HMD - the manufacturer best known for making Nokia-branded handsets - is teaming up with Mattel to launch a Barbie flip phone later this year. The global release is set for the middle of this year, which would line up nicely with the first anniversary of the movie's cinema debut. There's no confirmation as to when the Barbie phone will come to Australia.
While details are scarce, it seems like the device will be a traditional feature phone (also known as a "dumb phone"), along the lines of the Nokia throwback devices HMD has made in the past. The 3310 and 8810 revivals, for example. These devices have had some basic app support, but they're largely designed for talk and text.
The Barbie phone press release calls flip phones a "beloved" solution for a digital detox, so it seems like it will follow the same kind of path. Naturally, the Barbie flip phone will be - at least, partially - pink.
"This device promises to embody the vintage chic of the original girl empowerment brand with a dash of pink and of course, sparkle," says HMD in the press release.
More broadly, the Barbie flip phone represents a shift in strategy for HMD. While it will still make Nokia-branded devices (including another "iconic" revival this year), it will now also release phones under the HMD brand, as well as collaborate with partners like Mattel.
HMD's licensing agreement with Nokia ends in 2026, so exploring alternative options makes sense. If HMD can have similar success with devices released under its own name, it could save the company from paying what one would assume is a costly licensing fee.
Despite the change, HMD still plans to continue with initiatives like devices that customers can easily repair themselves, like last year's Nokia G22 and G42.
Alex Choros
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