Barbie's phoneLike the doll it pays homage to, it is a beautiful thing. But like that doll whose proportions, historically, they are impossibleThe Barbie phone is simply not designed for the modern world.
Even if the ultra-feminine aesthetic isn't your thing (and it's actually not mine), you have to hand it over to Barbie's flip phone. From the box it comes in to the interchangeable backplates, rhinestone stickers, and Barbie interface, it's a delight. The charger and battery are pink, although they are a lighter shade than Mattel's trademark ones. Barbie Pink (Pantone 219)). The phone says “Hi Barbie!” when you turn it on. It's the definition of committing to the bit.
The Barbie phone is based on one of HMD's basic phones, so it's limited to basic connectivity like calling, texting, email, and a rudimentary web browser. It's a fun collectible, but ultimately frustrating to use in daily life.
The light-hearted fun of Barbie's aesthetic, Pantone 219 or not, is at odds with the actual experience of using your phone. It's based on one of HMD's feature phones and runs an operating system called KaiOS. The phone is designed for basic connectivity (texting, calling, email) and even includes a web browser.
According to HMD, in addition to being cute, The nostalgic design and limited feature set are supposed to encourage you to unplug and spend time with your friends in real life. There are a series of “Barbie Tips” in the phone menus that advise you on this point.
“You don't have to give up your smartphone completely,” reads Barbie Tip 1. “Find a balance between your smartphone and your Barbie phone.” Barbie Tip 6 is titled “DreamHouse Rule” and encourages you to “Create technology-free zones in your own DreamHouse. More room for fun!” By the way, Mattel claims to sell a Barbie DreamHouse every two minutes. DreamHouse sells for $199.99; The Barbie phone costs $129.99.
The idea of inserting my SIM card into the Barbie phone and escaping for a digital detox weekend with my best friends sounds great. The reality is not so easy. Have you ever tried to enter your Google account password with an alphanumeric keyboard? Do you know how to find the keys in T9? I have it and I do it, thanks to the Barbie Phone, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Writing messages with predictive text is more tedious than I remember; If I used this phone regularly, I would probably call people a lot more.
If I used this phone regularly, I would probably call people a lot more.
Aside from texting, some of the features on this feature phone just didn't work properly for me. I successfully synced my Google calendar, but my appointments are showing up on the wrong days for reasons I can't discern. I couldn't get the FM radio app to recognize the wired headphones I plugged into the 3.5mm jack. Web browser is painfully slow and refuses to render The edge in any usable form, although I realize I'm probably the only person who would try to read The edge on the Barbie phone.
The delight I felt when I first unboxed the Barbie phone was definitely fading. Even the front of the phone, which is mostly covered by a mirror, looked much less charming covered in my own fingerprints and smudges. And I guess having a mirror on the front of your phone is nice, because you can frame your selfies and check your teeth for bits of kale.
But you know when it's not cute? Having to look at your own face every time you look for a notification. This is the kind of existential dilemma that Barbie doesn't have to endure, because Barbie's makeup is pre-applied and she's always twenty-two years old. or whatever. I don't want to see my face when I'm checking text messages, four espressos on a Tuesday morning, and not a drop of concealer under my eyes.
Barbie's world is a dream. Unfortunately, the world in which the Barbie phone allows me to escape the monotony of modern connectivity also seems to be a dream. Sure, it allows me to take a little vacation from my smartphone and still text my friends. But above all, it simply replaced the hassles of using an ultra-connected device with different hassles.
Someone more committed to using the T9 could probably have a nice time with the Barbie phone. Otherwise, this is just a nice collector's item; something to take out of the box and play with for a while, but eventually leave in a drawer. Something like a doll.
Photography by Allison Johnson/The Verge
