Making Waves: HMD Barbie™ Phone Helps Us Choose Beach over Browsing

HMD and Barbie take over Sydney’s most iconic beach locations to share that the perfectly pink HMD Barbie Phone is here

In case you haven’t heard, the HMD Barbie™ Phone is here, and we are just as excited as you! Team HMD down under in Australia celebrated the highly anticipated flip phone launch in the coolest way possible. The team took over some of Sydney’s most iconic beaches and parks this summer, handing out free ice creams and Barbies, connecting with the local community, and celebrating the arrival of the HMD Barbie Phone.

The team visited five of Sydney’s bustling locations over six separate activation days. These locations including Coogee Beach & Cronulla Beach, Bondi Beach & Bicentennial Park, and Liverpool Homemaker Centre & Bondi Beach.

Making the most of summer with ice cream at the beach

The HMD Barbie Van handed out over two thousand ice creams and hundreds of free Barbie dolls, making the iconic pink van a true highlight for families and beachgoers alike. It was an incredible community-building exercise, helping the team spread the word about the HMD Barbie Phone and the benefits of choosing ‘Beach over Browsing’ to thousands of beachgoers.

The response on the ground was overwhelmingly positive with many agreeing on how it is a great way to keep young people off smartphones for longer and a great alternative for wanting to take a break from smartphones yourself.

HMD also got to know the Australian public, asking them some fun HMD and Barbie related questions for impactful and playful social media videos. Being out and about with the van really allowed us to connect with the Sydney-based community through nostalgia and a familiar face (or doll!). Beyond the in-person excitement at the beaches, the effort also reached an even wider audience through fun and engaging content shared on Instagram and TikTok.

We are feeling nostalgic – The flip phone is making a comeback

The flip phone represents more than just a piece of technology—for many, it’s a prominent part of growing up. The HMD Barbie Phone is bringing back those cherished memories in a way that feels fresh and exciting.

In Australia and around the world, flip phones are having their moment in the spotlight once again. From being featured in cult-classic fashion magazines to showing up on runways and in influencer lookbooks, flip phones have become the ultimate nostalgic accessory. The HMD Barbie Phone, with its iconic pink design, taps into this trend perfectly, blending retro vibes with the modern Barbie and/or Ken.

The HMD Barbie Phone offers all of the essentials and basic phone specifications including: calling, texting, and Malibu-themed Snake game. With a cute 2.4-inch display, 0.3MP camera, and a 1020mAh1 battery, it is ready for you to make real time memories whilst still being constantly connected. It also stores up to two thousand contacts and includes an FM radio, offering amazing features without the smartphone distractions.

Where can I buy the HMD Barbie Phone?

The HMD Barbie phone is the perfect accessory for you to prioritise beach over browsing. In Australia, the HMD Barbie Phone is available at Telstra, JB HiFi, Harvey Norman, Big W, Officeworks, The Good Guys, and online only at Amazon.

If you want to find out where you can buy the HMD Barbie Phone in your region, check here or on your local HMD website for more information.

Why not embrace “beach over browsing” this festive season? Swap out the social media scroll for quality time with your friends and family. The HMD Barbie Phone makes it easier than ever to disconnect from the digital world and reconnect with what really matters.

I want more of the HMD Barbie Van!

Want to see more of what the Australian HMD team got up to on their cone-tastic adventures? Make sure you follow our socials @hmddevices, @hmd.australia on Instagram and @hmd on TikTok (when you’re not taking your digital detox, obviously!).