Barbie flip phone goes on sale, with retro styling and no access to social media apps
Bright pink, retro-looking and unable to access any apps, the HMD Barbie Phone is priced at £99 in the UK and US$129 in the US
HMD Global, which makes Nokia-branded phones, has teamed up with toymaker Mattel to launch the HMD Barbie Phone – a pink feature flip phone with a retro design.
The phone, priced at £99 (US$129 in the United States), is available from August 28. The device allows users to make calls and send texts but gives no access to social media apps.
The Barbie-pink keypad has hidden designs featuring palm trees, hearts and flamingos that light up in the dark, the company said.
“I’d imagine quite a few people will be tempted to buy it as a bit of fun, but in reality, everyone is so dependent on their smartphones that anything more than the odd day of detox will be a stretch,” said Ben Wood, chief analyst at research firm CCS Insight.