Why is everyone so obsessed with the social media-free Barbie flip phone?

If you’ve been channeling your inner Barbie for the past year, you’re going to love the new Barbie Flip Phone. The blockbuster Barbie movie smashed records with a $1.4 billion haul at the box office, becoming the highest-grossing film of 2023. Hot on its wheels, Mattel and HMD (the company behind Nokia) recently teamed up to bring you the ultimate Y2K gadget: a chic and functional flip phone. 

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A pink revival for every Barbie girl

The Barbie Flip Phone is not just another piece of plastic; it’s a genuine collaboration between Mattel and HMD. This device marks HMD’s pivot from solely making Nokia-branded phones to developing feature phones with notable partners. Designed to reduce screen time and distractions, it’s perfect as a second phone for days when you just want to unplug and live your best life.

Power it on, and the screen greets you with a cheerful “Hi Barbie!” - a playful nod to the doll’s universe. Flip it open to reveal a 2.8-inch display and a backlit keyboard with Barbie-themed icons. What’s more, the shell of the phone is also equipped with a mirror, which comes in handy when you need to check your reflection throughout the day.

Customise it to make it uniquely yours

Every Barbie girl is special in her own way. The phone comes with two interchangeable Barbie covers, each with a different design. You can switch them up whenever you want and “doll” it up with some cute stickers and crystals from the set. To top it off, it even has a beaded lanyard with iconic Barbie charms, making sure your phone isn’t just a device but a fashion statement.

Functional meets fun

Under the shell, the Barbie Flip Phone runs on KaiOS, an operating system designed for feature phones but with a few advanced smartphone capabilities to keep things interesting. It offers 4G connectivity, Wi-Fi, a GPS, and access to apps like WhatsApp, Google Maps, and YouTube. However, you might feel a bit of that old-school Nokia vibe because, while it’s on the latest version of KaiOS 3.1, not every app is compatible… yet.

With 4GB of storage (up to 32GB with a microSD card), you’ve got plenty of space for music, selfies and fitcheck videos. It also comes with Bluetooth 5.0 and a 3.5-mm headphone jack, giving you multiple ways to get your jam on.  

HMD claims the Barbie Flip Phone’s 1,430-mAh battery offers up to 9 hours of talk time on 4G and even longer on 3G. It charges via USB-C, so you can easily charge it up with your portable when you’re on-the-go, whether you’re heading to the beach with Ken or hitting the mall with your girlfriends.

The perfect gidi-cam

Unlike today’s devices, the phone features a 5-megapixel camera which is fitting for those who are all about embracing the Y2K aesthetic. Think grainy selfies, washed-out filters, and a pop of vintage charm. It’s time to relive the early 2000s!

No social media and the dumbphone movement

That being said, where was Instagram in the 2000s? That’s right. Non-existent. The Barbie Flip Phone does not have apps like TikTok and Instagram. Whether they will integrate them into the phone in the future is uncertain but for now, HMD claims that they are jumping on the dumbphone bandwagon. 

Now, even more so, the concept of a “digital detox” has gained traction in recent years as people increasingly seek to reduce the negative impact of social media on their daily lives. This is especially so for Gen Zs.  While disconnecting from social platforms may feel unsettling at first, it quickly becomes easier as you shift your focus back to more meaningful, real-life activities.

The unfortunate downsides

However, dumbphones do have clear trade-offs, including losing your web browser and services like Grab. Switching to a dumbphone requires finding other ways to access those things, such as using a physical card for public transport. Since the Internet has become such a huge part of not just our social life, but our careers as well, these trade-offs can be too inconvenient for some people over the long term or simply not feasible when certain apps are necessary for work.

Tech giants would prefer consumers to use smartphones

Bigger tech companies don’t want dumbphones to overtake their flashier, more expensive models. The truth remains that smartphones have the most profitability so as producers they would want consumers to continue using them. 

Not to mention, a substantial number of marketing strategies are in place on social media, so other companies would also prefer that consumers remain on these applications where they can be fed with content.

Could the Barbie Flip Phone be for the kids?

Perhaps the Barbie Flip Phone would have more potential if it was targeted at kids. In this day and age, children are getting phones and tablets from such a young age (cue the iPad kids). There has been a lot of discussion about how it is detrimental to a child’s development to give them gadgets from such a young age. Maybe this fashionably irresistible flip phone could pull kids away from iPhones and towards less social-media-infiltrated devices.

Purely for enjoyment

At the end of the day, while we think this phone is an adorable accessory to add to your collection, it is unlikely to prevail in the real world. Humans are way too reliant on their apps nowadays and need them to carry out day-to-day activities. For most, using a flip phone will serve more as a playful nod to the pre-Internet era rather than a serious alternative to the tech-driven devices we rely on.