Mattel and HMD have launched a no-internet Barbie-themed flip phone. Is it a nostalgic must-have or a gimmick?

A year after the Barbie movie rocked the internet, Human Mobile Devices, makers of Nokia, has teamed up with Mattel to create a new mobile phone—one that’s inspired by everyone’s favourite doll, Barbie! But this is no toy; you can call and text with the Barbie phone.

Its goal is to help you take a break from digital life, perhaps so you can choose the beach over browsing, in true Malibu style. Nothing beats spending real time with those you love, and that’s exactly what the HMD Barbie Phone is all about! No distracting apps here, it’s time to reconnect with the real, offline world. This retro-style flip phone is chic, sleek, and pink, and that’s just on the outside. It retails for approximately ₹11,000 and will be available for pre-orders starting October 23. For a distinctly Barbie look, you can style it with stickers, crystals, beaded lanyards, and different covers; the external display even has a mirror! It comes as no surprise that it’s got the internet flipping out (pun intended). With 4GB storage and 512 MB RAM, it has a 5-megapixel camera to capture memorable moments in a digicam Y2K aesthetic, a flashlight, and there’s even a headphone jack (which might come in handy since wired headphones are seemingly back in style). Its battery life lasts up to seven hours and it comes in a fabulous Power Pink colour. What's not to like right? 

Yet one may think, in the era of remote work and constant content consumption, is it really feasible to ditch your smartphone? One would argue that it's impossible to detox digitally when it might be an integral part of your job to be online and up to date. More importantly, are we willing to give up the ease, comfort, and sheer fun of being online at all times? And is this just another gimmick that'll leave us bored in a couple of weeks?

However, in an age where we are glued to our devices, we could all use a break, and this seems like a stylish way to do it. Tech-cessories are the new big thing, and there’s no chicer device to sport than a 2000s-inspired Paris Hilton-esque pink flip phone. While it might feel a bit gimmicky, and might not be a long-lasting commitment, it seems like a worthy investment to occasionally detox your social media addiction.

My favourite part? It comes with a Barbie-treated version of the classic snake game (called Malibu Snake, of course). It even blurts out, “Hi Barbie,” when you power it on. By default, HMD's new flip phone can make calls and send texts. The company is on a bit of a crusade about reducing screen time and distractions, so the idea is to use this phone as a second phone when you don't want to be disturbed while kicking it at the beach with Ken. It's a part of HMD's pivot to crafting its own phones developed in partnership with notable companies, including the Boring Phone from earlier this year, born out of a quirky tie-in with Heineken.

The Barbie phone runs on KaiOS, an operating system designed for feature phones that adds a few smartphone capabilities, like 4G connectivity, Wi-Fi, GPS, and access to apps including WhatsApp, Google Maps, and YouTube. It'll still feel like you're using the old operating system from Nokia phones of the 90s and 00s, just with modern amenities. It’s a yay for me. It’s up to you if you wanna choose between the iPhone 16 or this pink ‘dumb-phone’, or just get both so you can choose based on your mood! So, are you ready to pick up?

Lead image (representational): Getty

Also read: The rise of tech-cessories
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