Whether you’re a parent or a teen, online life and tech use is fraught with obstacles to navigate, and it can often feel like there’s little the tech companies of the world are doing little to help ease the angst.
Most of the tech kids use — from smartphones to social media — was never designed with them specifically in mind. Finnish phone-maker HMD is setting out to change that, and here in Barcelona at Mobile World Congress 2025 introduced its new Family Portfolio with the Fusion X1, a phone designed with kids and for kids.
The phone has been designed in collaboration with Xplora, a company known best for its kid-friendly smartwatches. The two companies have crafted a phone that allows teens to request permission from their parents to download apps from the Google Play store. Their parents, meanwhile, can remotely control their access to all apps and features through a companion app, while setting and tracking screen time and location.
Read more: MWC 2025: All the Phones, Wearables, Robots and AI Live From Barcelona
Whereas most phones with parental controls either rely on an app that can be deleted or bypassed, or a proprietary operating system that doesn’t give kids access to the same apps their friends are using, the Fusion X1 combines app-based controls baked deep into its version of Android OS. This creates a locked-down safe space where kids can still have limited access to Snapchat, WhatsApp and TikTok — if their parents agree.
The flexibility provided by Fusion X1 is to create options for families who know their children will need access to technology, but may want to do that at their own pace and according to their own rules. “The idea is to provide a device which is a stepping stone,” HMD’s Global Head of Product Adam Ferguson tells CNET. “Eventually a parent could cede control of this management to the device itself, so it’s part of a gradual growing up.”
It’s an idea that’s already making waves and catching the attention of many people, not least actor and talk show host Drew Barrymore, who spoke at HMD’s event at Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona. “What is right for me may not be right for you,” said Barrymore on parenting her two daughters, who, at 11 and 13, currently don’t have smartphones.
Drew Barrymore appearing at MWC 2025 in Barcelona.
Barrymore talked about her own experience of growing up without boundaries and protection from the many dangers of the world, but also understanding that teens don’t appreciate being told what to do. She said that HMD was a company she felt understood what it meant to help parents navigate introducing teens to technology. “This is very personal for me,” she said. “This is a very emotional journey.”
The Fusion X1 will be available in May for £229 (about $290 converted) but you can preorder now.
