Say ‘Hi Barbie!’ to the Barbie Flip Phone, HMD’s hot pink take on a retro classic

Flippy in pink

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If, like us, you can’t get Kenough of Greta Gerwig’s box-office shakingBarbiemovie, Nokia phone manufacturer Human Mobile Devices (HMD) has a new product to add to your wishlist.

The Barbie Flip Phone, which HMD announced in partnership with US toy giant Mattel atMWC 2024, aims to “flip the script on smartphone culture” by offering a stripped-back mobile experience in a retro (and suitably pink) package.

Set to arrive in July this year, the Barbie Flip Phone represents HMD’s response to a growing trend that’s seeing Gen Z and millennials deliberately limiting their screen time. The hashtag #bringbackflipphones, for instance, has so far garnered 60 million views on TikTok, and HMD claims that – in the last 12 months alone – its own European flip phone sales have more than doubled.

So, what does the Barbie Flip Phone actually look like? Well, we don’t know just yet; HMD has so far only shared a blurry tease image (below) and a series of toy-based promotional images (above). However, the teeny weeny pink toy phone visible in the latterdoesgive us a good idea of what to expect come July.

pic.twitter.com/Z8vWJj8uUEFebruary 25, 2024

Also at MWC 2024, HMD announced plans to bring several more HMD-branded devices to market in the coming months – though, again, the brand hasn’t yet shared specifics. We do know that HMD plans to “bring back an iconic phone this summer,” which will presumably be similar to the brand’s existing revivals of devices like the Nokia 3310 and Nokia 8110.

HMD is upping its repairability game, too. Having announced therepairability-focused Nokia G22phone this time last year, the company has now introduced a new Rasberry Pi-style developer toolkit,HMD Fusion, that contains design files and information on software integration.

The intention with HMD Fusion is to “make sure people and businesses can augment their phone to fit their needs,” HMD says. “We want to champion many people’s creativity, which is leaps and bounds beyond what we can achieve solo. The potential is endless. These could be as simple as a fashionable outfit, an outfit with an extended battery, a payment terminal, barcode scanners, or even portable, connected medical equipment, it really is a blank canvas for creativity.”

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Evidently, then, HMD has big plans for 2024 and beyond. Of course, we’ll do our utmost to get our hands on the company’s Barbie Flip Phone when it launches in July, but if you’re keen to get your sparkle on right this second, check out ourunboxing of Polaroid’s Barbie-inspired camera.

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Axel is TechRadar’s UK-based Phones Editor, reporting on everything from the latest Apple developments to newest AI breakthroughs as part of the site’s Mobile Computing vertical. Having previously written for publications including Esquire and FourFourTwo, Axel is well-versed in the applications of technology beyond the desktop, and his coverage extends from general reporting and analysis to in-depth interviews and opinion. 

Axel studied for a degree in English Literature at the University of Warwick before joining TechRadar in 2020, where he then earned an NCTJ qualification as part of the company’s inaugural digital training scheme.

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