It’s about one late yearbut the Barbie phone is finally here. This is Are not a smartphone, but one that comes in a clamshell form factor, all pink and emblazoned with Mattel’s Barbie logo. The phone has a shiny mirror on the front and a host of accessories like charms and gem stickers to dress it up so you can fully immerse yourself in the nostalgia of the late 1990s and early 2000s. It even says, “Hello Barbie” when you turn it on.
This is a true collaboration between Mattel and HMD, the company that used to make Nokia branded smartphones. It’s part of HMD’s pivot to making own a smartphone along with feature phones developed in collaboration with renowned companies. Including boring phone from earlier this year, born out of a strange relationship with Heineken.
Barbie Phone Runs KaiOS operating systeman operating system designed for feature phones adds some smartphone capabilities, like 4G connectivity, Wi-Fi, GPS, and access to apps including WhatsApp, Google Maps, and YouTube. You’ll still feel like you’re using the Symbian operating system from your old Nokia phone, just with modern conveniences.
Photo: HMD
By default, HMD’s new flip phone can make calls and send texts. The company is on a bit of a crusade to reduce screen time and distractions, so the idea is to use this phone as a second phone when you don’t want to be pinged while you’re frolicking on the beach with Kens.
HMD isn’t the first company to build a product around this concept of escaping the always-on life. There have been a number of phones with the same concept over the years, like Light Phone or redesigned Palm tree from 2018. Likewise, app timers and other screen-time-reducing features have been built into Android, iOS, and even feature phones that HMD makes under the Nokia brand, like Nokia 3310.
Think pink
The outside of the Barbie phone cover has a reflective coating that acts as a mirror (remember LG shines?) with a hidden digital clock embedded in the middle. Flip it open and you’ll have a nice 2.8-inch screen. You can use the built-in backlit keyboard for texting, and there are a bunch of little Barbie-themed details here and there, like the palm tree icon around the number 7. And by my count, there are six Barbie logos—whether it’s full text or just the letter B.
Photo: HMD
