Sep 01, 2024 08:00:00

A new flip phone inspired by Barbie dolls is now available for around 19,000 yen

HMD, which sells Nokia smartphones, has announced that it will release a

Barbie -inspired feature phone called the Barbie Phone in October 2024. The phone will cost $129 (approximately 19,000 yen).

Barbie™ Flip Phone: Chic Design, Customizable, and Perfect for Disconnecting
https://www.hmd.com/en_us/hmd-barbie-phone?sku=AHM2850USA01BB1

Your Barbie™ dream phone is now a reality
https://www.hmd.com/en_us/press/your-barbie-dream-phone-is-now-a-reality-press-release

HMD Barbie Phone retro flip phone announced
https://www.fonearena.com/blog/433274/hmd-barbie-phone-price-specifications.html

The 'Barbie Phone' is a flip phone that is almost entirely painted in the 'Barbie color' of pink. There is an external screen on the back that can be used as a mirror, and HMD introduced it as 'allowing you to touch up your makeup on the go.'

Accessories include interchangeable covers, stickers that can be attached to the device, sparkling crystals, and mobile phone straps made of pink, yellow, and blue pastel beads.

It was developed to allow people to enjoy a 'digital detox vacation where they can get away from the internet and put their smartphones away,' and social media is not available. It is equipped with simple functions such as a camera, phone, and text messages, as well as functions to support digital well-being such as 'Barbie Meditation,' and a function that says 'Hi, Barbie' when turned on.

The phone also comes with a custom user interface, including Barbie wallpaper and Barbie app icons. There are also some Barbie-themed Easter eggs, such as Barbie wallpaper that appears when you type '*#227243#(*#barbie#)' into the phone app. You can also see a greeting from Barbie's boyfriend Ken by typing '*#536#(*#KEN#)' and hear the sounds of Malibu Beach by typing '*#malibu#.'

The specs are a 2.8-inch QVGA (240 x 320) internal screen and a 1.77-inch external screen. The processor is

a Unisoc T107 . The RAM is 64MB/128MB, and the storage is microSD up to 32GB. The rear camera is a 5MP camera with a flashlight, but there is no front camera. Charging is done via USB Type-C, and the battery capacity is 1450mAh (battery is removable). Communications are covered by the three major American telecommunications companies, including AT&T, and it also supports dual SIM. The dimensions are 108.4 x 55.1 x 18.9mm and the weight is 123.5g. Other features include Bluetooth 5.0 support and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

A reviewer who got their hands on the phone said, 'It's basically a modified Nokia 2660 Flip, so there's not much new about it, but some changes have been made, such as adding a mirror to the external screen that displays the time and notifications. The mirror is difficult to see in direct sunlight. The UI and app icons have been significantly redesigned, and a digital detox app has been added, which should improve the mood of users who want to do just that. It's pink enough to hurt your eyes, but my wife loves it. Given the strength of the brand, I think it will sell well. It's also a great first phone for parents who want to limit their children's use of social media.'