MWC 2024: HMD Announces Barbie Flip Phone (Image: HMD)
HMD, which has been making Nokia phones for the past few years, is all set to launch an official Barbie Flip Phone. The company has also announced its rebranding plans at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2024, which is one of the biggest tech shows of the year. The event is taking place in Barcelona, Spain.
HMD, which stands for Human Mobile Devices, announced that they will create new HMD original devices and will continue to sell Nokia phones. The Finnish mobile manufacturer has also decided to partner with Mattel, a global toy company, to create the Barbie Flip Phone. The device will arrive this summer, 2024.
The company has not yet revealed the design of its latest retro feature phone. Pricing and specs are also not disclosed. “Promising style, nostalgia and a much-needed digital detox, this retro feature phone will flip the script on smartphone culture and will be this summer’s hottest accessory,” HMD mentioned in its statement. The smartphone maker stated that feature phones are on the rise. The company cited that Gen Z and millennials are choosing to limit their screen time for their own mental health.
HMD has exclusively sold phones under the Nokia brand name for the past several years. Now the smartphone manufacturer is ready to launch devices bearing its own HMD name. “In our seven-year journey, collaboration and support has allowed us to achieve so much. And we have plans to do so much more as we introduce the world to the new HMD,” said Jean-Francois Baril, the co-founder and CEO of HMD.
Notably, the latest devices from HMD will focus on sustainability and ease of repair. The company said that they are “pushing boundaries” to make the repairability experience accessible to everyone.
