SHOPPING – Contains affiliated content. Products featured in this Metro article are selected by our shopping writers. If you make a purchase using links on this page, Metro.co.uk will earn an affiliate commission. Click here for more information.
As a 90s baby, I simply cannot resist the allure of a flip phone.
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of ending a call by snapping your mobile shut. Hanging up on an iPhone just isn’t sassy enough.
So when I found out HMD was teaming up with Mattel to make an old school Barbie flip phone (£99.99), I knew I needed it.
For starters, it’s bright pink, it has a mirror on the front, and comes with all sorts of adorable accessories — from gems to bedazzle the case with, to a beaded wrist strap and phone charms shaped like ice cream cones and sunglasses. Plus it’s got a Malibu Barbie version of Snake. (Remember Snake?!)
Did I mention that a bubbly voice says ‘Hi Barbie’ when you turn the phone on? Honestly, what more could a girl want?!
It seemed like the perfect phone for me, so I happily agreed to leave my iPhone 11 behind and spend a week testing out the flip phone to see if I could make the swap for good. Goodbye Apple, hello Fabulous.
Initially I was feeling pretty confident about the situation. The idea of a social media detox was VERY appealing, and who needs to be in 13000 WhatsApp group chats anyway? Not me.
Taking a break from Instagram, X and TikTok was just what the doctor ordered. Suddenly I wasn’t losing all my evenings to doomscrolling, and with all this extra time I managed to inhale Fourth Wing and Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros in a matter of days (and those are some BIG books).
I was also paying more attention to the world around me as my eyes weren’t glued to my screen (except when playing the odd game of Snake).
There’s no way I’d be going back to my iPhone after this, right?! Well…
As much as I’d love to tell you that I breezed through this test and now just take a flip phone everywhere I go, that would be a lie.
I’m sad to report the novelty of using the Barbie phone only lasted a day or two at most.
The first, and most obvious challenge, was the loss of several very specific apps, ones I’d never have guessed I’d miss, but turns out are pretty crucial.
At work, for instance, I require an authenticator app to be able to log into the network and my emails. Without that it’s hard to get the day started. I’m not sure my boss would have accepted ‘but it’s Barbie’s fault’ as an excuse.
Then, there was being unable to get literally anywhere without Google maps. I felt quite lost (literally) without it. Geography has never been my strong suit and my sense of direction is abysmal.
Even paying for things became trickier. Sure I can live without Apple Pay, but as I use Monzo and keep most of my money in different pots, I had no access to my funds without the app.
Phone calls were fine, but everyone I spoke to complained that the sound wasn’t great. I spent a lot of time repeating myself which wasn’t fun — and don’t even get me started on the camera quality and capturing content for work (though I suppose it’s impressive that it even has a camera).
Those of you who are resourceful will probably note there are ways to get around some of these issues.
When it comes to directions, for instance, I could use a physical map, or look up where I’m going on a computer and print out the route. Simple enough.
But this is the 21st century, and one of the joys of living in this modern era is that I get to be lazy. I like the ease that comes with having all the things I need together on one device.
If I’m being really honest, I even start to miss all those WhatsApp groups I was rude about earlier.
I also like that my Kindle library can live on my phone, meaning I always have a book with me, and the radio on the Barbie phone has nothing on a carefully curated Taylor Swift playlist on Spotify.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that as much as I love the nostalgia of a flip phone, and as fun as this one is, I don’t want to go back to living like it’s 2004.
For me, this phone just doesn’t work for everyday use. And that’s ok because it’s not really meant to.
The HMD phone is marketed as a ‘vacay for your smartphone’, with the product description encouraging people to ‘spend real time together’, without any ‘distracting apps’.
So for a day at the beach, or when going out for a walk in nature, it’s the perfect option. It really does allow you to enjoy the moment and be present, but still have a way to contact people in case of an emergency.
My iPhone might have won this round, but thanks to the Barbie phone I’ve had a chance to really stop and think about the way I’m spending my time. (Far too much doomscrolling for my liking).
It’s safe to say I won’t be getting rid of it any time soon — the allure of the flip phone is still too strong.
I’ll also need it for a smartphone detox every now and again. I think we could all do with a Barbie phone for that.
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
MORE : ‘I played the villain in Love Actually – it’s time to overhaul my evil reputation’
MORE : Justin Timberlake’s Cry Me A River ‘lie’ exposed after 22 years in huge pop cover-up
MORE : Urgent warning to Android users over new threat affecting millions of devices
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
