barbie phoneThe doll to which this tribute is paid is also a thing of beauty. But like the doll whose proportions, historically, are impossibleThe Barbie phone is not designed for the modern world.
Even if ultra-feminine beauty isn't your thing – and it's really not mine – you've got to hand it to the Barbie Flip Phone. From the box it comes in, to the interchangeable back plates, rhinestone stickers, and Barbie-fied interface, it's a delight. The charger and battery are both pink, although they are a lighter shade than Mattel's trademark Barbie Pink (Pantone 219)The phone says “Hi Barbie!” When you turn it on. This is the definition of being committed to some extent.
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The Barbie Phone is based on one of HMD's feature phones, so it's limited to basic connectivity like calling, texting, email, and a rudimentary web browser. It's a fun collector's item, but ultimately frustrating to use in daily life.
The fun of the Barbie aesthetic, Pantone 219 or otherwise, is at odds with the actual experience of using the phone. It is based on one of HMD's feature phones, and it runs an operating system called KaiOS. The phone is designed for basic connectivity – texting, calling, email – and also includes a web browser.
According to HMD, besides being beautiful, The old-fashioned design and limited feature set encourage you to disconnect IRL and spend time with your friends. The phone's menu has a series of “Barbie Tips” that advise you on this point.
“There's no need to give up smartphones completely,” Barbie Tip 1 reads. “Find the balance between your smartphone and your Barbie phone.” Barbie Tip 6 is titled “Dreamhouse™️ Rules” and encourages you to “create a tech-free zone in your own Dreamhouse.” More room to entertain!” Coincidentally, Mattel Says He Sells a Barbie Dreamhouse Every Two MinutesThe Dreamhouse retails for $199.99; The Barbie Phone is $129.99.
The idea of putting your SIM card in a Barbie phone and running away with your best friends for a weekend of digital detoxing sounds great. The reality is not so simple. Have you ever tried entering your Google account password with the alphanumeric keypad? Do you know how to find curly brackets in T9? Thanks for the Barbie phone, I have and I do, and I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Typing messages with predictive text is more difficult than I remember; If I used this phone regularly, I'd probably call even more people.
If I used this phone regularly, I would probably call even more people.
Apart from texting, some features of this feature phone don't work well for me. I've successfully synced my Google Calendar, but my appointments appear to be on the wrong days for reasons I can't understand. I couldn't get the FM radio app to recognize wired earbuds plugged into the 3.5mm jack. Web browser is extremely slow and refuses to render The Verge In any useful way, although I realize I'm probably the only person who will make the effort to read The Verge Barbie on the phone.
The joy I felt when I first unboxed the Barbie Phone was definitely underwhelming. Even the front of the phone, which is mostly covered in mirror, looked much less attractive due to my fingerprints and smudges. And I think it's good to have a mirror in front of your phone, because you can frame your selfie and check your teeth for pieces of kale.
But do you know when it's not cute? You have to see your face whenever you check a notification. This is the kind of existential dilemma that Barbie doesn't have to endure, because Barbie's makeup is already applied and she's always been twenty-two. or whatever. I don't want to see my face while I'm checking texts, not to mention four espressos and not a drop of concealer under my eyes on a Tuesday morning.
Barbie's world is a dream. Unfortunately, the world in which the Barbie Phone frees me from the drudgery of modern connectivity also seems to be a dream. Sure, it gave me a chance to take a break from my smartphone and still message my friends. But mostly, it replaced the hassles of using an ultra-connected device with a different set of hassles.
Someone more committed to using the T9 could potentially have an enjoyable time with the Barbie Phone. Otherwise, it's just a neat collectible; Something that gets taken out of the box and played with for a while, but eventually gets left in a drawer. like a doll.
Photography by Alison Johnson/The Verge