Yesterday, HMD announced the Barbie phone, a customized variant of the Nokia 2660 Flip with a hot pink design and a new theme. We already knew that the global version already on sale runs on a different operating system than the US one, which will be released in October, but it turns out there are more changes.
Changes include more RAM and storage, a better camera, a domestic chipset, and even Wi-Fi connectivity (802.11 b/g/n).
The US version of the HMD Barbie is powered by a Qualcomm 215 chip running KaiOS 3.1, instead of the Shanghai-made Unisoc chip with the base S30+ OS. It will come with 512MB of RAM and 4GB of storage, a significant upgrade from the global version's 64/128MB. Both have the same microSD support, though – 32GB.
Another major change is the case's camera: the US version gets a 5MP sensor, instead of the basic VGA sensor. The battery capacity is the same, and the screens and footprint are also the same. This means that HMD has dressed the Nokia 2780 Flip in Barbie colors, instead of opting for the 2660.
Connectivity options are also slightly different due to the chipset change. The US version has Bluetooth 4.2, instead of Bluetooth 5.0, but it supports Wi-Fi and GPS/AGPS, both of which are missing from the global variant. There is also a slight difference in cellular bands.
The US version also has a small hanging stand on the fold-out bar, but both phones come with additional cases, a lanyard, and attachable charms in the retail box. Additionally, Americans get a USB-C charger in the box, which is missing from the global version, but some markets might still get an adapter.
The HMD Barbie costs £99 in the UK and €129 in mainland Europe. The US version costs $129, which is cheaper than the other versions. Customers in the US can start pre-ordering on September 23, and the product will officially launch on October 1.
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