HMD’s Barbie Phone, the new gadget for those nostalgic for the hot pink of the 2000s, finally has its price and release information. The Mattel-approved champion of late-aughts movie spinoffs will launch in October, just 15 months after the Greta Gerwig movie hits theaters!, for $129.
The phone is the brainchild of Human Mobile Devices (HMD), which currently owns the trademark rights to Nokia phones. Rather than a smartphone replacement, the Barbie Phone is a retro-style flip phone (in true Nokia style) with a T9 keyboard and no third-party apps in sight. The company bills it as “the perfect tool for living your best life and taking a vacation from your smartphone.”
You won’t find any social media apps, but the phone still makes calls and sends text messages. When you turn the phone on, you’ll be greeted by a “Hi Barbie” voice before booting up The Malibu Serpent for a tribute to the OG mobile game. Its keyboard (in “Barbie pink,” of course) has hidden designs like palm trees, hearts, and flamingos that glow in the dark. Because Why the hell not?!
The Barbie Phone features a 5MP camera with flash that “delivers authentic Y2K-style images.” It comes with two alternative cases in addition to the standard case. The two covers include one honoring “the brightly colored swirls of the iconic 1992 Totally Hair Barbie doll” and another with a spinning heart motif.
The box also includes a pastel beaded phone strap that you can decorate with charms like a tiny roller skate or a “Barbie-sized ice cream.” You’ll also get sparkly gem stickers and vintage Barbie stickers (including flowers, flamingos, and rainbows) to decorate the phone however you like. It even comes with a pink USB-C charger.
Naturally, the phone features a Barbie-themed user interface (described as “incredibly easy to navigate”), themed wallpapers and app icons. As HMD pitches the phone as an escape from smartphone hell, it even includes a digital wellbeing app.
The Barbie Phone will be available on October 1st for $129. It will ship unlocked and ready to activate on AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon networks. You can pre-order it on HMD’s website starting September 23rd.
