At first glance, you might mistake this phone for one of Margot Robbie’s accessories from her hit movie, Barbie.
But the adorable foldable phone is very real and is the brainchild of Human Mobile Devices (HMD).
HMD has joined forces with Mattel to develop the real Barbie phone, complete with a built-in mirror, beaded strap and even a selection of sparkling gems.
While the phone is undeniably cute, it’s pretty basic, with a grainy 0.3MP camera and—surprise!—no social media.
As it goes on sale today for £99, MailOnline’s Shivali Best has been testing out the foldable phone – and it could finally be just the thing to force her into a much-needed digital detox.
At first glance, this phone might look like one of Margot Robbie’s props for her hit movie Barbie. But this adorable flip phone is very real and is the brainchild of Human Mobile Devices (HMD).
Retro flip phones, also known as “dumb phones,” have made a comeback in recent years, particularly among Gen Z seeking a life free of digital distractions.
HMD, the maker of Nokia phones, has previously released several redesigned dumbphones, including the Nokia 3210, Nokia 3310, and Nokia 6310.
However, its latest offering is arguably its most attractive yet.
Barbie’s flip phone features a classic clamshell design and comes with two replaceable back covers — a vintage “shooting hearts” design and another with brightly colored swirls — as well as a mirror on the front.
HMD, the maker of Nokia phones, has previously released several redesigned dumbphones, including the Nokia 3210, Nokia 3310, and Nokia 6310. However, its latest offering is arguably its most attractive yet.
Barbie’s flip phone features a classic clamshell design and comes with two replaceable back covers — a vintage “shooting hearts” design and one with brightly colored swirls — as well as a mirror on the front.
The foldable phone, which goes on sale today for £99, was tested by MailOnline’s Shivali Best and could finally be just the thing to force her into a much-needed digital detox.
As if this wasn’t chic enough, there’s also a beaded strap adorned with Barbie phone charms and a selection of sparkly gems and vintage stickers.
This design is instantly eye-catching (albeit a little kitsch) and several colleagues eagerly approached my desk to ask what the toy-like device I was testing was.
Once I was done admiring myself in the mirror, I flipped open my phone and turned it on, at which point a voice announced, “Hello Barbie!”
As someone whose everyday smartphone is the iPhone 15 Pro, I’m used to having access to almost any app at my fingertips.
In contrast, Barbie’s flip phone has only 21 basic functions. Apps installed and absolutely no social media.
That being said, the apps it does have are a lot of fun.
As someone who grew up in the 90s, I was delighted to discover that HMD included the Snake game on the phone, with watermelons instead of apples.
During the limited time I spent with the dumb phone, I never once felt homesick for the technical prowess of my iPhone.
It’s not going to replace my iPhone 15 Pro as my permanent phone anytime soon, but at £99, it might finally be what I need to go on a digital detox.
It’s true that I’m out of practice and my first foray back into the world of Snake doesn’t last long.
However, the game has certainly lost its charm, and I think I could easily waste my time trying to reach the same expert levels I mastered as a kid.
While it does have a camera, the 0.3MP lens isn’t exactly great.
As a millennial, I’m not impressed by grainy photos, though my Gen Z peers assure me that they’re actually “way cooler” than my usual, more polished snaps.
What I enjoyed most, however, were all the Barbie Easter eggs I found while playing with my new device.
Within the Phone app, I discovered a missed call from ‘Ken’ who I was even able to add to my contacts.
Meanwhile, Ringtones and alarms included retro tunes titled ‘DreamHouse’, ‘Azure Barbie’ and ‘Surf Chimes’.
The smartphone features a retro clamshell design and “embodies the vintage chic style of the original female empowerment brand,” according to HMD.
Continuing with the Barbie theme, within the Camera app, I discovered a Barbie camera frame for my photos.
Without social media apps installed, sharing isn’t as easy as it is on my iPhone.
However, the hidden gems make the Barbie flip phone a real joy to play with, with several colleagues even commenting that they can’t wait to get their hands on it.
During the limited time I spent with the dumb phone, I didn’t feel a second of nostalgia for the technical prowess of my iPhone.
I am well aware that over time, these novel features would quickly lose their charm and I would be itching to go back to TikTok, Instagram and WhatsApp.
It’s not going to replace my iPhone 15 Pro as my permanent phone anytime soon, but at £99, it might finally be what I need to do a digital detox.
