HMD 2660 Flip Senior Edition – a simple flip phone with AI for seniors

HMD, which is reportedly planning to scale back its smartphone production, has introduced an interesting new offering in the feature phone segment: the HMD 2660 Flip Senior Edition—a flip phone designed, as the name suggests, for seniors.

The HMD 2660 Flip Senior Edition is, first and foremost, a simple flip phone intended for basic use. It features a classic keypad, a 1.77-inch auxiliary external QQVGA display, and a 2.8-inch internal main QVGA screen. On the outside, there is also a basic VGA-resolution camera equipped with a flash. The device is powered by an easily replaceable 1450 mAh battery and includes a 3.5mm headphone jack, an FM radio, and an MP3 player. Given the inclusion of a media player and camera, the phone also features a microSD card slot, as the internal storage is limited to just 128 MB. It runs on the S30+ platform and offers LTE connectivity and Bluetooth 5.0. The casing is rated IP54 for protection against dust and liquid ingress. At its core, the phone is powered by a Unisoc T107 processor, supported by 64 MB of RAM.

HMD 2660 Flip Senior Edition
photo: HMD

What sets this phone apart is its software, which is powered by artificial intelligence. It features a virtual assistant named Mary, designed to serve as an everyday digital companion for seniors living alone. It is somewhat sad, but it appears that many older people struggle with loneliness, creating a clear demand for such solutions. The assistant is tailored to the cognitive needs of seniors—speaking slowly, simply, and clearly—yet the manufacturer claims she can engage in conversations on a wide range of topics. She is designed to understand the context of natural dialogue and recall past conversations, allowing her to reference them later and foster a sense of connection with the user. For now, this is available only in English and exclusively within the United Kingdom. Unfortunately, only the first 5 hours of conversation with Mary are free; thereafter, a subscription is required, costing £16.90 per month. The phone itself is priced at £79.90.