ero games, zero web browsing, and not even the iconic Snake—this is HMD’s vision of the ideal back-to-school handset. The company has introduced the 105 4G School Edition feature phone, whose standout quality is what has been stripped away. Marketers have framed the aggressive feature cuts as a commitment to academic focus: the operating system lacks a browser, entertainment apps, and even a voice recorder, leaving only voice calls and SMS.
Hardware-wise, the device is as bare-bones as it gets: a modest 2.4-inch display, 64 MB of RAM, and 128 MB of internal storage expandable via microSD up to 32 GB. Practical touches include a USB-C port, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, a built-in flashlight, and a removable 1,450 mAh battery rated for up to two weeks of standby time. The handset supports 4G networks and features a dedicated shortcut button for messaging. The core software addition is PIN-protected parental controls, allowing adults to disable Bluetooth, MMS, and even FM radio.
HMD has not yet disclosed pricing or release dates. While the concept aims to eliminate classroom screen-time distractions, practical adoption remains questionable if young students refuse to carry a device stripped of every basic feature.