HMD launches new 4G phone for students with no browser or games

HMD has launched a new version of its 105 4G feature phone for students. The HMD 105 4G School Edition keeps the basic calling and messaging capabilities of the regular variant, but deliberately strips out several features the company deems ‘distracting’.

Unlike the standard HMD 105 4G, the School Edition does not include a web browser, preloaded games (Snake, being the most notable omission) or a voice recorder. Shipping a 4G phone without a web browser is definitely puzzling, but it is probably necessary to facilitate phone calls over newer mobile networks. Why the voice recorder was removed is a mystery.

The company has also added PIN-protected parental controls that can disable Bluetooth, MMS, and FM radio. The idea is to preserve basic communication while removing most of the entertainment and internet-related functions. HMD has not specified which OS the phone uses, but if the base 105 $G is anything to go by, it presumably runs S30+. 

Specs-wise, the HMD 105 4G School Edition comes with a 2.4-inch QVGA display, 64 MB of RAM, 128 MB of internal storage and a microSD card slot supporting up to 32 GB expansion. It supports 2G, 3G and 4G networks, along with Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.

The HMD 105 4G can store up to 2,000 contacts, includes a dual LED flashlight and provides one-touch access to SMS through the right soft key. A removable 1,450 mAh battery is rated for up to 15 days of standby time. 

At the time of writing, HMD has not announced pricing or availability details for the 105 4G School Edition.