HMD Flip Phone for Seniors Gets an AI Companion
HMD has launched the 2660 Flip Senior Edition in the UK, a traditional keypad phone with a built-in AI companion designed for older users. The HMD 2660 Flip Senior phone is an upgraded version of the HMD 2660 Flip, featuring an AI assistant called Mary that can hold conversations, remember previous interactions, and provide companionship.
HMD developed the assistant in partnership with inTouch, a company specialising in AI-powered calling services for older adults. The phone is aimed at people who want a simple device, but who may also welcome a friendly voice on the other end of the line.
A simple phone, with a simple design
The HMD 2660 Flip Senior Edition features a 2.8-inch QVGA main display and a smaller 1.77-inch QQVGA external screen. The phone runs on a Unisoc T107 processor with 64MB of RAM and 128MB of internal storage. It uses the S30+ operating system and includes a 0.3MP rear camera.
The device measures 198.9 x 55 x 19mm and weighs 136.4 grams. It also features Bluetooth 5.0, a 3.5mm headphone jack, FM radio, an MP3 player, dual microphones, a single speaker, and a Nano SIM slot.
Its removable 1,450mAh battery provides up to 8.1 hours of talk time, according to HMD. The phone also carries IP54 protection, which offers some resistance to dust and splashes.
By modern smartphone standards, these specifications are very basic. That is the point. The phone is designed for calls, messages, radio, and simple daily use, not for apps, social media, or heavy browsing.
Meet Mary, the AI companion
The main feature of the Senior Edition is Mary, an AI companion designed to communicate naturally with elderly users. Users can access Mary directly from the phone’s main menu by pressing the call button, without installing an application or dialling a separate number.
Once activated, the assistant remains available around the clock. Mary uses simple language, speaks slowly, and allows longer pauses during conversations. It can also remember details from previous discussions to make interactions more personal.
Users can talk to Mary about history, nature, and stories, play memory games, or simply have conversations. Initial setup requires scanning a QR code included in the packaging or visiting an activation webpage.
For older users who live alone, or who may feel isolated, a companion that can chat at any hour could be a genuine comfort. For families, it may also offer reassurance that an elderly relative has someone to talk to, even when family members are busy or far away.
Price: a phone, plus a subscription
The HMD 2660 Flip Senior Edition is available in the UK for £79.99, about $107. The price includes five hours of free conversations with Mary.
After that, users must pay £16.90 per month, about $23, to continue using the AI assistant. That subscription cost is an important detail for buyers, because it means the total cost over a year is far higher than the phone price alone.
Families considering the phone should therefore weigh the value of the companion service against the monthly cost. For some users, five free hours may be enough to test whether Mary is helpful. For others, the subscription may be a barrier, especially for pensioners on fixed incomes.
Why a flip phone still makes sense
Flip phones have found a second life in recent years, not only among older users, but also among people who want a break from smartphones. A flip phone is harder to break, easier to use with large buttons, and far less distracting than a touchscreen device.
HMD, which makes phones under the Nokia brand heritage, has built a strong business in this area. The 2660 Flip Senior Edition takes that idea further, by adding an AI companion to a device that is already simple and familiar.
The question is whether older users will trust and enjoy talking to an AI companion, or whether they will prefer a real person on the phone. HMD is betting that Mary, with its slow speech, simple language, and memory of past chats, will feel natural enough to be useful.
For now, the phone is only available in the UK. There is no word yet on a launch in Pakistan, where simple feature phones remain popular, and where many older users also prefer keypad devices to smartphones.
