. Of course, we'll do our best to get our hands on the company's Barbie Flip Phone when it launches in July, but if you want to shine right now, check out our unboxing of the Barbie-inspired Polaroid camera. .
you might also like
