HMD has unveiled a new hybrid device dubbed the HMD Touch 4G, a feature phone dressed in touchscreen clothing, drawing nostalgic inspiration from the once-popular Nokia Asha lineup. At a time when smartphones have overtaken feature phones in Kenya where recent data shows smartphone penetration has fully overtaken feature phones, the Touch 4G aims to carve out a niche for those who want connectivity without full smartphone complexity. Priced in India at INR 3,999 (~$45 or KES 6,000), it targets users seeking durability, simplicity, and essential smart features in a compact device.
Touchscreen, but still a feature phone
Instead of a traditional T9 keypad, the Touch 4G sports a 3.2-inch QVGA touch display, making it a rare touchscreen-equipped feature phone. Under the hood, it runs on RTOS Touch, a lightweight operating system built to handle essential apps and cloud services without demanding hardware.
Key specs at a Glance
- Display: 3.2-inch QVGA touchscreen
- Chipset: Unisoc T127
- Memory: 64MB RAM, 128MB storage
- Expansion: Up to 32GB via microSD
- Rear camera: 2MP with flash
- Front camera: 0.3MP (VGA)
- Battery: 1950mAh, up to 30 hours of usage
- Audio: 3.5mm jack, MP3 player, FM Radio (wired/wireless)
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi with hotspot, USB-C
- Durability: IP52-rated for dust and splash resistance
HMD Touch comes with clever cloud features & Express Chat
HMD is positioning the Touch 4G as more than a call-and-text device. It comes with cloud-based services that deliver cricket updates, weather info, news, and more right to the phone. The standout addition is Express Chat, an app that supports texting and video calls not just between Touch 4G units, but also with Android and iOS users who download the app.
There’s also a dedicated Quick-Call button on the top, which can be long-pressed to record and send voice messages instantly.
Who is the HMD Touch 4G for?
With its familiar phone form factor, long-lasting battery, and durability, the Touch 4G is clearly geared at users who need:
- A secondary device
- A simpler phone for elders or kids
- A reliable offline+online companion with hotspot capability
- Connectivity without the distractions of a full smartphone
At its price, HMD is offering a nostalgia-packed device that blends durability, essential smart connectivity, and modern charging conveniences like USB-C without stepping into smartphone territory. But in markets like Kenya where smartphone usage is dominant, a device like this may serve more niche roles, perhaps as as a fallback, backup, or minimalist communications tool.
Still, if Nokia Asha had lived on in 2025, this is probably what it would look like.
