Ah yes, the Internet. It’s something that used to be a luxury, but now, none of us can live without it. I mean, isn’t it so convenient to just find out anything in the world with just a few taps of your fingers?
In an era where our lives are intertwined with constant connectivity, the idea of unplugging feels almost revolutionary. But it’s good to purge yourself from the stresses of social media every once in a while—without going entirely off-grid.
Enter the HMD Barbie Phone, a true-to-life flip phone (NOT a smartphone that folds) with a very generous helping of Barbie flair. It makes calls, it texts, has a calculator, and even has the dreaded Internet button.
But can you really go offline in this day and age? Let’s find out.
Editor
Jennifer chevron_right
Table of Contents
Design
Elle Woods would definitely love this. The Barbie Phone is unapologetically pink, with a reflective mirror finish on its lid that doubles as a clock when the phone is closed. Coming from a pink iPhone 15, the Barbie phone really isn’t that much of a change, at least colour-wise.
In the box, you’ll also get an array of accessories to up the bling, including two interchangeable back covers, a phone strap, several Barbie-themed charms, stickers, and of course, a bright pink Type-C cable. The only thing it’s missing is a bright pink charger to go with the set.
Open the phone, and you’re greeted with a 2.8-inch display and a physical backlit keyboard. The display isn’t touchscreen, which is certainly… unique… in a market full of touchscreen phones. The T9-style keypad is certainly nostalgic, but unfortunately, I’ve lost my touch (pun intended) with these types of keypads, so I found it rather difficult to type on.
What Can the Barbie Phone Do?
While the Barbie Phone is technically a feature phone, it isn’t entirely stuck in the past. Running on KaiOS 3.1, it actually offers 4G connectivity for calls, texts, and basic apps like Calculator, Calendar, Voice Recorder, etc. There’s even the classic Snake game, Malibu Snake!
One feature that screams early 2000s—well, apart from the rest of the phone—is the 3.5mm headphone jack, which turns this phone into an MP3 player. Yes, MP3 player. You will need to download your music physically into the phone or put it in an SD card. No Spotify here!
Under the hood, the Barbie Phone is powered by a Qualcomm 215 chipset with 512MB RAM and 4GB storage, expandable via microSD. It even includes a modest 5 MP camera, perfect for snapping grainy, Y2K-style photos—200MP who?
And also, under the actual hood, the Barbie phone has a removable battery, something that I have not seen in a long, long, long, long time. Underneath the battery, you can insert two SIM cards and an SD card—in separate slots!
Battery life, while not stellar, is adequate for a phone of its simplicity. The 1,430mAh battery offers up to 3.8 hours of talk time on 4G, and it charges via USB-C—with, of course, the pink charging cable included.
So, To Barbie or Not To Barbie?
HMD markets the Barbie Phone as a secondary device for moments when you want to reduce screen time and enjoy life’s simpler pleasures. It’s equipped with a “Digital Balance” app, offering tips for staying mindful of your digital habits—but if you’re already on a device without any kind of app store, there’s nothing much you can do anyway.
Part of the Barbie Phone’s appeal is undeniably its over-the-top aesthetic. The unboxing experience is designed to evoke childhood memories, complete with stickers, charms, and even a pink microfiber cleaning cloth. For the really nostalgic, the Barbie-branded Malibu Snake game and themed wallpapers give more Y2K vibes, if the flip phone hasn’t done it yet.
At RM699, the Barbie Phone is priced as a fun, nostalgic accessory rather than a practical phone. Depending on your needs, it could be a daily driver, as long as you don’t need social media.
That said, the Barbie Phone fills an interesting niche: a lightweight, personality-driven device for short-term use, vacations, or digital detox days. It’s a fun complement to your primary smartphone, but honestly, I don’t think it’s built to replace it.