HMD knows times are tough, launches two new budget phones
HMD is driving hard into the low-cost segment, launching the affordable HMD Key smartphone and the HMD 110 feature phones today.
I think I'm reaching the point that I want to move away from a smartphone as my primary device, and move to a well-specced feature phone. I just need something I can use to send messages and make phone calls and take pictures with, and not get distracted by social media or portable games.
The HMD 110 fits some of those requirements. The new $79 feature phone has a 1,450 mAh battery, which offers a 21 hour talk time or about 15 days of standby time.
The 2.4-inch display is only QVGA (that's 320 x 240 pixels), so it's not going to be suitable for watching HD anything on. But the phone does have large, tactile buttons for typing out messages with.
This is a feature phone, and the features are limited. you get a voice recorder, a dual LED flashlight, and room for up to 2,000 contacts. There’s also a QVGA camera (again, 320 x 240 pixels) with LED flash, an FM radio, MP3 player and Snake.
If that seems a little too basic for you, HMD also has the $129 HMD Key Android 14 smartphone. It boasts an 8MP autofocus rear camera and a 5MP selfie cam, withPortrait, Night, Pro, Slow Motion, Time Lapse, and Panorama modes.
There's 128GB of on board storage, a 6.5-inch HD display (576 x 1280), and a 4,000 mAh battery promising up to 47 hours between charges as well.
Pricing and availability
Both the HMD Key and the HMD 110 are available now.
The HMD Key is available now at Big W and online at Officeworks for an RRP of $129.
The HMD 110 is available now at JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman and Officeworks for $79 RRP.
I'm not sure wither of these is enough to make me forego the sweet dopamine addiction of a high-specced iPhone just yet, but I love seeing variety enter the market again.
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Nick Broughall
