HMD has teamed up with Mattel to launch the HMD Barbie Phone. This is a nostalgic flip phone with some interesting features. This limited edition mobile device has the Barbie aesthetic but looks like it would have been a top model 20 years ago.

The HMD Barbie Phone has a retro clamshell design and a pink keyboard with hidden designs that glow in the dark. It has the essential features like calls, SMS, and alarms, but no social media functionality. HMD says this is a deliberate omission to encourage users to focus on real-world interactions and reduce screen time. The lack of features is likely why the phone only has 512MB of RAM and 4GB of storage.

The phone is known as the “dumb phone” because it’s designed for users who want to digitally detox, a trend that focuses on limiting screen time. This fits well with the soothing sounds, self-care reminders, and digital balance tips the phone offers. The addition of the Barbie label is a real help to the phone, as almost nothing about it makes you think of smart devices. In fact, it doesn’t connect to the internet, presumably for digital detox.

While the inside looks like phones from 20 years ago, just with a Barbie theme, the outside of the phone shines. It comes with two back covers, a beaded phone strap, crystals, stickers, and charms. These additional materials allow you to customize and decorate the outside of the phone, just like a Barbie. Without them, this is just a very nostalgic looking pink flip phone with a Barbie theme and the logo on the back. The only part that feels new is the pink USB-A to USB Type-CTM charging cable that comes with the phone. This is not a charging dock, just the cable.

The Barbie phone is already available in the UK for £99 (about $130) and will be available in the US “soon.” You can visit the product page and get notified when the phone is available.

Source: HMD