Yesterday, HMD announced the Barbie phone, a customized version of the Nokia 2660 Flip with a bright pink design and a new theme. We already knew that the global version, which is already on sale, runs a different operating system than the US version, which will arrive in October, but it turns out there are more changes.
The changes include more RAM and storage, a better camera, a home-grown chipset, and even Wi-Fi connectivity (802.11 b/g/n).
The US version of the HMD Barbie has a Qualcomm 215 chip running KaiOS 3.1 on top, instead of the Shanghai-based Unisoc chip running the stock S30+ operating system. It will have 512MB of RAM and 4GB of storage, which is a significant improvement over the 64/128MB in the global version. Both have the same microSD support, though – 32GB.
Another major change is the camera on the cover – the US version has a 5MP sensor instead of the basic VGA. The battery capacity is the same, and the overall screens and footprint are also the same. This means that HMD has dressed the Nokia 2780 Flip in Barbie colors, instead of going for the 2660.
Connectivity options are also slightly different due to the change in chipset. 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 in the global variant. There is also a slight difference in the cellular bands.
The US version also has a small hanging loop for a throwaway strap, but both phones come with additional cases, a lanyard, and clip-on charms in the box. Americans also get a USB-C charger in the box, which the Global version doesn’t, but some markets may still get an adapter.
The HMD Barbie costs £99 in the UK and €129 in continental 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.
Source | Through
