At its MWC 2025 presentation, Human Mobile Devices (HMD) presented the HMD X1, a smartphone intended to allay parents’ worries about their kids’ exposure to internet dangers. The X1, which was created in collaboration with Xplora, aims to provide a gadget that appeals to youngsters while integrating strong parental controls.
The X1’s creation comes after HMD announced The Better Phone Project in July 2024, an effort to lessen the adverse effects of smartphone usage on young people’s wellbeing.
According to a recent HMD poll of 10,000 parents, 75% of them were worried about the risks associated with the internet, and 65% were concerned about how smartphone usage would affect their kids’ mental health. Furthermore, more than half of the parents polled expressed remorse about giving their kids cellphones at such a young age.
Screen time management, location monitoring with safe zone settings, and customisable app and internet access limits are all possible because the HMD X1 integrates operating system-level parental controls.
Additionally, the gadget has low battery indicators, remote device access for parents, and an SOS emergency call functionality. The School Mode feature allows parents to limit some applications and features during school hours. The Xplora app handles these settings.
Specs:
In addition to its safety features, the X1 is designed with teens in mind. It has a 5000mAh battery, a 108MP AI-powered camera, fingerprint and facial unlocking, and IP54 water protection. A 3.5mm headphone jack is another characteristic of the gadget. The HMD Fusion, which was introduced last year, is comparable to all of these.
HMD has integrated its Fusion modular design, which is similar to the Fusion and enables device customization with replaceable “Outfits.” These modular attachments offer additional features including gaming capability, an integrated ring light, and longer battery life.
The X1 has benefited from the parental control technological expertise of Xplora, a manufacturer of kid-safe gadgets. By restricting kids’ access to communication and navigation tools, the collaboration seeks to promote positive digital behaviors.
HMD plans to increase the number of gadgets it offers to help families deal with the difficulties of the digital era. The firm intends to work with parents and youth to create lasting solutions that prioritize safety and usefulness. The phone’s availability and price have not yet been disclosed by HMD.
