David Bridges
HMD’s Barbie Telephone, the novelty machine for Y2K-nostalgic sizzling pink aficionados, lastly has pricing and launch data. The Mattel-sanctioned champion of tardy film tie-ins launches in October — solely 15 months after Greta Gerwig’s film hit theaters! — for $129.
The handset is the creation of Human Cellular Gadgets (HMD), which at present owns the branding rights to Nokia telephones. Fairly than a smartphone alternative, the Barbie Telephone is a retro-styled flip telephone (positively Nokida-esque) with a T9 keyboard and no third-party apps in sight. The corporate pitches it as “the proper software to stay your finest life and take a trip out of your smartphone.”
You received’t discover any social media apps, however the telephone nonetheless makes calls and sends texts. When powering the handset up, you’ll be greeted by a “Hello Barbie” voice earlier than you hearth up Malibu Snake for a tribute to OG cellular gaming. Its keypad (in “Barbie pink,” in fact) has hidden designs like palm bushes, hearts and flamingos that mild up at the hours of darkness. As a result of why the hell not?!
The Barbie Telephone has a 5MP digital camera with a flash that “delivers genuine Y2K fashion photos.” It ships with two alternate covers along with the usual one. The 2 plates embrace one honoring “the brightly coloured swirls of the 1992’s iconic Completely Hair Barbie doll” and one other with a shooting-heart design.
Additionally within the field is a pastel-beaded telephone strap that you may adorn with charms like a tiny curler skate or a “Barbie doll-sized ice cream.” You’ll additionally get sparkly stick-on gems and retro classic Barbie stickers (together with flowers, flamingos and rainbows) to embellish the telephone to your coronary heart’s content material. It even has a pink USB-C charger.
Naturally, the telephone has a Barbie-themed person interface (described as “achingly straightforward to navigate”), themed wallpapers and app icons. Since HMD is branding the handset as a trip from smartphone hell, it even features a digital well-being app.
The Barbie Telephone might be out there on October 1 for $129. It can ship unlocked and able to activate on AT&T, T-Cellular and Verizon networks. You may pre-order it from HMD’s web site starting on September 23.
Daniel Mercer
