MWC: HMD Teases Repairable Phones, Smart Accessories, Barbie Flip Phone

HMD Global, the company that has been manufacturing phones under the Nokia brand since 2017, made a number of intriguing announcements right as the MWC 2024 trade show is about to kick off, but stopped short of launching new phones. The company recently unveiled a new brand identity, as part of a plan to launch new products under its own name. HMD did not unveil any of the phones that have been leaked or potentially teased so far, but instead outlined a plan for its future which involves a repairable smartphone platform, a development toolkit called Fusion, and a surprising tieup with toymaker Mattel.

Contrary to earlier speculation, the Nokia brand will continue to live on, at least for a short time. An “iconic Nokia device” is set to be revealed later in 2024, which is likely to be a refreshed and modernised version of one of Nokia’s legendary feature phones. HMD has so far leveraged the brand’s nostalgia value by releasing modernised yet entry-level versions of the 3310, 5310, 8110, 8210, and 6310, so such a move wouldn’t be surprising.  

Beginning this summer, HMD’s will begin launching smartphones based on its new Fusion platform, which promises FIY (Fix It Yourself) repairability at home. Citing affordability and eco-friendliness as guiding principles, the company will introduce phones that users can repair themselves. In particular, HMD executives identified screen replacements as a process that they intend to disrupt. 

The company expects half of all the devices it sells in 2024 to be repairable, with that proportion going up to three quarters in at least Europe and the Australia New Zealand region. While no products have yet been unveiled, HMD has published the first version of its Fusion “toolkit” on its website. This gives accessory makers and software developers early access to design specifications as well as hardware and software interfaces which they can use to design “smart outfits”, which is what HMD is calling connected accessories. 

Phones developed as part of the Fusion platform will feature six contact pins on the lower rear that allow accessories to draw power and communicate with them. Examples mentioned in the document include a smart cover that can display notifications or trigger a profile change when snapped on, and a retail payment terminal interface. HMD will be introducing several of its own “outfits” but encourages developers to come up with their own ideas.

The contact pins on the rear are essentially just a USB 2.0 port, and will allow “outfits” to connect to the phone as an accessory or even as a host device. Phones will be able to draw 15W or power or provide 5W, which should allow for several types of charging and battery accessories. 

HMD's Fusion schematic seems to show off the design of at least one upcoming smartphone. It will be 8.5mm thick, with rounded corners and flat sides. A diagram of the bottom shows a 3.5mm audio jack at the bottom in addition to a USB Type-C port and speaker grille. Another diagram indicates a raised camera module on the rear with two lenses and a flash. A circle on the rear panel around the HMD logo could hint at support for wireless charging, or a magnetic accessory mounting system similar to Apple's MagSafe. However, all of these could just be indicative.

HMD will also be teaming up with Mattel to introduce a new Barbie-themed flip phone. There are no details yet, and the company hasn’t even confirmed whether this will be a Nokia or HMD-branded device. It will not be a smartphone, so it might be a reincarnation of an older Nokia clamshell device, but it should support modern-day functions. The Barbie X HMD device will be aimed at fans of all ages, though the company notes that Gen Z now spends less time on social media and consciousness about a need to limit screen time is growing. 

While no specifications have been announced yet, the company assures fans that the Barbie phone will be pink and sparkly. The launch timeframe is “Summer 2024”, and there’s no word on which countries it will be coming to either.