The Smartphone Your Kids Want - With the Safety Parents Need
No compromises. No embarrassment. Just smart, safe tech - a win for parents and kids
Tech disruptor Human Mobile Devices (HMD) is taking on one of today’s biggest parenting dilemmas: how to give kids a smartphone experience they love - without exposing them to the risks of the online world too soon.
Introducing the HMD X1, a smartphone designed in partnership with Xplora to offer the best of both worlds. The X1 provides all the features kids want in a premium-looking smartphone, while giving parents built-in, operating system-level parental controls to ensure a safe and age-appropriate digital experience. Unlike traditional “kid-friendly” phones, which often feel restrictive or childish, the X1 blends seamlessly into the smartphone landscape, making it a device teens actually want to use -without parents having to compromise on safety.
In July 2024, HMD announced The Better Phone Project. A solution to tackle the impact of smartphone use on the wellbeing of children and young people around the world. Whilst that phone is still in development, following the latest advancement that surveyed almost 25,000 children and parents. In their first global survey of 10,000 parents, HMD found that 75% fear smartphones expose their children to internet dangers, while 65% worry about the impact of phone use on their child’s mental health. More than half of parents surveyed regret giving their child a smartphone too soon, yet the demand from children continues to rise. Parents are left struggling to find a solution that allows their child to connect with friends and explore the digital world in a way that feels natural - without opening the floodgates to online risks.
The HMD X1 is designed to address this challenge by giving parents full control over their child’s smartphone experience while still offering a device kids can be excited about. The X1 features customizable app and internet access, allowing parents to limit social media, browsing, and screen time. It also includes location tracking with safe zones, emergency SOS calling, low battery alerts, and remote device access for parents. The School Mode function ensures distractions are minimized during school hours by locking specific apps and features when needed. All of these settings can be managed remotely through the Xplora app, on the parents own device, enabling them to adjust controls in real-time based on their child’s needs and environment.
Now you might be sold on these safeguards, but the X1 is far from a “kids-only” phone and will get past even the most self-conscious and smartphone longing teens. With a 108MP AI-powered camera, users can capture high-quality photos of their favorite moments with friends. A 5000mAh battery provides all-day power, eliminating mid-day charge anxiety. Face and fingerprint unlock technology ensures that personal data remains secure, while IP54 splash resistance means the device is built to handle everyday spills and rainy-day adventures. The X1 also includes a 3.5mm headphone jack, tapping into Gen Z’s resurgence of wired headphones, which offer an affordable and easy-to-use alternative to wireless earbuds.
HMD has also incorporated its signature HMD Fusion modular design, allowing kids to personalize their device to match their style and interests. Interchangeable “Outfits” transform the phone’s functionality, with options like the Gaming Outfit, which turns the X1 into a gaming console, the Flashy Outfit, which adds a built-in ring light for perfect selfies, and the Power Outfit, which provides extra battery life for extended use.
As the European market leader in kid-safe devices, Xplora brings its extensive expertise in parental control technology to the HMD X1, ensuring that the device offers a balanced, secure, and age-appropriate introduction to the digital world. The partnership between HMD and Xplora is focused on helping parents foster healthy tech habits, allowing children to stay connected through calls, texts, and navigation, while ensuring their online interactions remain safe, controlled, and guided by their parents.
"At HMD, we believe kids shouldn’t have to choose between safety and having a smartphone they love. Parents have been asking for a solution that balances protection with freedom, and the HMD X1 delivers just that. We’ve worked closely with families on our Better Phone Project to gain insight into how we can create a device that looks and feels like a premium smartphone while offering the safety guardrails parents need. This is a big step in redefining what a first phone should be - one that gives kids a safe start in the digital world without feeling left out."
The launch of the HMD X1 is just the beginning. HMD is committed to developing a suite of devices that tackle the challenges families face in today’s digital world. By working closely with parents and young people, they are creating solutions that are not only safe and practical but also sustainable for the long term - ensuring that kids have the right technology at the right time, without compromise.
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About Human Mobile Devices
We are Human Mobile Devices, and we start by tuning into what people really want. Our consumers are passionate about the planet, often feel swamped by digital overload, and are keeping a close eye on their budget. That’s why we are thrilled to be Europe’s largest smartphone maker, championing repair-at-home phones, and a go-to for much needed digital time out. For further information, see www.hmd.com.