A compact Android phone from a high-end toaster company ( Balmuda )
Balmuda, a Japanese design firm, unveiled its first smartphone today at a press event in Tokyo. Balmuda Phone is the first product from Balmuda Technologies, a new section of the company that was previously recognized for attractive, high-end home appliances such as air purifiers and rice cookers. In Japan, Balmuda’s toaster in particular enjoys a cult following.
The Balmuda Phone, as you might assume, is unlike any other phone on the market. On stage, CEO Gen Terao stated that smartphones have become too bulky and clunky in recent years, therefore the Balmuda Phone was created with compactness and elegance in mind.
It sports a 4.9-inch 16:9 1080p display that is roughly similar to a 4.7-inch iPhone SE; the display is somewhat larger and the phone is 2mm wider, but the phone is 15mm shorter thanks to the thinner bezels.
The rear panel of the Balmuda Phone is a full 13.7mm thick at its thickest point, yet it thin down dramatically toward the edges. In the top right corner, there’s a single big camera with a 48-megapixel sensor, and a fingerprint sensor is housed in a similar-looking hole in the top left. The 8-megapixel selfie camera is housed in a hole-punch cutout at the top right of the screen.
The phone’s specifications
The phone’s specifications are in the middle of the pack. The Snapdragon 765 processor is paired with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The battery is only 2,500mAh, which should be partially compensated by the lower-power processor, though we’ll have to wait and see. Thankfully, the phone supports wireless charging.
Balmuda’s design is where it truly sets itself apart. It’s a well-worn tech writer cliche to claim that something “feels wonderful in the hand,” but with the compact size and curved back that nestles into your palm like a pebble, Balmuda’s intent was evident.
Granted, I have large hands, but I believe this would be more pleasant to use than the massive 6-inch slabs most of us carry around these days.
While the case is made of plastic, the build quality is good, and the textured rear panel contrasts nicely with the glossy borders. Overall, it’s a charming and appealing object.
The software, which is based on Android 11, is also somewhat different from what you’d find on today’s Android phones.
There’s an interactive home screen with different aspects of the wallpaper that can be customized for different shortcuts; for example, you might swipe on one of the lines to open Google Maps. Horizontal swipes switch between the built-in software, such as the calendar, notes app, and calculator.
The notes app’s visual chronology of images and memos, or the calculator app’s built-in currency conversion and capacity to handle big Japanese numbers that are numbered in the tens of thousands rather than the thousands, were all nice design elements.
The Balmuda Phone will be available on SoftBank’s contract later this month in Japan, and Balmuda is also selling an unlocked device for 104,800 yen (about $920).
That may seem like a lot of money for a small Android 11 phone with these specs, but $329 is certainly a lot of money for a toaster as well. In both situations, you’re paying for the design and user experience rather than the bill of materials, so this isn’t for somebody looking for a standard Android flagship.
As someone who owns Balmuda’s toaster, I’m interested to see how well the phone performs in everyday use, because, as much as I enjoy the toaster, a smartphone is far more vital in my life.
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