Human Mobile Devices (HMD) is teaming up with FC Barcelona, the football (soccer) club, to release two FC-themed feature phones. It’s a bit of a weird collaboration, but we’ll allow it.

The HMD Barça 3210 and the HMD Barça Fusion devices are scheduled to go on sale in mid-April 2025. This is meant to be a collaboration between Europe’s largest smartphone manufacturer and the football club. The HMD Barça 3210 is a take on the classic 3210 model with FC Barcelona-themed design elements. The device comes in the club’s distinctive Blau and Grana colors and features a silver Barça crest on the back. This feature phone is positioned as a device that allows fans to focus on watching football games without social media distractions, as it doesn’t support social media applications.

The HMD Barça 3210 includes several club-specific features, such as 12 bespoke FC Barcelona wallpapers and a customized user interface. The device also contains hidden audio messages from players, including Robert Lewandowski, Gavi, Eric Garcia, Fermín López, and Íñigo Martínez. The classic Snake game has been reimagined with an FC Barcelona theme, where players collect trophies while avoiding red and yellow cards on the pitch.

In terms of specifications, the HMD Barça 3210 is equipped with a 2MP camera with flash, a torch feature, 4G capability for phone calls, and a 1450 mAh battery. The device also features IP54 splash protection, making it suitable for matchday conditions.

The release of the Barça 3210 builds on HMD’s previous success with reintroducing the 3210 for its 25th anniversary. HMD has reported gaining market share for two consecutive years with double-digit growth in 2024, showing a 10% increase in feature phone sales as more buyers look for “dumbphones” to escape digital distractions.

This is a lot like the Barbie flip phone that came out recently. The Barbie phone was meant to be a way to capitalize on the movie with the same name, but it seems like it may have done well enough to convince HMD to continue to make collaborations.

The second device, the HMD Barça Fusion, is a more advanced smartphone with a special collector’s edition “Smart Outfit” case. This case is engraved with the signatures of eleven FC Barcelona players: Marc-André ter Stegen, Robert Lewandowski, Jules Koundé, Raphinha, Dani Olmo, Pedri, Gavi, Fermín Lopez, Pau Cubarsí, Marc Casadó, and Lamine Yamal. The signatures have a special feature where they glow in the dark when exposed to UV light.

The HMD Barça Fusion comes preloaded with Barça-themed visual content, sounds, player greetings, and customized alarm tones from players such as Lewandowski, De Jong, Eric García, Fermín, Gavi, and Íñigo Martínez saying “Hola Culers.” The device also includes the FC Barcelona app.

Technical specifications for the HMD Barça Fusion include a 108 MP dual camera system, a 50 MP front-facing camera with Selfie Gestures and slow-motion capabilities, and 5G connectivity. The device is designed to be repairable, allowing users to easily replace parts like a broken screen in markets with iFixit support. This was a common feature in the days before smartphones, so it makes sense that dumbphones are repairable.

It also includes a “Detox mode” that enables users to temporarily stop notifications. This aligns with HMD’s philosophy of promoting responsible screen use. So, if you’re addicted to smartphones, you can detox.

The partnership between Human Mobile Devices and FC Barcelona began at the start of the current football season, with HMD serving as the Official Mobile Partner of the club. A partnership with phone releases seems like the logical next step.

Those interested in buying one of these phones will have to wait for a release, which has not yet been announced. When the phones are released, you can buy them from HMD’s official website.

Source: HMD