Barbie Flip Phones are on Their Way

News

By RC Staff

31 August 2024

If you haven’t heard the news, Mattel has teamed up with HMD to bring a fully licensed Barbie flip phone to the market later this year. We’re not sure what level or irony these marketing execs are operating on, but we’re paying close attention to this phone. You probably remember the frenzy when the Barbie movie released last year, but we’re not sure if that will translate to success here. They might sell out, they might brick, they might become extremely profitable. Let’s take a look.

Nokia HMD Barbie Flip Phones

Yes, you’re reading that right. This is not some low effort collaboration with Apple or Samsung to create a one-off colorway or special ringtone; this is a whole-ass phone.

And not only that, it’s a flip phone. The concept has seen a bit of a resurgence in the last few years amidst concerns about technology addiction, and “dumb phones” like these are seen by some as a way to go cold turkey on the doomscrolling.

The Barbie Flip Phone is a two-way collaboration between Mattel and HMD. Better known as the company behind Nokia’s smartphones, HMD began selling phones under their own name earlier this year, and has extensive experience developing modern dumb phones.

So when Mattel went looking for the perfect partner to create a 2000s-throwback, fantastic pink plastic flip phone, HMD was a great fit. The Barbie Flip Phone runs on HMD’s KaiOS, a pared down smartphone platform with a focus on essential functions like texting and calling.

While most internet addicts will be hesitant to toss out their iPhone, transitioning to a dumb phone is a way to stay connected and cut down on screen time.

What sets the Barbie Flip Phone apart is its design. It’s (obviously) pink, and styled with distinctly 2000s looping letters and flowery motifs. The phone’s back can be used as a small handheld mirror. Along with a beaded lanyard, they ship with a host of accessorizing stickers, charms, and crystals to make it your own.

HMD also writes that there will be “a few hidden surprises for you to find”. We’re not exactly sure what that means, and probably won’t know until these phones actually make their way to consumers.

The Barbie Flip Phone is expected to launch on October 1. Preorders will open on September 23rd for $130. The price is already drawing contention online, although it’s pretty reasonable when compared to similar phones.

Aside from minor complaints like these, the Barbie Flip Phone is getting a pretty positive reception online. Various outlets like Wired and The Verge have put out pieces on it, and we’re just a few weeks away from release.

Will the Barbie Flip Phone Resell?

But you know why we’re writing about this phone. We’re not Wired, we’re not The Verge, we’re Resell Calendar, baby, and we’re here to scalp.

So is this a flip? There’s a couple important factors we need to consider first, some of which we don’t have firm details on yet.

First, it’s been more than a year since the Barbie movie released. While the dual-premiere with Oppenheimer captivated audiences and Twitter timelines for months, it’s been quite a while since the film was topical. Will that be enough to get these phones to move?

And while Mattel has been happy to cash in on the film’s success with all kinds of merchandise, new Barbies, and too many collaborations to count, no sequel has been officially greenlit. If there is one, it’s years away and certainly won’t be boosting the sales of the Barbie Flip Phone.

We also don’t know production numbers, and this is likely the most critical aspect of the phone’s success from a reseller’s standpoint. Considering how niche the Barbie Flip Phone is, we’re guessing (and hoping) that HMD will be constraining production and angling these more as a collectable item.

But this hasn’t been explicitly confirmed, and likely won’t be. That said, there is some good news here for resellers. HMD offers a 15 day remorse period after taking delivery of their phones. If you return it within that time, you’ll get a full refund.

Meaning that you can preorder the Barbie Flip Phone on September 23 risk-free. Watch the market, and if the thing ends up bricking, you can simply return it after your delivery. Shipping is free too.

We know Barbie merch resells. When we’ve covered products like Aldo’s Barbieshades or NYX Barbie Flip Mirrors, we’ve consistently seen very solid profits after release.

Granted, most of this stuff dropped a year ago. Mattel has certainly took their time bringing this product to market, and they might find their customers have moved on.

Here’s a TL;DR: be ready to preorder Barbie Flip Phones on September 23. You can cancel your orders easily if they don’t resell, and you’ll be set up to make a decent profit if they do. There’s no real risk involved, so there’s no reason not to go after it.

Want to learn more about reselling? Subscribe to our newsletter! When we’re not covering Barbie merch, we’re talking about collectable popcorn buckets, Green Day Keurig machines, discontinued video games, and even booze.